Can You Get Hair Restoration Surgery After Radiation Treatments?

Question

I have a bald spot on the crown of my head that was caused by radiation treatments that I received to cure my brain tumor. Its been a year and a half since I've received the radiation and my radiation doctor says that the hair is not going to grow back. Is hair restoration surgery a good option for me?

Ozge Ergun, MD · Answer

Dear LB22Thanks for the question. If it would do, so everybody should have hair loss. Nowadays everybody has a TV or smartphone. The answer is "no" it does not effect your hair transplantation. I wish you all the best.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

Hair transplant as well as SMP may be an option after brain surgery and radiation treatment.  It would of course depend on your exam.  The combination of SMP and Hair Transplant surgery can give you the look of fullness.  The VIDEO shows women with SMP an Hair Transplants but men benefit as well.

Hannah Vargas, MD · Answer

Yes, hair transplant can be a very natural option in a patient after radiation. The one issue is potential scarring in the area may inhibit the blood supply of the new hair. Your surgeon should be able to address this issue in your particular situation and counsel you on options. Good luck!

Sanusi Umar, MD · Answer

Hair restoration surgery is definitely an option for your condition. Namely, FUE hair transplant or even strip surgery will work if the surrounding hair is in tact. If you don&rsquo;t have enough donor hair on your scalp, body hair transplant is also a viable option today. I would not recommend scalp reduction as it can result in visible scarring called &ldquo;slot formation.&rdquo; For that matter, if you&rsquo;re choosing between strip harvesting and follicular unit extraction, the latter will result in the least amount of scarring in both the donor and recipient areas.  FUE hair transplant is a great option for anyone with hair loss from:

	
		Male pattern baldness
	
		Excessive scarring from previous surgery
	
		Hair loss due to accident, burn, or chemotherapy/radiation treatment

Kevin Ende, MD · Answer

The options for hair restoration on your crown will depend on the size of the area that is bald and the quality of the surrounding scalp. If the area is small enough, a simple excision of the area, with either a rotation flap or advancement flap after galeotomies is one option. For larger balding areas, a scalp expander would be inserted, followed by a scalp flap procedure. Hair transplants are also an option for some coverage, but multiple sessions are likely necessary.

Jeffrey Epstein, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes, in fact, this is an indication for performing a hair transplant.
	Because of the challenges in assuring full hair regrowth, I suggest you
	seek out a highly experienced surgeon in this area.  I usually recommend
	that patients wait a minimum of 18 months following the completion of
	the radiation therapy.

Jack Fisher, MD · Answer

If the hair has not grown out by now your doctor is correct. It is unlikely it will recover. I have tried hair transplants in radiated areas and unfortunately only about half of the grafts ever grew in. Getting hair to grow in a radiated area can be very difficult.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Once an experienced doctor examines you and determines the health of your scalp, you may be a candidate for a hair transplant

Amiya Prasad, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

The sudden loss of growing hairs as a result of chemicals or radiation is known as Anagen effluvium. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy halt the growth phase of hair follicles, and result in the sudden shedding of hair. Hair Restoration Surgery can work in burn (radiation) sites very well. My colleague and New York Hair restoration expert Dr. Gary Hitzig has performed several cases that have been successful. We generally do an evaluation and a test session first to determine the best possible treatment for hair loss. Also, you may be a candidate for ACell treatments, pioneered by Dr. Hitzig, which has amazing resulted in rescuing dying hairs, duplicating transplanted hairs and preventing further hair loss.

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

If you have lost hair following radiation treatment for a brain tumor you have obviously had radiation damage to that skin and the hair will not regrow. Rather than putting transplants into skin with possibly compromised circulation I would transfer hair bearing scalp with a flap from the surrounding normal tissue with or without expansion depending on the size of the bald area and the tightness of your scalp.

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