Can I Have A Hair Transplant With DUPA?

I am a 30 year old male that was recently diagnosed with Diffused Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA). I was hoping to have a hair transplant this year, but now i’m not so sure. Can I have a hair transplant with DUPA?

Generally, I do not recommend surgical hair restoration on anyone with DUPA. It is extremely risky and ill-advised, because the transplanted hair may not be permanent or resistant to DHT. Removing hair from one thinning area and transplanting it to another is at high-risk for failing .

In most cases, it is difficult to diagnose the cause of this condition. However, certain health conditions including, but not limited to thyroid and hormonal imbalances need to be ruled out first. Patients that have health issues may see significant improvement by treating the underlying health condition.

Some patients are insistent on having a hair transplant procedure. For these patients, I suggest trying to stabilize and improve the health of their existing hair first. I advise my patients to try a variety of treatments such as Propecia (finasteride), Rogaine (minoxidil), low-level laser therapy (LLLT) , platelet-rich plasma (PRP), before considering surgery.

Lastly, you should know that the results can be unpredictable, and if the condition isn’t treated beforehand- there may be no visual improvement. Moreover, Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) and Follicular Unit Strip Surgery (FUSS), may produce visible scarring for patients with DUPA, if their donor area continues to thin in the future.

Written by,

Dr. Glenn Charles – Member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians and Recommended on the Hair Transplant Network