Can I Have A Hair Transplant To Treat Alopecia Areata?

I have been suffering from alopecia areata and I am wondering if I can have a hair transplant to cover the bald patch?

Alopecia Areata is a medical condition that results in a “patchy” or balding spots on the scalp. The cause for alopecia areata is somewhat unknown however, it is thought to be an autoimmune disorder which causes the body’s immune system to attack it’s own cells responsible for producing new hair.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for alopecia areata and current treatments, while somewhat effective, offer limited success. The current treatments for alopecia areata include: steroid injections, topical corticosteroids, topical immunotheraly, Rogaine (minoxidil) and ultra violet therapy.

Hair restoration surgery may be an option to restore hair to the bald patches or spots. However, there is no guarantee that new bald patches won’t appear in the transplanted area later down the road. Therefore, a potential hair transplant patient must be fully informed about the long-term risks associated with surgery.

The onset of alopecia areata can be psychologically damaging and stressful. However, in most cases the condition is temporary and hair follicles return to normal after a period of time for most individuals. Depending on the severity of the condition, some alopecia areata sufferers may be candidates for hair transplantation.

Written and Published By,

Melvin, Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.