I have a decent number of friends who have transitioned from male to female. Not as many who’ve gone from female to male but a few as well. Come to think of it, I have a lot of friends who are LGBTQ+. A lot! In fact, I sometimes wonder what percentage of my friends are cis. I think a good number of them might claim to be, but I know for a fact that at least 35% plus are quite open about their gender and sexuality. And as far as I’m concerned, that’s awesome!
At Best Hair Transplant we understand that gender transition is a very individual process surrounded by many delicate social issues. Treatments for MtF hair, transgender hair transplants in LA are becoming more and more commonplace. As a matter of fact, we’ve helped hundreds of male-to-female transgender patients further their dreams and transitioning goals by helping their hair match their self-image.
Choosing the Right Doctor and Clinic
Not every hair transplant clinic or surgeon is up for the task. It is important that your surgeon is aware of some of the unique nuances of hair restoration and MtF hair, transgender hair transplants. Also, and this is crucial, it’s important that your surgeon be sensitive to your needs and truly understand what it’s like to be transitioning. And this goes for MtF and FtM patients.
If your surgeon can’t empathize with your situation and doesn’t understand why you’re doing what you’re doing, I believe you’ll have a sub-par experience. Additionally, they may not do a very good job if they don’t fully understand what you’re going for. It’s just a personal feeling but I think it’s important for this step in your process to be one that delivers a good experience as well as positive results. You need to surround yourself with people who care and people who understand you. Not people who are negative or indifferent.
Pattern Baldness & Hair Loss
One area of aesthetic concern for transgender women may be male pattern hair loss. Thinning hair, bald patches at the crown of the head, or a receding hairline are some of the concerns that our trans women patients wish to address. It is important that your surgeon understand that there are differences in how masculine and feminine hairlines differ in structure and flow. In regards to most male hairlines, the hair grows forward, while with women’s hairlines, the hair flows backward. Even if there are no concerns about thinning hair, our trans women patients sometimes wish to alter the shape of their hairline in order to give a more feminine appearance.
FUT & FUE MtF Hair: Transgender Hair Transplants
For many of our MtF transgender women patients, FUT or FUE procedures are a great option for creating a rounder, fuller look in the hair that frames the face. Both procedures involve harvesting donor hair follicles from the back of the head and transplanting them around the face and at the temples.
With follicular unit transplantation (FUT) the hair is taken in strips from the scalp, and a linear incision is made in the scalp to harvest the follicles. With Follicular Unit Extraction, the follicles are removed individually from the back of the head. The transplantation process is the same after the initial extraction. Mostly, this depends on the number of grafts needed to achieve the desired results.
With FUT it is possible to keep the majority of the hair long in order to hide the incisions at the donor sites at the back of the head. With FUE the donor hairs must be 2 mm in length, meaning that the hair must be shaved close to the head in the surrounding area. Both procedures use local anesthetic and you are awake for the entire treatment. It takes between 10 days to 3 weeks for the scalp to heal. We generally recommend about 2 weeks before returning to work.
After your scalp is healed enough, your doctor will give you guidelines on how to wear wigs or hats without damaging the newly transplanted follicles. It is not recommended that you use wigs that adhere with double-sided tape, as this can cause irreparable damage to the newly transplanted hair. Clip-in wigs and hairpieces are preferable, though there is some risk of traction alopecia from excessive wear. At most head covering should not be worn for more than 12 hours at a time.
Other Hair Restoration Options
In addition to our surgical hair restoration treatments, we offer non-invasive options as well. We offer Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) with Capillus RX 312 laser caps. This is a take-home treatment that is pain-free, has no known side effects, and has been clinically shown to improve hair growth, thickness, and texture. LLLT is an excellent therapy to incorporate into your treatment plan to ensure that the transplanted hair follicles thrive. It can also be used to restore thinning hair, provided that the follicles are merely dormant and not dead.
Ultimately, whatever look you’re going for, make sure to fully express yourself to your hair restoration doctor. This is an important step in your transition process. You deserve to be heard and listened to. If your surgeon is not hearing you out, you may need to consider a different clinic. However, don’t mistake this negative attitude for a surgeon who’s recommending or advising against a certain procedure. After all, a skilled surgeon knows what will and won’t work. Usually, it comes down to the extent of your hair loss and how you want to wear your hair.
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. It is always a joy for us to help our clients realize their hair goals.
TRANSGENDER HAIR SPECIALISTS
Best Hair Transplant is the best place to schedule your hair transplant in Los Angeles. We’ve helped both trans men and women regrow their lost hair and reinvent themselves. 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.
Best Hair Transplant
1970 S. Prospect Ave., Suite 2
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(213) 403-0455
