Frontal Hair Transplants

Frontal Hair Transplant

What Causes Hair Loss?

Androgenetic Alopecia

The most common cause of hair loss is known as androgenetic alopecia. This is also known as male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness occurs when the body produces hormone androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone(DHT). The more androgens your body produces, the faster you loose hair. Male pattern baldness is something that 7 - 15% of American males experience by age 25, and almost 40% by age 35. It is a natural change in the body and accounts for over 95% of all hair loss in men.

Androgenetic Alopecia(pattern baldness) is the perfect candidate for a frontal hair transplant.


Stress (Telogen Effluvium)

Stress related hair loss, also known as telogen effluvium / deffluvium, is the second most common cause for hair loss. The stress causes a major change in a large portion of the hair follicles, moving them from the anagen growth phase to the catagen then telogen rest phase. Usually, stress related hair follicles tend to regrow shortly after hair loss is noticed. Usually, you will get your hair that you lost back within 6 months. Of course, because you almost always grow back the hair you lose under stress, a frontal hair transplant is not necessary for stress.


Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is the development of patches of baldness, usually in small circular areas of the scalp. It is fairly common among men and women(1% of all Americans will experience Alopecia Areata). In most cases, these patches will grow back over time. The process is believed to be the body's own cells attacking the body itself, also know as autoimmune. Cells attack hair follicles in this case. This is another bad candidate for a frontal hair transplant.


Diseases

Certain illnesses and diseases can also cause hair loss. Some examples are:

  • Lupus, in which hair tends to become brittle and may fall out in patches. Short, broken hairs ("lupus hairs") commonly appear above the forehead. Hair loss is usually not permanent. Some people with lupus also develop a form of lupus called discoid or cutaneous lupus that affects only the skin ("cutaneous" refers to skin). Scars that sometimes develop on the scalp may cause hair loss.
  • Thyroid problems, which are a common cause of scattered hair loss. Both an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) and an under active thyroid (hypothyroidism) can cause hair loss. Hair loss associated with thyroid disease can be reversed with proper treatment.
  • Cancer
  • An adult form of muscular dystrophy
  • Diseases of the pituitary gland
  • Heavy metal poisoning, such as thallium or arsenic poisoning
  • Acidosis
  • Late-stage syphilis
  • HIV infection
  • Any severe ongoing chronic illness

Hair transplants are possible with some of the diseases listed but not recommended as even transplanted hair may not regrow due to disease conditions.


Chemical Damage (Anagen Effluvium)

Chemical damage usually initially causes patchy hair loss then advances to total loss of hair. Chemicals completely kill the hair follicle itself. In most cases, a new follicle can form and new hair can regrow. The most common chemical cause of hair loss is Chemotherapy treatment. Certain prescription drugs can cause hair loss in a minority of people. Check with your doctor when receiving a prescription to see if the drug may cause hair loss. Drugs that treat Arthrightis, high blood pressure, cancer, gout, depression, ulcers, bipolar, birth control, cholesterol, and steroids are all good candidates to cause hair loss in a small amount of individuals. A frontal hair transplant is not recommended for chemical damage.