FUE Hair Transplant for Traction Alopecia: Traction alopecia is the slow but steady loss of hair resulting from scalp trauma, inflicted by constant forceful pulling on the hair. Typically caused by specific hairstyles, traction alopecia is most common among African American women. It begins at the periphery of the scalp, including the anterior and posterior hairlines and behind the ears, and gradually recedes back until hair loss is noticeable.

Hairstyles That Cause Traction Alopecia

With constant or frequent wear, the hairstyles that most commonly result in this hair loss condition are:

Braids
Cornrows
Weaves
Extensions
Ponytails

The abrasive hair pulling caused by these hairstyles exacts trauma to the scalp, leading to a diffuse scarring that results in permanent hair loss. Many women who notice traction alopecia starting feel trapped in a cycle, needing to continue with the braids, weaves, and extensions to conceal the hair loss that has begun. Ironically, this is the worst response, as it only worsens the condition. If traction alopecia is caught early, hair may have a chance to grow back.

FUE Hair Transplant Reversing Traction Alopecia

If you frequently wear abrasive hairstyles, the best way to reverse traction alopecia is to keep an eye on your hair health. If the hair seems to be thinning along the edges, immediately discontinue braiding, weaving, etc.

For people who decide to seek a solution too late, the only treatment is surgical hair restoration. Follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplant is the leading method of hair transplantation in the hands of an experienced surgeon. Unlike other popular methods, FUE hair transplant harvests donor hair one follicular unit at a time, which minimizes scarring and maximizes hairline design. This is ideal for African American patients—the most common sufferers of traction alopecia—because of their tendency to have adverse scarring outcomes (namely keloiding) in response to wound healing.

Advanced FUE hair transplant, performed by a knowledgeable and skilled surgeon, additionally means there will be no linear scar a result.

Linear scarring occurs with the popular strip harvesting method, wherein donor hair is harvested by excising a strip of flesh from the mid-rear scalp. This has become a commonly recognized pitfall of strip surgery. FUE avoids this pitfall while also proffering:

Quick healing and recovery
Natural-looking results
Even coverage/density
Discreet donor harvest (especially for female patients)

Watch Video of UGraft FUE treatment result of traction alopecia