I pulled out my hair after transplant due to stress, will it grow back?

Question

Hello doctors, I need your help I had a hair transplant 4years ago and because of the stress I was pulling my hair out for more than 3 years and now its too empty, my question is does transplanted hair grow back or not ? Thank you

Emrah Cinik, MD · Answer

Hello,

If your hair-pulling behavior, or trichotillomania, has been going on for more than 3 years, the regrowth of transplanted hair depends on the extent of the damage.

If the roots of the transplanted hair are still alive:

* There is a possibility that the transplanted hair will grow back.

If hair pulling continues for 3 years, it can cause:

* Follicle damage,
* Scar formation,
* Permanent hair damage in the areas where hair transplantation was performed. As a result, the transplanted hair may not grow back.

The best way to understand this is to have an examination by a doctor using a dermatoscope.

Points to be checked:

* Are there any hair follicle openings?
* Are there new hairs?
* Is there any scar tissue?

If there are hair follicle openings and new hairs are present, the transplanted hair may grow back.

The first thing to do is:

1. Completely stop hair pulling behavior

2. Get examined by a doctor with a trichoscope

3. Start hair loss treatment

4. Plan hair transplantation if grafts have been permanently damaged.

Marco Barusco, MD · Answer

What you have is likely an anxiety disorder known as "trichotilomania". It is the habit of pulling hairs to relieve anxiety. You should talk to a therapist to treat this. As far as the hairs growing back, they should, particularly if they are transplanted hairs. Keep in mind that repetitive pulling can weaken hair follicles over time.

Matt Tahsini, MD · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question. The chances are slim that your hair will grow back. Before you consider any future procedures, I suggest you look into ways to control your stress levels. Best of luck to you.

Dr. T

Dr. T

Wipawan Vathananai, MD · Answer

Hello. I'm sorry to say that there's a small chance that they will grow back if you've been pulling them for 3 years. However, you can get another hair transplant to fix the empty gap since this is not a scarring alopecia, which is caused by hair follicle destruction by self immunity.  The most important thing is that you have to stop pulling them otherwise there's no use getting another hair transplant to fix the empty gap. You might want to consider a habit reversal bracelet which will train you to stop pulling your hair. I hope this help.

I pulled out my hair after transplant due to stress, will it grow back?

Answers (4)

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