Other & Miscellaneous Topics on Hair Loss & Hair Restoration

I am happy to finally see new hair growth within this last two months. But the grafts that were inserted in the recipient area look much different from my natural hair. They feel coarser. Is this something that happens with everyone, or just me?

Ryan M.

Hello Ryan! Don’t be alarmed by the disparity you are noticing between your original hair and the newly inserted grafts. This is a very common occurrence and happens with other hair transplant patients as well. Besides differences in texture, other people will experience less shininess than what they are used to seeing and different hair color as well.

Although the grafts themselves were follicles taken from your head, they are now in a new environment. This transition obviously has an effect on the hair creation processes. Between the sixth to ninth month, hair tends to look frizzy. Some of the hair follicle cells have gone into a dormant mode. Therefore, only sections of the hair shaft are being produced.

And some time will be needed for the follicles to adjust and return to their normal levels of functioning. This can range from a year to two years. Understanding what hair restoration outcomes to expect will be helpful as you await your final results

But during the 10^th to 14^th month, the dormant cells become activated once again. They are once again able to contribute to the creation of more complete hair shafts. And this causes them to resume a straighter looking appearance.

Keep in mind that your hair grows in cycles. New shafts emerge for some time and then fall out. It may take two to three cycles before you notice a more normal look to your hair.

Patients who have undergone a body hair transplant would undoubtedly have recipient areas with a coarser texture. However surgeons can create a more even looking appearance by inserting both head and body hair.

I’ve heard a lot of great things about PRP treatments for rejuvenating the hair follicles to promote new growth. It this just some type of fad or a legitimate way to reverse hair loss?

W.Graham

Platelet Rich Plasma is being used for a lot of areas including skin rejuvenation, liposuction and fat grafting. Many people seem to be excited about its potential to stimulate new hair growth. In some individuals who have received this restoration treatment, new shafts have appeared. But there are a few issues to consider.

(1) Results seen thus far have not been cosmetically significant. Ideally what anyone would want is substantially improved coverage that help them look their best, not scanty and minimal growth.

(2) Platelet Rich Plasma needs to be applied over wounds that are deliberately inflicted on the skin. In the video above, it is explained that practitioners create this with special rollers. The skin has its own healing mechanisms. Therefore when it is wounded, it will create replacement tissue along with new hair follicles. This phenomenon is even documented in formal research studies.

Therefore, it is not clear whether or not PRP is facilitating the new hair growth or if the wound healing is responsible for this effect. The sessions themselves need to be ongoing in order to sustain results. the positive outcomes reported on patients may be caused by the regular infliction of wounds.

New research is surely needed to discern the actual effects of PRP on hair growth from the natural wound healing capabilities of the skin itself.

Anyone who is thinking about choosing a particular hair restoration treatment needs focus on actual results that can be replicated across large numbers of individuals. The cost of such interventions should be weighed against the likelihood of obtained desired outcomes. Otherwise, the treatment would be a real financial gamble.

It is also a good idea to learn about real published research studies on what scientist are doing to see if they can rejuvenate or revive dormant hair follicles. As of yet, such research does not exist for Platelet Rich Plasma.