Are You A Good Candidate for Hair Transplant Surgery?

Wes Welker, wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, publicly celebrated his successful hair restoration surgery. In an interview with USA Today’s Chris Strauss, Walker said, “[The hair regrowth treatment] doesn’t happen right away. You start to see a little bit after two or three months and in six months you get to see a little more. Once you get up to a year you’re really starting to see the difference. It takes a full 18 months 'til it’s fully grown in. “ Hair regrowth treatment isn’t just for famous football players. Have you been wondering if hair transplant surgery is right for you?

Unfortunately for women, men typically are better candidates for hair transplant surgery. One reason has to do with the fact that men tend to have more stable donor sites: those areas not typically affected by dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Although many women suffer from female pattern balding, their hair loss tends to be all over their head. Diffused hair loss makes for unstable donor sites (usually found on the sides and back of the head). This is the major reason women tend to be poor candidates for hair transplant surgery. Men typically want implants in order to cover certain balding areas, whereas women tend to want to have a fuller head of hair. Hair transplants are more effective in covering bald areas, rather than growing hair all over the scalp. Roughly 2% to 5% of women are good transplant candidates. This may be you if:

• Your hair loss is due to alopecia and not to hormonal changes
• You have lost hair because of cosmetic surgery or a traumatic incident, such as a burn
• Your hair loss follows a distinct pattern

While men tend to respond more favorably to hair transplant surgery (about 90% of them are good candidates), there are factors that make some men better candidates for surgery than others. You could be a good candidate for hair regrowth surgery if:

• You have been losing hair for more than 5 years due to male-pattern baldness and/or your hair pattern has stabilized
• You still have areas of hair growth that are ‘stable’ and unaffected by hair loss
• You have realistic expectations and understand that you may continue to lose hair and may need to continue taking medication to stop the hair loss from progressing further

1. Verify Your Surgeon is Qualified: Before committing to a hair regrowth surgeon like Dr. Leonard, Wes Welker’s surgeon, do your homework. Don’t be afraid to ask for actual before and after pictures of at least 10 previous patients. Ask the surgeon for referrals you can talk to so you can ask about their experiences with hair regrowth treatment. Also, it is a good idea to consult with the state medical board in your area to make sure that the surgeon is in good standing.
2. Be Sure You Understand the Process: The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery has a lot of valuable resources, including an FAQ page that answers questions about topics such as cost of hair replacement surgery, what it will look like after the procedure, and how many sessions will be required.

We encourage you to find out more about the variety of options available to treat hair loss in men and women. If you're concerned about your thinning hair or hair loss, it's important to consult with an experienced hair restoration professional. To learn more about treating hair loss and regrowth treatment options or to consult with a Capillus specialist in your area click here or call Capillus for more information at (786) 888-6249 or Toll-Free at 1 (888) 272-9599.