We Help Male to Female Trans Patients Sculpt Their Female Hairline

December 13, 2021

At Best Hair Transplant we help male to female trans patients sculpt their female hairline. We value and respect our transgender patients and are honored to be a part of their transition journey. For our clients that are transitioning from male to female, re-sculpting the hairline can be integral to achieving their desired look.

Not everyone is aware that men and women naturally have different patterns of hair growth, particularly in the way that the hair frames the face. Hair transplantation surgery is an excellent option for transgender patients that are desiring a permanent way to create a more feminine look. It’s a way to create a natural female hairline with their own natural hair.

Creating Your Female Hairline

For some transgender women, pattern hair loss may be an area of particular aesthetic concern. Some common hair concerns that our patients seek to resolve include thinning hair, particularly around the face, receding hairline, and bald patches at the top of the head. Our surgeons have particular attention to detail when it comes to understanding the ways that a female hairline differs from a male hairline. Men’s hairlines grow in a more forward direction, while a female hairline will tend to grow in a backward flow. Even if a transgender patient has no concerns about pattern hair loss, they may wish to alter the shape of their hairline in order to appear more feminine.

For male to female transgender patients undergoing hormone therapy, estrogen hormone therapy, in particular, offers some advantages. If a patient was experiencing pattern baldness prior to hormone therapy, female hormones like estrogen will likely halt the progression of hair loss. This is largely because male pattern baldness is triggered by male hormones known as androgens. Continuation of estrogenic hormone therapy can increase the longevity of transplanted follicular grafts in the future.

Female Hairline Sculpting with FUT & FUE

Doctors may recommend either follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or follicular unit extraction (FUE) for creating a female hair line. Both types of surgery are relatively equal in terms of success rates. Which type of treatment is most appropriate will depend on the needs and desired results of the patient. Essentially, both surgeries are the same in that follicular grafts are harvested from the back of the head and transplanted around the face and temples. However, they differ in terms of the methods employed for harvesting the follicular grafts.

With FUT, grafts are harvested when the surgeon removes a long strip of scalp from the back of the head by making an incision that is sutured after the donor strip is removed. With FUE the grafts are removed individually using a micropunch tool. Once the follicular grafts are harvested and prepared the method of transplanting them into the recipient area is the same.

With FUT, it’s possible to keep the majority of the hair long in order to hide the incisions at the donor site. If a patient has already grown their hair long and wishes to maintain this length, they may wish to go with this option. With FUE, hair at the donor site must be shaved 2mm in length. This means that the hair must be shaved close to the head in the surrounding donor area. The follicular grafts themselves are removed in a dispersed pattern leaving behind scars that are virtually invisible. However, it takes time for the hair to grow out.

Some patients choose to work with topical medications such as minoxidil or low-level laser therapy in the form of laser caps in order to encourage their hair to grow faster. These treatments are only appropriate after the initial recovery period post surgery is complete.

What’s a Hair Transplant Like?

Both FUT and FUE are performed under local anesthetic, so patients are awake during surgery. We recommend that patients bring headphones so that they can listen to either music, an audiobook, or their favorite podcast to help pass the time during surgery. It can also prevent them from hearing the sounds of the surgery itself which can be distressing for some patients. FUE tends to be a more time-consuming procedure than FUT, but patients should expect to spend several hours in surgery either way.

The length of the surgery depends on the number of grafts harvested. Expect recovery time to last between 10 days to 3 weeks. FUT procedures tend to result in a longer recovery with slightly more discomfort. This is because the area that was sutured takes longer to heal. It takes between 10 days to 3 weeks for the scalp to heal. We generally recommend about 2 weeks before returning to work. Your surgeon will schedule a post operative evaluation about 2 weeks following surgery. At this appointment, the surgeon will assess how well you are healing after surgery. They will also be able to give recommendations as far as best practices for long term hair care.

They may recommend certain products as well as best practices for styling. Expect the best results 12-18 months out. In the early weeks after surgery, all the new transplanted hair will fall out. This is normal and a sign that the transplant was successful. Below the surface of the scalp, the new hair growth is getting ready to emerge from the follicle. Hair restoration is a process that requires a lot of patience but incorporating great habits into one’s hair care routine will do a lot to ensure that the hair remains healthy.

Incorporating Other Methods To Work in Tandem With Your Hair Transplant

After healing from the initial surgery, some patients choose to incorporate topical hair growth medication minoxidil, also known as Rogaine into their daily routine in order to encourage their newly transplanted hair to grow faster. It can also act as a preventative against future hair loss. Laser caps such as the CapillusRX 312 utilize low level laser therapy (LLLT) is another treatment that can encourage hair growth, increase hair density, and prevent hair loss in the future. Laser caps have been shown to reduce the appearance of grey hair as well. The lasers stimulate the production of melanin, which darkens the pigment of the hair.

Patients that are undergoing female hormone therapy may experience an increased rate of hair growth as well. Hormones such as progesterone and estrogen lengthen the amount of time that hair stays in the growth stage of its cycle. This is one of the reasons why pregnant women experience increased hair growth in pregnancy, is due to the high levels of these hormones. During your consultation, you will be able to discuss with your doctor whether hormone therapy would be beneficial to your hair restoration journey.

Helpful Tips to Follow After Your Female Hairline Transplant

The first few months after surgery are often the hardest to get through. It takes time for the new hair growth to first become visible, and then grow out. Many patients ask about using hats, wigs, or other hair systems to conceal their transplant until it grows out. The answer is complicated.

In the first few weeks after surgery, you will need to follow careful aftercare instructions. Your surgeon will instruct you to not wear any hats, bathing caps, helmets, or wigs while your scalp heals. Also, avoid swimming, exercise, and direct sun exposure. Finally, abstain from smoking in the weeks before and after surgery. It is essential that the scalp does not become infected as this could damage the transplanted follicles, causing the transplant to fail.

After you’ve been cleared in your post-operative evaluation, your doctor will make recommendations as to which types of hats and wigs are safest to wear. It is very important that the scalp gets plenty of airflow. For instance, it is not recommended to use wigs that use double-sided tape to adhere to the head. This can cause irreparable damage to both your natural and transplanted hair follicles.

Clip-in wigs are less dangerous, but there is some risk of traction alopecia, especially from extended wear. Clean silk scarves are a good alternative for protective styling. Your new follicles will be safely protected by the scarf. Meanwhile, it still creates a lot of fun possibilities for looking stylish. At most, any head covering should not be worn for more than 12 hours at a time.

Book Your Female Hairline Sculpting Consultation

We encourage you to schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more about the customized treatment plan. There, we put together plans to help you achieve your desired look. We understand that the process of gender transition often requires huge investments. Emotional investments, monetary investments, and of course, time. It’s no small undertaking. Treatments. Therapies. Medical procedures. These are just a few of the things to navigate through in order to live as the person you’ve always been.

No matter your background, we understand how thick, healthy, natural hair and a female hairline can enhance your confidence. It’s always a joy for us to help our clients realize their hair goals, and to watch their confidence blossom.

We encourage you to schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more about the customized treatment plan we can put together to help you achieve your desired look. We understand that the process of gender transition often requires huge investments in treatments, therapies, and medical procedures in order to live as the person you have always been. No matter your background, we understand how thick, healthy, natural hair can enhance your confidence.

SUFFERING FROM HAIR LOSS?

At Best Hair Transplant we value and respect our transgender and non-binary clients. We create a safe and supportive environment for all of our clients. After all, we know how personal it is to share your experiences and hopes when it comes to your hair. We conduct your complimentary consultation either in person or virtually according to your preference. If you’re ready to take the next step, contact us. We look forward to meeting you and helping you complete this phase in your journey.

Best Hair Transplant is the best place to schedule your hair transplant in Los Angeles. We’ve helped both men and women regrow their lost hair. But don’t take our word for it. We suggest learning as much as possible about hair restoration. Do so prior to making a decision on how to address your hair loss. Not every procedure is right for everyone.

At Best Hair Transplant, we’re proud of our results and happy to provide hair restoration services. Additionally, we’re proud to make hair transplants affordable and help you save money on a variety of hair transplants. To ensure your ease of mind, you can view our customer recommendations HERE. Furthermore, you can also see our Google reviews and Yelp reviews. We can’t wait to help you start restoring your lost hair.