Although the hair transplantation is considered the most reliable method to solve the problems of hair loss, thinning hair, and baldness, restore the healthy and natural hair and recall the self-esteem and confidence, some of patients who have already undergone the hair transplantation procedure may experience the unexpected hair fall and thinning hair continuously. Many people have misunderstood that the output gained from hair transplantation will completely and permanently eliminate the problems of hair loss, hair fall, thinning hair, and baldness. But in reality, biologically, hair loss and thinning hair problem requires close and ongoing care and treatment more than imagined.
First things first, let's understand the root cause of hair loss and thinning hair. Anyone can experience hair loss or thinning hair, but it's more common in men. The answer to this question is the genetic influence, also called “sex – influenced trait” which is inherited through the family. The trait is dominant in men while at the same time it is recessive in women. Up to 95% of hair loss and thinning hair cases are influenced by the genetic-related factor.
Not only the genetic influence, the sex hormone: testosterone; in the body is considered to be significant underlying factor of such traits. Commonly for a person who has hereditary hair loss and thinning hair, the elevated 5-alpha reductase enzyme is found in the scalp. Normally, the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT appears to cause hair follicles in the scalp to become thinner. It can shrink your hair follicles as well as shorten the hair growth cycle, causing hair to grow out looking thinner and more brittle, fall out faster, and eventually lead to baldness.
The characteristics of male and female pattern hair loss and thinning are distinguishably noticeable. The patterns typically include:
Pattern A : Hair begins to recede from the forehead and gradually develops in the middle of the scalp.
Pattern O : Hair begins to recede from the middle of scalp, and gradually extends until only the hair on lower back of the scalp (called the occipital region) is left. This pattern is more common in Asian men and often caused by heredity.
Pattern M : Hair begins to fall out from the temples and then develops into a distinct “M” shape. This pattern can be found in very young men, from 18 to 30 years of age.
O&M Mixed Pattern : Hair simultaneously begins to recede from the middle of scalp and temples. This pattern causes the most severe hair loss and thinning.
Photo reference: Typical patterns of hair loss and thinning
These characteristics of hair loss and thinning can occur at a young age and gradually develop with increasing age. The most common area of male-pattern hair loss and thinning is forehead and on the top of the head. The occipital hair seems to last longer because the hair follicles in the lower back of the head are strong and resistant to the Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hormone which causes the unusual hair loss and thinning. Generally, strong and healthy hair follicle can regenerate hair up to 20 renewal cycles over the its life cycle. A life cycle of hair is about 6-10 years before it naturally falls out. Therefore, the strong and healthy hair follicle under the right condition can last up to 200 years.
Due to the hair follicles taken from the lower back of the head are strong and resistant to DHT hormone, they are commonly used in hair transplantation procedure. When implanted in the area having hair loss and thinning problem, this newly transplanted hair will intactly retain the DHT-resistant properties. This can strengthen hair follicles to last a hundred years.
Hair transplantation methods and techniques are innovatively and continuously developed, adapting to the changes in advanced and accessible technology. Follicular Unit Excision or FUE is a distinguished example. FUE hair transplantation is done by using a small instrument to take hair follicles from the scalp which is called “hair grafts” (without surgery). Approximately, each hair graft contains 1 to 4 hairs.
After the hair graft excision process is completed, the hair grafts will be sorted by the direction and number of the hair. Then the surgeon implants the healthy grafts on the recipient area, considering the number of grafts required for an individual patient. This step require the expertise and meticulousness of the surgeon as there are many factors to concern such as the integrity of hair follicles, hairline and direction, and the facial proportion. This is to ensure the satisfactory and long-lasting results of treatment.
Why do some patients experience the hair loss and thinning after hair transplant? The most simple answer is because the strong hair follicles from the occipital area have been implanted only in the recipient area (problem area) while the other areas are the native ones which are genetically inherited and highly affected by DHT hormone. Therefore, some patients may experience the hair loss and thinning unavoidably.
In this case, you can consult a doctor to ask for an advice on how to deal with hair loss and thinning. The doctor will analyze the root cause and design the proper treatment. If the hereditary is the cause of problem, the additional hair transplantation will be recommended. The most effective and reliable treatment techniques will be selected in order to maximize the efficiency of treatment while minimize the injuries and size of the wound, and reduce the recovery time as well.
In addition, the proper daily hair care routine, and self-regulation of behaviors that may increase the likelihood of hair loss and fragile hair follicles, is another essential factor to slow down the hair shedding and hair loss. The significant behaviors include:
- Hair Care Behavior : avoid using chemicals or hair dye; use a gentle shampoo right for your scalp condition; do not wash your hair too often; avoid using hot or lukewarm water to wash your hair; avoid using a hair dryer with hot air directly on your scalp because the heat will damage your hair (protein degradation); and do not brush your hair when it's wet because that's when it's at its weakest and becomes vulnerable to breakage (leading to flyaways), split ends and damage.
- Eating Behavior : selectively eat healthy and nutritious food to get all the essential nutrients, especially proteins and vitamins, which affect the health and strength of the hair; drink enough water because it is an important component of the hair follicle base.
- Stress Management Behavior : stress is one of the significant factors that can cause hair loss and thinning hair. Therefore you should manage and relieve your stress to keep hormones balance. To do so, typical activities are meditation and doing exercise.
Hair loss and thinning experiencing after hair transplantation procedure require a correct understanding of the root cause. Once the root cause is identified, a treatment method or technique will be selected and applied appropriately for each individual. Most importantly, all hair transplantation must be performed under the supervision of a hair specialist in order to ensure that the self-esteem, confidence and a good personality will be restored along with the strong and healthy hair.
