Hair loss has long been a concern for both men and women. However, the timing and causes of hair loss differ between the two sexes. Dr. Koray Erdogan, Medical Director of ASMED Medical Center, explains the conditions under which women can benefit from hair transplantation.
One of the most common questions among women is if hair transplantation is possible for them. With 25 years of experience as one of the leading authorities in hair transplantation, Dr. Koray Erdogan’s answer is a conditional “Yes.”
Emphasizing that the causes of hair loss in women differ from those in men, Dr. Erdogan notes that hair transplantation can only be applied to a smaller group of women who have experienced significant hair loss.
“The fundamental principle of the hair transplantation procedure remains the same,” says Dr. Erdogan. “However, for cosmetic reasons, we can perform the operation on women either without cutting the hair at all, or by trimming only a small section at the back, which can easily be camouflaged by the surrounding hair. This makes hair transplantation a far more attractive option for women today.”
Dr. Erdogan elaborates further:
“In men, the donor area — the back of the head — contains strong, resistant hair follicles. In hair transplantation, we transfer these robust follicles to the front. In women, on the other hand, thinning tends to occur more diffusely across the entire scalp — including the front, crown, and back areas. Therefore, when we transplant hair from the back to the front in women, the results may not always be as successful as they are in men.
However, there are certain special cases. Women who experience male-pattern hair loss due to hormonal imbalances — such as those caused by adrenal gland disorders or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) — can achieve excellent results with hair transplantation. In these cases, the underlying mechanism of hair loss resembles that of men, and we can safely and effectively perform the procedure.”
Dr. Koray Erdogan adds that hair transplantation can also be performed on women who have suffered burns, scarring, or medical trauma, achieving satisfactory aesthetic restoration in such cases as well.