Is Hair Transplant Surgery Permanent?

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

I recently underwent hair transplant surgery. I’m happy with the results, but I’m afraid they will not last. Are the follicles transplanted during hair restoration surgery permanent, or will they thin and fall out over time?

For all intents and purposes, the follicles transplanted during a hair restoration procedure are permanent.

Androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) is caused, initially, by diyhydrotestosterone (DHT) hormone. Hair follicles in the frontal scalp, mid-scalp, and vertex are sensitive to this hormone, and contact with DHT causes the follicles to miniaturize and stop producing hair. There are some follicles in the scalp, however, that are “highly resistant” to DHT. These follicles are located on the sides (temporal/parietal) and back (occipital) of the scalp. When transplanted, these follicles retain their resistance to DHT and do not shed or thin – even when exposed to DHT in new regions of the scalp.

These follicles are “highly resistant” to DHT, but they are not completely immune. This means, in theory, they could still shed if exposed to very high levels of DHT over a long period of time. However, the thousands of successful cases of hair transplantation performed over the past 60 years prove the resistance and permanent nature of the DHT resistant follicles. Many of the “10 year plus” hair transplant cases shared on our Hair Restoration Discussion Forums reinstate this point; hair transplantation is permanent, and patients should not expect their results to thin or shed significantly over time.
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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

Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

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Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair transplant, hair restoration, Androgenic alopecia, male pattern hair loss, DHT, hair transplantation