Question:
Are there are particular concerns about poor growth after a hair transplant in African American women?
Answer:
Dear Elvonna – I
The big challenge in your situation is the quality of your donor hairs – if you have a good density in the back of your scalp, I could anticipate a more impressive result. The other consideration is that, in women of color, there can be a lower percentage of hair growth, resulting in less coverage. The only way to assess the exact amount of hair growth you are likely to experience is to perform a test procedure of say 40 grafts, then waiting 6 months to see how things grow.
The alternative is to proceed with a procedure of 1300 to 1400 or so grafts, filling in both temple areas (500 grafts per side) and placing the remaining 400 or so grafts along the hairline to provide increased density and perhaps bring it down/forward a bit. In addition, a second procedure may be desired in the future to provide more density.
I welcome your thoughts.
Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS
