Bald spot 6 months after transplant in the same place as I had after my first hair transplant is something wrong? (photos)

Question

Hi I am a week shy of my 6 month post hair transplant and I am worried because I still have a bald spot/patch in the same place I had one after my first hair transplant nothing significant seems to be growing in that area it looked amazing afew weeks after but after it all shedded out it just hasn't grown back at all! I will include pictures of before the 2nd HT weeks after and now

Ken Anderson, MD, FISHRS · Answer

Dear Josh,
Thank you for writing in with this question. Looking at nothing but the pictures and the history of what happened in your message, it’s a reasonable assumption to believe that the spot is a patch of alopecia areata, which is not usually correctable with any form of hair restoration surgery: strip, FUE, FUT...whatever the case. A hair restoration surgeon of the absolute minimal competency should, at a bare minimum, recognize very common disorders of hair growth like this, and avoid offering transplantation, as it won’t work. Either he or she chose to not mention this to you, or didn’t themselves recognize it. Either way it’s not a good situation. Clearly I could be wrong, but it seems obvious to me. Thank you for posting the pictures; I’ve always wondered what would happen and look like if an area of alopecia areata received follicles in a hair transplant procedure.
Alopecia areata is an inflammatory condition of the skin, somewhat like eczema or psoriasis, in which the inflammation halts hair growth and prevents further growth of the follicle present, or any follicles transplanted. As mentioned, it’s part of the elemental “ABC’s” of the specialty of hair restoration surgery. I’m not certain, obviously, but the explanation would explain everything that’s going on, and it sure looks like alopecia areata to me. I’ve been practicing exclusively hair restoration surgery since 2003. You should see a dermatologist for evaluation and treatment of that bald spot. It’s a real possibility that a transplant was not in fact indicated at all in the first place, especially and specifically for the treatment of that spot.
I hope this information is helpful to you.
Kind Regards,
Ken Anderson, MD, FISHRS

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

It can take 6 to 12 months after surgery to see results.  If you are concerned it is best to contact your doctor

Karl Hekimian, MD · Answer

At six months there is usually some visible hair from grafts, though it may still be thin and wispy.  It usually takes a good six months to a year before you see your true results.  If you look exactly the same in 2-6 months, you should meet with your surgeon to review photos and be examined in person.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

The bald spot where the grafts have not grown twice, may reflect a disease called alopecia areata which, when active, will kill the local hair. See a dermatologist about it for a biopsy consideration.

Bald spot 6 months after transplant in the same place as I had after my first hair transplant is something wrong? (photos)

Answers (4)

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