While there are many different causes of hair loss, the variables affecting Asian hair may be of interest to people of East and South Asian descent who are considering a hair transplant. Here are some of the reasons hair restoration is different for Asian hair:
- Asians have flatter hairlines located a little lower which means hair transplant requires more attention to detail and the person’s anatomical feature when trying to create a natural-looking hairline.
- Asians have tighter and thicker scalps, making it difficult for doctors to apply the dissection technique when harvesting from the donor site.
- Transection is more probable in Asians during harvesting of the donor site and preparing of grafts because the hair follicles are longer.
- The metabolism of Asian hair follicles is more active than those of their Caucasian counterparts and more prone to dehydration.
- A larger donor strip is needed from the Asian scalp because Asians have lower hair density.
- Asians are more vulnerable to hypertrophic scars and because of this follicular unit extraction is a preferred hair transplantation method.
- Straight, black hair must be handled and angled well to be 100% natural even upon close inspection.
- While individual Asian hairs may be thicker in diameter and thus give the appearance of fuller hair, the density of hair follicles or number of hair follicles per given area is actually less.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplant has proven to be the most effective hair transplant method for Asians. With follicular unit extraction, the harvesting of donor hair takes place one follicular unit at a time, making the FUE process ideal for Asians.
With the FUE process, the transplanted hair grows in very thin at first initially and gradually grows thicker and fuller. Since the hair follicles that are transplanted to the balding areas are genetically resistant to going bald, they will continue to grow the same as if they had been left in the bald resistant donor area. After about one year your new hair will be fully mature and will continue to grow for a lifetime.
