Hair Transplant Surgery

Question: What is the difference between hair loss in males vs females? Are they different?

Answer: Yes, there is a difference between hair loss or baldness patterns in males and females.

While men experience “male pattern baldness” which results in hair loss around the sides and top/back of the head, women experience diffuse hair loss, which involves general thinning of hair across the scalp. The front hairline is usually unaffected in women, unlike majority of men who experience a receeding hairline.

Men have DHT resistant areas on the back and sides of the scalp, and it is these stable areas which provide hair for successful transplantation. A woman’s hair is not affected by DHT.

Hair transplant procedure involves hair extraction from the side and back of the scalp which is resistant to DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), and transplanting it to the bald areas. This is the case for men. Women don’t have the problem of DHT and have a different baldness pattern.

Here are a few terms and definitions:
1. Hair Density, is the number of hair follicles per square centimeter of scalp.
2. Scalp Laxity, is how flexible or tight or loose the scalp is. Hair extraction and transplantation is easier on when scalp laxity is higher.
3. Donor Sites are the areas on the scalp that are not affected by DHT, which are used to supply the hair for transplantation.