FUE Toronto has fast become the leading hair restoration method for men and women. The problem of losing hair is a multifaceted one with many causes and possible treatments. Follicular unit extraction (FUE) still leads the way in 2019 as a permanent way to restore real, growing hair rather than to camouflage. However, hair-loss medication, concealers, growth stimulators, and wigs are all available options that women still use today to combat hair loss. Depending on your needs and budget, you may select a FUE hair transplant with Toronto’s leading hair restoration specialists or any number of supportive treatments.
Women can have extra challenges when combatting hair loss. In Toronto, FUE for women is a possibility, but as we’ll explain below, the process can be a little more tedious and time-consuming when treating female hair loss. The outcomes aren’t quite as reliable either. That’s because female pattern baldness presents differently than for men. Let’s take a close look at hair thinning and restoration treatments for women, including FUE in Toronto.
Toronto FUE hair transplant for women
Women’s hair loss is different than men’s hair loss. Women can suffer from androgenic alopecia too — the genetic, DHT-related progressive loss of hair. Toronto FUE candidates can be female, but the needs they present are different than men’s needs. For instance, a woman won’t usually see hair loss begin with a receding hairline. Even after she sheds significant hair, her hairline may be intact. Females often lose hair density all over the head in a diffused manner. They’ll show signs of hair thinning such as a wider part and limp hair.
A hair transplant helps people restore natural-looking hair growth to their thinning and balding areas. The process is straightforward for most men with androgenic alopecia. That’s because their pattern of hair loss typically sees hairline recession and baldness at the crown, but not overall thinning or loss of hair at the back and sides. If a man has mild to moderate hair loss, he’ll likely still have plenty of hair to harvest for implants remaining in those areas. Because the hair follicles remain dense at the back and sides of the head, many grafts can be extracted without creating noticeable depletion.
The hairs that don’t fall out on a man’s head are typically DHT-resistant. The follicles aren’t susceptible to miniaturization related to the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone). That makes their candidacy for Toronto FUE transplants somewhat predictable and easy to determine. During a hair transplant, follicle grafts from the donor area are removed one by one and reimplanted to recipient zones. Aside from FUE in Toronto, the other common method of hair transplant is called the strip method, or FUT (follicular unit transplant). With that technique, the surgeon excises a long strip of scalp from the donor region, then creates multiple tiny grafts from it using a stereomicroscope and scalpel. The removal of a strip means that each and every follicle in that piece of tissue has the potential to be a graft. Thus, a smaller region can deliver a high number of grafts. The incision is sutured together and will take approximately 2 weeks to heal.
The negatives to that approach include the visible, lengthy scar that results. This is the primary reason why many men have shifted toward the single-graft extraction FUE hair transplant technique. Because the procedure requires a dense donor area, it’s more challenging for women to provide this. The process of harvesting follicles can require the surgeon to remove hairs one at a time from a large area. The strip method is sometimes preferred. A high number of grafts can be dissected from one piece of the scalp, and other than the thin scar, no notable area of donor depletion is created. Women who prefer to wear their hair very short may have an issue with the scar, so they can choose a FUE hair transplant or scalp micropigmentation (SMP) to fill in the FUT scar.
What other hair loss options do women have besides FUE in Toronto?
Medications
There are two primary hair growth medications in Canada today: minoxidil and finasteride. Minoxidil is approved for women, but finasteride is not. Also called Rogaine, this topical liquid or form is designed to be applied to the crown daily. It’s an antihypertensive vasodilator available as a generic treatment and over the counter to treat androgenic alopecia.
This popular product is used primarily to maintain growth and prevent further fallout, but in some rare cases, it can promote new growth too. There’s abundant scientific data to suggest that minoxidil use leads to higher hair growth rates. Possible drawbacks included reported itching or contact dermatitis. In most cases, patients will be advised to use the product for at least 3 months before seeing benefits.
Toronto FUE Consultation
How is hair loss in women diagnosed? When you seek a Toronto FUE surgeon to talk about the possibility of a hair transplant, they’ll have a series of questions for you. Progressive hair loss presents most commonly in older, menopausal women. If a young woman presents with sudden or severe hair loss, her health will come into question, and several possible causes must be ruled out.
For proper diagnosis, a clinical examination and lab tests might be necessary. Malnutrition, including deprivation dieting, can cause temporary hair loss, as can certain medications or illnesses.
Are you a woman dealing with the self-consciousness and frustration of hair loss? Take heart that you’re not alone and there are a wide variety of possible ways to combat loss of hair. Whether a surgical FUE hair transplant, PRP injections, or non-invasive treatments, you can begin to take charge of your hair health today. You’re welcome to visit Dr. Cory Torgerson at the Toronto Hair Transplant Clinic for a consultation and learn how we can help you.
