Contrary to popular belief, hair restoration for women works a little bit differently than what it does for men. Although there are a variety of different causes for this, statistics indicate that this is because women most often experience a different kind of hair loss than men. Most males suffer from what is known as male patterned baldness, whereas females suffer from hormonally driven thinning. These differences play a role in treatment options, especially when hair loss surgery or pharmacological treatment is being considered.
Can Women Benefit From Surgery?
In most cases, surgical intervention to restore balding is not effective. As a matter of fact, the American Hair Loss Association reports that it works in fewer than 5% of the female population. The hairs that would be replaced will generally fall back out. Hormonal baldness and thinning makes it extremely difficult for transplantation because the common donor areas are affected as well. The follicles are not considered stable enough to actually transplant within another location of the head. However, there are a few exceptions to this.
Who May Be A Good Candidate?
Women who suffer from male patterned baldness may be good candidates for surgical interventions. In addition to this, those suffering from a condition known as alopecia marginalis may also benefit. The woman who has had some type of trauma that has induced the loss is still the best candidate though. This can include those who have had burns, scars or suffer from non-hormonal thinning. In these cases, the effectiveness of treatment may still vary if damage was sustained to the hair follicle. Still, only a qualified physician should make the determination whether or not this would be a viable option for the woman to pursue.
Alternative Methods and Other Considerations
There are a variety of products on the market that may help with the milder cases of alopecia, both over-the-counter and prescription only. This can include but is not limited to hair care products such as gels and shampoos. Depending on the cause, there may also be medications the physician can prescribe that have proven beneficial for some of the population. Before deciding or ruling out on any particular treatment, it cannot be stressed enough to determine the cause of the problem. Not only can this help guide treatment options, but there could be a legitimate underlying medical condition that is causing the problem in the first place.
