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Will a Hair Transplant Last Forever? Final Answer

To answer this question, we really have to explain how male pattern baldness actually happens.  And how hair transplants fix the problem.

It’s very clever!

DHT The Destroyer Of Hair

The Role of DHT in Male Baldness

Male pattern baldness is a common affliction and affects 50% of men over the age of 50.

DHT – or Dihydrotestosterone – is thought to play a crucial role in male pattern baldness, but how does it work to cause this?

DHT is actually a more powerful androgen than testosterone.

During male development, it is produced in the gonads and circulates around the body to affect many male characteristics, such as development of the penis, deepening of the voice, male musculature and bone structure, and so on.

It is the presence of DHT that causes these characteristics we associate with men.

The problem is that DHT also shrinks – or miniaturizes – the hair follicles on the scalp.

will hair transplants last forever
Male pattern Hair loss follows a typical pattern

As DHT circulates around the body, it attaches to various special receptor sites. In this way, it causes typical male characteristics to appear.

However, the hair follicles on the head also have numerous receptor sites in men predisposed to male pattern baldness.

As the DHT attaches over time, it starts to slowly shrink the hair follicles. This causes the hair at those sites to thin until eventually they become so frail and small that they fall out. Over time, this causes male pattern baldness.

It’s important to note that in male pattern baldness, the hair starts to thin at the temples and the crown of the head.

This causes the characteristic horseshoe pattern. That said, DHT is not the only factor that plays a role.

Other genetic and environmental factors also tend to play a role, but it is DHT that causes the shrinking of the hair follicles.

If the men in your family have also had male pattern baldness, the chances are high that you will also have male pattern baldness, as genetics is one key factor.

The good news is that hair transplants can help.

The male hormone DHT shrinks genetically pre-disposed hair follicles resulting in male pattern hair loss.
Summary

How Do Hair Transplants Help?

During a hair transplant, healthy hair is harvested from donor sites and then transplanted to the bald areas.

As long as healthy hair is transplanted, hair density will improve and the hair will grow as normal.

It’s important that any donor hair is not sensitive to the presence of DHT.

That is, the donor site for the hair must have healthy hair follicles that have not been miniaturised by the presence of DHT.

The following are good candidates for hair donor sites:

1. The Head

In many men who do not have male pattern baldness, but still have baldness, using the sides and back of the scalp as a donor site is often the first choice.

back and sides of the head make excellent donor hair sites for hair transplants

This is because the type, density, and quality of hair will be the same when transplanted, and will also grow in the same way. This tends to give much more natural looking results.

The biggest issue is that in men with DHT sensitivity, these transplanted hairs may still be prone to falling out.

2. Facial Hair

The use of facial hair, specifically the beard, is a good secondary choice for a donor site.

The hairs here are often quite dense and are ideal when mixed in with other harvested hairs at the crow of the head.

Having said that, facial hair like this should not be transplanted to the hairline because it will grow in a way that does not look exactly like natural head hair.

3. Body Hair

Thirdly, body hair on arms, chest, and legs is often also used. This hair may also be used in conjunction with beard hair if the hair in the scalp is too thin or exhausted.

Hair can be taken from the scalp, facial or body hair to be transplanted on to bald areas
Summary

Will hair transplant last forever - Final answer

When performed by a skilled and experienced surgeon, a hair transplant should theoretically last for a lifetime.

But this can be impacted by the donor hair.

As long as the donor hair is not sensitive to DHT, then it will continue to grow into the future.

It is the hair follicle that is affected by the presence of the DHT androgen, so as long as the donor hair is from another part of the body that is not sensitive to it, the hair transplant should last a lifetime.

Some people worry that after their transplant, hairs will start to fall out within the first few months.

This is normal during the resting phase of follicle activity, and full density and maximum transplant hair growth is typically achieved in around 15 months.

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How to Improve Hair Donor Area for Hair Transplants

How to Improve Hair Donor Area for Hair Transplants

What Is the Donor Area?

The donor area is important for a hair transplant because this is the site where the hair comes from for the transplant.

In theory, anywhere on the body that has sufficient hair of a certain quality can be harvested for a hair transplant.

This means that any of the following may become donor areas:

  • Arms
  • Legs
  • Chest
  • Beard
  • Another area of the scalp
A donor area is anywhere on the body that has enough hair to donate for a hair transplant, usually on the scalp.
Summary

What Makes for a Good Donor Area?

Not every donor area is suitable for transplantation but there are times when a donor site must be considered in the absence of other options.

In general, there are two factors that determine whether a specific donor site is suitable or less suitable – hair density and hair type.

1. Can the Beard Be Used as a Donor Site?

Perhaps the biggest advantage of using the beard as a donor site is that the quality of hair is thick and dense.

In fact, this makes the beard the second most used donor site.

When mixed with hair from other donor sites, the beard hair can give the appearance of more thickness and body too.

One thing to consider is that using the beard as a donor site is often more painful during and after extraction.

This is because the skin in those areas is sensitive. Having said that, beard hair should only be mixed in with a hair transplant in the crown area.

This is because the beard hair is thicker and has a different coarseness to normal head hair. If transplanted to the hairline areas, beard hair can look unnatural.

2. What About Arms, Legs, and Chest?

The chest is a good solution for men who lack hair on their heads or have a thin beard. It must be said that chest hair is typically thinner and less dense than head hair so it is not necessarily the ideal donor site.

The arms and legs may also be considered as donor sites, especially if not enough hair can be harvested from other areas for the transplant. The biggest disadvantage is that the hair in these areas typically grows less predictably than head hair. As such, it will retain this growth unpredictability when transplanted.

3. How About the Scalp?

The first preference is to harvest transplantable hair from the scalp. This largely depends on how much hair there is on the scalp and where the hair loss is. For example, some balding and hair thinning on top can be remedied by using the sides and back of the head as donor sites. Obviously, if the hair loss is much more extensive, then the beard, chest, arms, or legs need to be considered instead.

If the back or sides of the head have thick enough hair, then these are ideal donor sites over other parts of the body. The biggest advantage is that the hair will be the same as the hair already lost in terms of quality, thickness, and growth predictability.

Back of scalp, beard and chest hair are all options as donor sites for a hair transplant.
Summary

Can You Improve the Donor Site for hair transplant?

Although you can’t increase the hair density of a donor site, there are steps you can take to improve it.

1. Consider using  Rogaine

Rogaine is the common name for a drug called minoxidil.  It thickens existing hair, and perhaps slows down hair loss.

Rogaine is only licensed for use on the scalp.

It was first used to treat high blood pressure in people but it became apparent that using it topically on thinning areas of the scalp helps to slow down hair loss and promote hair growth.

It’s not exactly known how it works but some suggest that because it opens up blood vessels in the area,

2. Use Better Shampoos

Improving general scalp health can also help to promote optimal hair growth.

Using medicated shampoos to treat dandruff or folliculitis is a good idea. And using good-quality shampoos to promote better hair health means that transplantation is more likely to result in a more natural appearance.

3. Stop Using Chemicals

It should also go without saying that it’s important to stop the use of dyes, bleaches, and other harsh hair chemicals before transplantation. These can damage the hair.

4. Consider using a DHT-blocker such as Finasteride

Provided you consult with your healthcare provider and he/she is happy for you to try it,

Finasteride or Propecia can prevent hair loss and improve your donor hair potential.

Note: Finasteride is only licensed in men.

5. Manage Your Stress

Chronic stress can actually cause hair loss in many people. This is because cortisol, the chemical released by the body during stress, can build up long-term and affect the health of the hair follicles.

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Can a Hair Transplant Remove Grey Hair?

If you have decided to get a hair transplant, there’s every chance that your hair is not just thinning but greying as well.

You might thus wonder if you could hit two birds with one stone with your hair transplant, and restore your natural hair colour as well as your hair.

The short answer is yes –  when done properly, a hair transplant can sometimes turn back the clock on greying hairs and breathe new life into your naturally coloured hair.

turning grey hair to black with hair transplants

How Transplanted Hairs Can Turn Grey Heads of Hair Colorful

First, it’s worth noting how hair turns grey in the first place.

We all know that grey hair comes with age but some have the misconception that grey hair also stems from follicles also being unhealthy and that’s simply not the case.

Instead, grey hair results from pigmentation from melanin in your hair follicles, which are themselves produced by cells called melanocytes.

Grey hair, the same as your hair colour, is typically genetically determined (though factors such as stress can accelerate it).

On the one hand, this means that transplanted hair will not magically turn existing grey hair back into your pre-grey hair color.

You can’t just pluck out some hairs, pop them into the top of your scalp, and expect them to turn the rest of your hair coloured.

That hair is continuing to grow in via their own follicles and roots. There’s nothing that transplanted hair can do about that.

What’s more, your transplanted hairs should come from other parts of your body, which naturally begs the question of whether these hairs have already turned grey themselves.

If so, it isn’t as though they’re going to magically turn back to their original color the second that they’re grafted into your head.

That said, if they’re still their original color and are transplanted into your head via a graft, they may be able to retain that color for a while.

How long that is will depend on the doctor and size of the graft so you’ll want to check with your surgeons to see what they can do for you.

In terms of getting rid of grey hairs via a hair transplant, the answer is more complicated.

If the hair that you are grafting onto your scalp is and has been removed from an area on your body where your hair is colored, your new hair should also be colored.

That said, how long and the extent to which that lasts will vary on a case-by-case basis so check with your doctor.

Can Transplanted Hairs Turn Grey?

After all that trouble, you might well wonder if transplanted hairs, even those that are colored when transplanted, can turn grey as they sit and settle and age: the answer is yes.

If it is assumed that they stay in as they should, transplanted hairs should turn grey the same way as your natural hair, though they do not accelerate the greying process

Transplantation and Older Patients

What about as you age along with your scalp?

While it’s understandable that you might worry about your scalp and overall health with age, the fact is hair transplantation is not more dangerous among older patients.

Even if you are over 80 years of age, you can get a hair transplant safely.

That being said, you should still discuss the process with your surgeon, especially if your hair has already begun to grey.

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when it comes to hair transplants is thinking that they can reset the clock back to their early 20s no matter how old they are.

That’s simply not the case.

Instead, you need to talk to your surgeon to know what you can reasonably expect and how you can best achieve your desired appearance.

Maybe that means recovering your hair’s original natural and full colour.

In greater likelihood, if you’re in an advanced state of greying, it can mean thicker hair with some coloration to give a more distinguished “salt and pepper” look.

Finally, if done by a proper surgeon, your transplanted hair should be sturdy enough to be able to withstand a dyeing process, which can color it that way, albeit artificially.

By knowing the ins and outs of hair transplants and grey and colored hair, you can breathe new life and color into your new look.

Pharmacist with special interest in hair loss and hair transplantation.

Read my book on hair transplants in Turkey on Amazon:

https://track.more-info.co.uk/amazon/authorprofile

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How to get a natural-looking hair transplant? [in 2021]

What is a "natural" looking hair transplant?

A natural looking hair transplant is one that has the right hairline design and the right hair density to match the client’s age and physical characteristics.

In this article we will explore some of the dos and don’ts towards achieving a natural looking hair transplant result.

 

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but when what you’re beholding is demonstrably fake, chances are you’re bound to find it ugly.

Fake-looking hair transplants are one of the biggest concerns of those considering the treatment.

Otherwise known as the “Ken doll” look.

They are certainly something to take into account but as long as you know what to avoid, these treatments can indeed be a thing of beauty.

Causes of un-natural transplant hairlines

1) Poorly qualified surgeon

Unqualified surgeons botching transplants and using inexpensive or outdated techniques giving you an obviously-fake result; is an obvious cause of fake-looking hair transplants.

Always check the credentials of your hair transplant surgeon online.

Make sure they have gone to an accredited medical school, see where they did their specialty work in becoming a hair surgeon, and check their reviews.

2) Poor hair density and distribution

 Simply “plugging” hair back into your head won’t make it look natural if it isn’t properly arranged.

Your hair’s follicles are embedded into your scalp in certain patterns following a natural hairline, and while everybody’s different, we’re also pretty good at spotting what looks natural and what doesn’t.

This is often called the “ken doll” look.  Where hair appears “pluggy” and fake.

un-natural hair transplant result
notice the pluggy-looking result

Hair plugs, improper angulation of hair grafts, and outdated hair graft techniques all ignore the natural contours of your hairline, making them look unnatural.

If your transplanted hair sits too high or too low on your brow or doesn’t follow a natural angle, it’s going to look fake.

3) Poor hairline design

It is key your hairline is suitable for your age and bone structure.  

A good hairline plays a vital role in making your hair transplant look natural.

The density of the hairline is also key.  A hairline that is too dense will not look natural, especially for an older client.

Also the angles of the hairline are important. A straight hairline is generally more appropriate for very young clients, and less for older clients.

Example of a natural hairline for a client's age

Hairline design and age

Another common mistake people make when getting hair transplants is to ignore the fact that they aren’t as young as they once were.

On the one hand, that might be the whole reason you’re trying to get a hair transplant in the first place, to recapture the look of your “glory days” when you were younger.

On the other hand, that’s exactly the kind of thinking that can get you into trouble.

Eighteen-year-old men (and women) have different hairlines than 45-year-olds.

Both in terms of the height of the hairline and growth angles.

Embrace that, and go for something that looks natural or risk hair that’s oddly angled or too thick.

Choosing a natural hairline | A checklist

A Bad Hair Transplant Example Checklist would include:

  • Hair plugs or other inexpensive and outdated methods, especially for the hairline
  • Hair sticking out in every direction, or oddly angled
  • Hairline that’s clearly way too thick and wig-like
  • Hairline that clearly doesn’t match your age
  • Hair transplants done by an unqualified surgeon

That last part can result in hair transplant scars, which will look unnatural and like your hair’s been sewn into your head – and if that sounds painful.

That’s because it probably will be, so avoid this at all costs.

By contrast, a good hairline should look natural and work with the natural sloping contours of your head and hairline. Rather than trying to impose a hairstyle onto a head and age that doesn’t suit it,

you should aim for something that complements your age.

Those of us that age most gracefully are often those that embrace rather than fight aging, staying young at heart while wearing their age with pride.

You should make sure you go to an accredited surgeon, avoid hair plugs, and look for hair transplants that emphasize the natural slope of your hairline now,

not what it once was 10 or 20 years ago.

What’s more, you should look to strike a balance between hair density and volume without getting so much hair grafted in a single place that it sticks up unnaturally.

In this way, you can get a hair transplant that matches your age while helping you feel years younger.

Choosing a qualified surgeon, being realistic with your hairline expectations and density - will all work to give you the best hairline from your transplant.
Summary
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Can Hair Transplants Come from Another Person?

If you are facing the impending consequences of hair loss, all your friends’ well-coiffed heads of hair can start to seem like a taunt or a challenge, or perhaps just unfair.

As your follicles keep waning and theirs keep growing back strong, an idea might start to creep into your head—you may start to wonder, why can’t your hair be like theirs?

What if their head of hair was yours?

You hardly want to scalp your friends or passersby, but hair donors do exist for wig-making purposes, so is it possible to do the same with your own head of hair?

Can you get hair transplanted from another person?

We will try answer this fascinating question.

Current Problems

The short answer to our question right now is no – right now, hair donations for implantation is simply are not feasible.

You might wonder why that’s the case,since we obviously perform organ transplants without any problem.

There are many reasons for that, but the simplest is that you are your own hair donor for a hair transplant.

The hair does not come from someone else, but rather yourself.

As a mammal, you have hair all over your body.

Your arms, legs, and torso can have a ton of hair.

How much of this you wish to have grafted onto your head is another matter, but the fact remains that this is the type of hair that is typically “transplanted” onto your scalp via these procedures.

Why can’t you do this with someone else’s hair?

Your immune system would reject it.

Dealing with the immune system is always a challenge when it comes to transplants of any kind.

Body parts are not the same as car parts, which can be taken out of one car and put into another with no problem.

Your body produces specific antibodies, and your organs are obviously coded with your own DNA.

As such, your body knows an “impostor” when it sees one, and when it does, it tries to destroy it.

That’s great news for your survival, but it also kills your chance of being able to take hair transplants from someone else.

While immuno-suppressant drugs may be used in organ transplants occasionally, at present they are not used in hair transplants since, again, there’s no need – typically, you are your own donor.

While you probably won’t be taking hair from your beard or mustache and grafting that onto your head, there is still probably enough hair on other parts of your body for suitable grafts.

Finally, it is worth noting that even if you theoretically were able to take someone else’s hair (which, again, is not presently possible), it likely would not look natural grafted alongside your own hair.

As such, this is not a viable solution at present.

A qualified hair transplant surgeon should have no problem talking you through the procedure and determining the best way to take hair from different parts of your body and graft it onto your head.

Possible Solutions

Just because a hair donor isn’t a realistic solution today doesn’t mean that it can’t become one tomorrow.

Maybe we will find a way around the immune system barrier, although this seems unlikely at present.

More intriguing is the possibility of hair cloning.

We have seen cloning become more and more sophisticated over the past quarter-century, and there is already talk about being able to clone organs someday.

On the one hand, no matter how much you may need hair, there are more urgent transplants that take up the lion-share of publicly funded research efforts.

On the other hand, these organs bring with them serious ethical issues, whereas hair transplants – as an elective cosmetic surgery involving hair follicles – may be a less fraught issue.

Hair transplant technology is improving all the time, with first FUT and then FUE reshaping the industry. There is no way of knowing what kind of hair grafting breakthroughs we will make in the next decade.

However, suffice it to say that since this is indeed one of the most lucrative cosmetic fields in medicine, further investment, research, and breakthroughs are highly likely.

While you cannot get hair transplants from another person, the technology that allows you to become your own hair donor is getting better all the time.

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