Are Hair Transplants Permanent?

Patients considering a hair transplant often wonder “are hair transplants permanent” or whether it’s still possible to lose hair after the procedure.

In short, the hair that is surgically transplanted—from the donor area to the recipient area—is resistant to DHT, the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness, making it permanent. The donor zone, from which the follicles are extracted, is known as the safe donor zone. The photo below shows a patient with an advanced balding pattern, with the safe donor zone highlighted by yellow lines.

Each patient’s safe donor area varies in size and characteristics. Stronger donor follicles yield better and more robust transplant results. As long as the doctor thoroughly evaluates the donor zone and carefully performs the transplant, the follicles from this area of the scalp are usually permanent.

Reason for hair loss after a hair transplant
Although the transplanted hair is considered permanent, the patient’s native hair can continue to miniaturize if stabilizing medications, such as finasteride, are not used and the patients balding pattern has not stabilized. In such cases, a patient may notice that their hair has thinned with age, potentially necessitating another transplant. The best way to prevent this issue is to use stabilizing medications.

Senile Alopecia
With age, the thickness of your hair shafts can decrease, even if the number of follicles remains largely unchanged. This thinning can lead to less coverage and a more see through appearance, giving the impression of hair loss.

Poor Donor Area
In rare cases, patients may experience miniaturization in the donor area as well. These individuals often have a heightened sensitivity to DHT even in their “safe donor zones.” For such patients, undergoing a transplant may carry the risk of losing transplanted hair over time, making DHT-reducing medications such as finasteride or dutasteride essential.

Surgical Expertise
Lastly, extracting follicles from outside the donor area—whether due to surgical error or inexperience—can result in transplanting follicles that are more susceptible to loss.

In conclusion, for a properly selected patient who has undergone a thorough assessment and had the procedure performed by a well-trained and experienced transplant surgeon, the transplanted hair is typically permanent.

For patients seeking optimal results, finding the right expert is crucial. Many individuals are now turning to FUE hair transplant methods due to their minimally invasive nature and natural-looking outcomes. Patients from all over the country travel to BKS Hair Restoration for their hair restoration needs. If you or someone you know is located in New Jersey or the Philadelphia, PA area and is considering a FUE hair transplant, you are strongly recommended to consult with Dr. Bhumik Shah, who is renowned for his expertise in FUE hair restoration. Set up a consultation today.