Hair transplant surgery with “retrograde” alopecia (hair loss)?

This question comes from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums: 

I think I have retrograde alopecia (hair loss). Can I undergo hair transplant surgery with retrograde hair loss?

Retrograde hair loss — or alopecia — refers to thinning in what should be the permanent donor region (the hair on the sides and back of the scalp). These are the follicles we use in hair transplant surgery. Hair restoration physicians harvest follicles from this region because they are resistant to DHT — the “hair loss hormone” — and won’t shed after being implanted into the front of the scalp.

Patients with retrograde alopecia have thinning in the permanent donor region. This means follicles from this region can’t be used in hair transplant surgery. They may thin or shed in the future, so they should not be transplanted. These patients are generally not good surgical candidates. However, all patients who believe they suffer from retrograde alopecia or a diffuse thinning pattern should be evaluated by a hair loss expert in-person.
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Blake Bloxham – formerly “Future_HT_Doc”

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning

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