Female Hair Transplant

Can Females Get Hair Transplants?

While most patients undergoing surgical hair restoration are male, females can also have this procedure successfully.

Half the women in the world experience hair loss in their lifetime. By the time they’ve reached 50, 40% will have experienced the most common cause of hair loss – androgenetic alopecia or female pattern baldness. Fortunately, hair transplants are effective for female pattern baldness and other types of hair loss. 

Female hair transplants are commonly done using the follicular unit extraction (FUE) technique, in which small groupings of hairs, known as grafts, are extracted from the back of the scalp and then redistributed to the balding areas. The results of this procedure are permanent. 

A female hair transplant patient smiles while showing her hairline right before her surgery.

Who Is A Good Candidate For A Female Hair Transplant?

If you have a strong and stable donor area – a permanent strip of hair at the back and sides of the scalp – hair transplant surgery is possible in the following cases:

Who Is Not Suitable For A Female Hair Transplant?

There are some instances where a hair transplant surgery may not be indicated, such as:

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Diffuse hair loss

If your hair loss affects your entire scalp, you won’t have a stable donor area to extract from (any hair extracted will be lost), in which case the surgery is not possible.

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Temporary hair loss​

Telogen effluvium is a type of temporary hair loss that can occur due to childbirth, hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiency (like iron), hair dyes, crash diets, etc. If the hair loss is temporary, it does not require surgery.

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Unpredictable hair loss​

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that can cause unpredictable and patchy hair loss. If a hair transplant is done in this case, your immune system can attack the transplanted hair, causing it to fall out.

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Trichotillomania

It’s a hair pulling disorder. While such patients can undergo surgery for permanent hair loss, it is performed only after the condition has been treated to prevent compulsive hair pulling

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Active scarring alopecia​

If you’re seeking a hair transplant after losing hair due to conditions such as frontal fibrosing alopecia, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, and lichen planopilaris, you need to wait for them to go into remission and stabilise.

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Unrealistic expectations​

It is essential for you to understand the limitations of what can be achieved through this surgery. Patients with body dysmorphic disorder often have unrealistic expectations, which is why a hair transplant is contraindicated for them.

How Is Graft Planning Done In Female Hair Transplants?

An essential consideration in female hair transplantation is meticulous planning regarding the number of grafts to extract. Women may face the challenge of having a limited supply of donor hair since the sides are often susceptible to thinning and not always suitable for extraction.

Therefore, to ensure efficient use of donor hairs, you should have a clear idea of the areas that concern you the most so that your surgeon can focus on improving their density. These can include the frontal hairline, midline, temple areas, crown and/or a side part.

For instance, if you like to part your hair to one specific side, more grafts can be inserted in that area so it works well with your preferred hairstyle. Implanting hair across the entire scalp may result in lower overall density. Remember, the goal of a hair transplant is to create a satisfactory illusion of density.

Besides defining the areas you are concerned about, your surgeon will assess how many grafts you need and how many can be extracted. One of the things to do in this regard is to measure the area of baldness, which can be done by approximating geometric shapes to your recipient area.

Additionally, the recipient density has to be determined. Generally, it can vary from 25 to 40 follicular units per cm2 or even more. However, some factors influencing this calculation include: 

Calibre/thickness of hair (thicker grafts achieve a better appearance of density even with fewer grafts)
Number of hairs per graft
Degree of curl
Contrast between skin and hair colour (the less it is, the less see-through the scalp)

Graft planning also involves determining the density and size of the donor area. Keep in mind that 40-50% of follicular units per cm2 will be extracted, so if you have a very poor donor density, extraction can lead to permanent bald patches at the back of your head, which is why careful assessment of the donor area is necessary.

How Is The Hairline Designed In Female Hair Transplants?

A woman’s hairline is quite different from a man’s. The absence of frontotemporal recession is one of the most significant differences between male and female hairlines.

In males, the hairline is commonly M-shaped with a small triangular recess at each corner. However, a female hairline is typically round and curves at the corners (although there are other hairline shapes, for instance, oval, rectangle, and heart).

A closer look at the female hairline also reveals the presence of additional features, such as a cowlick in the centre, widow’s peak, and lateral mounds (small, subtle peaks).

To outline it, a central point is marked using the centre of the nose as a reference. The surgeon then draws a line between the eyes and the forehead, and a laser device is used to make it perfectly straight.

During hairline design, the surgeon may ask you to raise your eyebrows to ensure the hairline is positioned above your forehead muscles. The hair will move when you make certain facial expressions if it is implanted into these muscles, which looks unnatural. It is also a reason why your hairline cannot be too low.

From this central point, the lines on each side of the hairline can either be relatively straight or gently curved, depending on its shape. As the hairline bends downwards, there can be a small jutted area for the temporal peak, and then, with a slight curve, it can taper down to the sideburn.

Do They Shave Women's Hair For A Hair Transplant?

For many women, shaving their entire head for a hair transplant can be off-putting. Fortunately, it is not always necessary to do so.

If you need 3,000 grafts or fewer (women typically require fewer grafts as complete baldness is rare), you can opt for a unshaven direct hair implantation (DHI) procedure.

It’s important to note that while your recipient area remains unshaven, a small patch or window of your donor area will still be shaved for graft extraction. Even so, with long hair, you can easily conceal the bald patch until your donor hair grows back long.

How Does A Female Hair Transplant Work?

Once you arrive at the clinic, you’ll have a preoperative consultation, during which you’ll thoroughly discuss your treatment plan; your new hairline will be drawn, and, if needed, your entire scalp will be shaved. Following that, you’ll be headed to the operating theatre.

Before the donor area is harvested, a “safe donor zone” is marked at the back of the scalp. It’s the area where permanent growth is expected, making it suitable for transplantation to balding regions. There, it can continue to grow without a change in its original characteristics – a concept called donor dominance. 

The safe donor area is located slightly further down the perimeter of the crown area. If it is too close to it and crown hair loss progresses in the future, the grafts in that area would be lost, showing the FUE punches. This is why an experienced surgeon is careful and considers long-term implications when delineating this zone. 

The inferior border of this safe donor area is usually around the bony bump at the lower back of the scalp. And as mentioned above, since temples in women can be susceptible to thinning, they’re usually spared.  

After the safe donor zone has been determined during the consultation, it is operated on under local anaesthesia with the use of a 0.8-1 mm diameter punch tool and tweezers – one technician frees the grafts from the skin, and the other plucks them out using tweezers. 

During harvesting, care is taken to ensure a uniform extraction, considering that removing too many grafts from the same area will leave a noticeable bald patch behind. Furthermore, care is taken to minimise damage to grafts during extraction. The punch tool is angled in the direction in which the hair exits from the scalp so the grafts are not cut. 

The entire process can take a couple of hours, but it naturally depends on the number of grafts that need to be extracted. Once the planned number of grafts has been taken out, the donor area is bandaged.

After the grafts have been harvested, work begins on the recipient area, which, like the donor area, receives both anaesthesia and tumescence before the slits can be made by the surgeon. 

In females, this part of the surgery is particularly important because the angles can change significantly, especially in the front part of the hairline. And if these incisions are not made properly, the hair growing out of the scalp will look unnatural. 

Unlike in males, where the incisions are angled forward, it goes the opposite direction in women. Even the cowlick at the front and centre reverses back into the hair, which then requires angling the hair in that particular way. 

On the sides, the incision sites gently slope downwards while following the direction and angle of the native hair. The orientation of the incisions can be sagittal (parallel) or coronal (perpendicular) – the latter is usually preferred to create a better illusion of density.  

In addition to orientation, the size of the incisions also varies in different regions of the scalp. This variation depends on the size of the graft that will be used: smaller incisions are made at the front, while the larger ones are placed at the back. 

For single hair grafts, the incisions are obviously smaller and can be around 0.6-0.9 mm. They can be around 0.9-1 mm for grafts with two hairs and go up to 1.2 mm for those with 3-4 hairs in them. The depth of these incisions is no more than 2 mm, although it is adjusted according to the length of the graft itself. 

Note that incisions can be made with blades or a Choi implanter pen for female hair transplants. The Choi implanter pen allows for simultaneous site creation and graft insertion with better graft survival. In regular FUE, graft insertion is done after the incisions have been made. 

The creation of recipient sites can also take 1-3 hours – it again depends on the number of sites that need to be made but may vary according to the complexity and experience of the surgeon. 

Graft insertion is carefully performed by experienced technicians to achieve natural-looking results. This can take up to 2 hours as well.

First and foremost, thin 1-hair grafts are placed in the very front few rows to create a feathered hairline. This is followed by a transition to 2-hair grafts and then 3-4 hair grafts while going backwards on the scalp.

Careful handling is very important in this step of the surgery. Damage from the forceps, dehydration or other trauma can impact graft survival and, consequently, your results. Therefore, your medical team will exercise utmost diligence.

Swana's Female Hair Transplant Journey

"Everything went well from the moment I arrived till the day of my procedure...I'm overall super content with everything. I hope my testimony is going to help someone make their decision about choosing Longevita."
Swana
Swana
23 March 2024

Patient Journey

3 Videos

How Long Does It Take To Recover From A Female Hair Transplant?

Your recovery will be followed up by our Aftercare team, and you can also get in touch with them via [email protected] for any help. You can also have a virtual consultation or an in-person one in London.

Some things of note during recovery can include: 

female hair transplant recovery

Typically 1 week, but it can depend on the nature of your work.

Common side effects are swelling, itchiness, scabbing, dryness, pimple formation, redness, pain, and sensitivity – all of them should get better with time.

Shock loss is a temporary hair loss which can affect both the donor and recipient areas. It can occur 2-3 weeks after your procedure but will not affect your results.

Platelet-rich plasma injections are commonly recommended as they contain growth factors and proteins that can stimulate the growth of thicker, healthier hair and speed up the recovery process.

Usually starts after 3 months with soft, fine hair. Thickness and density will improve with time, and final results become visible after 12 months (18 months for the crown because of slower blood circulation).

Female Hair Transplant Before-And-After Photos

Final results become visible after 1-1-5 years. However, since hair grows about 6 inches a year, it can be some time before you can see your results with long hair. Also, note that outcomes can vary between patients.

How Much Does A Female Hair Transplant Cost?

There can be significant variations in the cost of a female hair transplant depending on the location of the clinic as well as the type of procedure you’re undergoing.

In Turkey, a female hair transplant with regular FUE can cost £1,500, whereas the same can cost around £3,000 or so in the UK. Done with DHI or Sapphire, the price can go up to £2,000 in Turkey and £4,000-£5,000 in the UK.

Female Hair Transplant Reviews

Check out why so many women choose Longevita for their hair transplants!

Claire Frascati
I am a female who has just had a hair transplant here at Longevita, and I have they say they have been absolutely amazing, really attentive and supportive and I will 100% recommend anyone wanting and worried about having one to go. 5 stars, thank you so much.
Dan
I have recently had a hair transplant at the Longevita clinic and I must say I was ever so nervous, especially with being female and this being a procedure that men usually undergo. On the day Ali stayed with me right up until I went in to surgery to make sure I understood everything that was going to happen and was there day and night to answer any questions I may have had. The doctors and nurses were all very good and made me feel right at ease, especially as I had informed them my fear of needles. I was able to have a break at any time and was even provided a meal. It has almost been a week since my procedure now and evening though I am back in the UK I am still able to text or call any time should I have any aftercare questions. Thankfully I haven't needed to contact them as everything appears to have gone to plan so far. 3 of us went and all of us are more than happy with everything.
Zilehumah Sadiq
I had my transplant this morning. The clinic was based in London which now, looking back to was very convenient. I was like many other sceptical of whether the procedure was safe. I’m quite an anxious person an pretty much worked myself up by watching lots of YouTube videos the night before. Please don’t try doing this as it will only cause anxiety and distress before the procedure. Let me start off by telling everyone that I actually had a mental breakdown and tears when I arrived at the clinic. Immediately the two Lovely ladies staff members and the consultant reassured me. I apologise I didn’t not pay attention to names as I was so anxious. I can honestly say it was a pain free procedure. The only part I felt distress was when the local anaesthesia was applied an the discomfort did not last longer then ten seconds. All in all l, a painless procedure please don’t worry about it to much,You are in excellent hands. I also had a lovely lady hold my hand every time an injection was received and for that I am so grateful and appreciative. It’s now 7 hours post op I’m watching TV and pretty much pain free. Bring on the ten days of hibernation. Best of luck to anyone going in for there procedure. FYI I am a female who experienced alopecia 🙂 Thank you to the whole longevita team it’s been a pleasure.
Sheara Garner
The fact that the process was on point with everything that was Good for me. The Nurse and Doctors was also very understanding and made sure I was comfortable, Also I had assistance from a nice woman named Zuhal From Longevita she was very helpful and made me feel comfortable while I went through the process of my Hair transplant before and after.
Diana
I came to Longevita Turkey last week for a DHI hair transplant for my afro hair and my experience was nothing short of positive and pleasant! I was initially very nervous as I’ve never travelled for a surgical procedure so didn’t know what to expect. I was also travelling alone. However, Longevita made me feel safe and supported throughout - from consistent communication, to smooth airport pick ups, to luxury transportation and a nice hotel. Most importantly, the surgery itself was a breeze. The medical team were very professional, made me feel at ease and were attentive to my needs. The surgery went well and the aftercare has also been smooth. I have had no swelling nor much side effects and I am loving my new hair line - I can’t wait for it to grow out. I would also like to give a huge thanks to Gizem who was my contact throughout the whole trip, she was super welcoming, patient and answered all my questions! Thanks again for a smooth trip and procedure.
Vivienne O'neill
I recently underwent a hair transplant procedure with Longevita, and I am very pleased with the entire process, from my arrival in Turkey to my departure. The team at Longevita was highly professional, and my personal patient coordinator, Gizem, was extremely helpful and informative. She provided me with all the necessary details and made sure the entire process went smoothly. I would highly recommend Longevita to anyone seeking this type of treatment.
Hernandez Luciana
My name is Luciana I can only say great things about Longevita. It was a great experience. The staff was amazing. zuhal was excellent she did a great job, she was there for whatever i needed. The surgeon excellent as well , she does listen and that’s super important. The name of the other professionals can’t remember their names but they were just great. I never felt lost which that was my fear since it was another continent. If anyone is thinking to picking a clinic just go for longevita. I’m so happy and excited for my new life I would say because for those who are insecure about their hair would know what my words mean. Thank you longevita
Mary Waruhiu
Zuhal is a brilliant!! I came to longevita for a hair transplant. welcoming face and very friendly! She made us feel very comfortable and confident before my surgery and explained all every step in detail and made sure I fully understood before continuing. Highly recommended

Frequently asked questions about Female Hair Transplants

Female hair transplants are often performed with high success and patient satisfaction rates. While this surgery is less common among women, it can help restore scalp hair permanently with very natural-looking results.

Hair transplant is an effective treatment option for female pattern baldness. However, the presence of a strong and stable donor area is important for the results to last a lifetime. In the case of thinning in your donor area (back and/or sides of the scalp), transplanting such hair won’t produce lifelong results, and you will lose the transplanted hair.

The results of a female hair transplant are permanent. While you can experience temporary shock loss after your surgery, your hair should start to grow back after some time. Transplanted hair is meant to stay with you for the rest of your life.

Unlike over-the-counter products or hair systems, the results of a hair transplant are permanent. A single session of surgery is usually all people need to restore their hair, so this is also not a recurring expense. A female hair transplant can be quite worthwhile because of these reasons, as well as the fact that it gives natural-looking results.

Usually, a female hair transplant can take anywhere from 5-7 hours. Extraction, incisions and implantation can take about 2 hours each, but the overall duration can vary depending on the extent of hair loss.

It is understandable to want to hide your scalp after a hair transplant, however, you are recommended against covering your scalp as it can damage your hair grafts. If a fabric gets caught in your scabs, it can cause your grafts to fall prematurely. Nevertheless, you can consult your surgeon before leaving the clinic for any other options. 

Since females have narrower scalps, it’s often impossible to perform a 5,000-graft hair transplant due to a limited donor area. However, a patient’s willingness to shave also determines how many grafts can be extracted. 

When a full shave is performed, more grafts can be extracted, but if a patient wants their existing hair to cover the donor area, only a small window is shaved. Consequently, fewer grafts are extracted. The donor area of female patients usually allows the extraction of 3,000 grafts, although this can vary.

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