Can Excessively Oily Scalp Affect Hair Transplant Growth?

This question, from a member of our Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by recommended hair transplant surgeon Dr. Blake Bloxham:

I would like to know if there are any solutions to greasy scalp and hair. The last time I had a check up, my doctor told me that I have overactive sebaceous glands which is caused by diet, lifestyle and stress. Personally I don’t exactly know the cause but I tried changing my diet and lifestyle and worry less but nothing seemed to work. My hair has been thinning since 2010.

Now that I am planning to have a hair transplant, I do worry that it will all go to waste. If my scalp is greasy then what is the probability that the transplanted hair will grow thick? If the soil is not of good quality then how will the planted seeds grow?

Increased sebum or overactive sebaceous glands are very common in patients suffering from androgenic alopecia (AGA) — genetic male pattern hair loss. Not only is there an associated between the increase in the size and activity of the sebaceous glands in AGA, but there is also less hair to “soak up” these oil substances being continuously created by the glands under your skin. This means more greasy sebum appearing on the scalp and less hair to soak it up and clear it away.

This is not a contraindication to a hair transplant, and I’ve actually seen many patients report less of this phenomenon after a transplant because they have new hairs to soak up the oils.

Dr. Blake Bloxham
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David
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator