What value are fine vellus hair when grafted into the bald scalp? Would the finer hair thicken (Recipient dominant) to provide meaningful coverage? Recipient co-dominance is becoming increasingly evident in the context of BHT at least anecdotally… “Co-dominance” in the sense that not all characteristics will undergo modulation following a change in location. Even so, it is likely that the characteristics that do undergo modulation do so to a varying degrees. Of these characteristics, hair cycle which affects hair length and density are most likely affected. Dr U has reported color transformation in a patient where grey hair became dark hair upon relocation. There is yet to emerge evidence that hair caliber is one of the characteristics to undergo modulation solely on the virtue of location change.
Vellus Body Hair to Scalp Transplantation
It remains to be seen what will become of vellus body hair that has been relocated to the scalp. Anecdotally however, it is not likely that vellus body hair would undergo favorable caliber transformation solely on the basis of relocation to the scalp without the introduction of a substantial iatrogenic influence. Another scenario that may influence such an experiment would be the factors responsible for the miniaturization of the body hair in the first place and to what extent these are reversed upon relocation.
Also, the term recipient “co-dominance” would be an apt one given that donor dominance in the context of DHT sensitivity continues to hold true.
UPdate: Dr Umar has observed these evidence of recipient co-dominance in the ensuing years since this article was written:
- Reversal of grey hair after relocation from the chest/beard to the head
- modest length increase after body hair relocation to the head
Please direct all inquiries to S. Umar, MD. 510 North Prospect Avenue, Suite 209, Redondo Beach, California Email or Call 1-800-499-DRUCLINIC