Hair Transplantation in Women

September 2025 | Volume 24 | Issue 9 | 851 | Copyright © September 2025


Published online August 29, 2025

Dawn Queen MDa, Marc R Avram MDb

aDepartment of Dermatology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center; Private Practice, New York, NY
bDepartment of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medical School; Private practice, New York, NY

Abstract
Background: Hair transplantation is a widely used treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and other hair loss conditions, with increasing demand from women in recent years.
Aim: Explore differences in hair loss patterns, surgical techniques, and psychosocial impacts between sexes that allow for a more tailored approach to optimize outcomes.
Methods: A PubMed review of 1,443 publications was conducted using the keywords “female,” “women,” and “hair transplantation.” Twenty-four studies focusing on hair transplantation in women were analyzed.
Results: Hair loss has a profound psychosocial impact on both genders, but women often face greater societal stigma. Women often present later than men for transplantation, with diffuse thinning across the vertex and temples compared to men who typically present with localized frontotemporal and crown recession. Women should be evaluated for systemic contributors and the presence of scarring or traction alopecia. Women favor follicular unit transplantation (FUT) due to donor area preservation and compatibility with long hairstyles, whereas men may be treated with FUT or follicular unit extraction (FUE).
Conclusion: Hair transplantation in women requires a tailored approach focusing on diffuse density restoration, donor area preservation, and adjunct medical management. Advances in techniques and adjunctive therapies are transforming the field, providing effective, patient-centered solutions for hair loss.

INTRODUCTION

Hair transplantation is a widely used and effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and other hair loss conditions. Male pattern and female pattern hair loss (FPHL) are the most common indications for hair restoration, but other reasons include traction alopecia, end-stage scarring alopecias, or as corrective procedures post-trauma or surgery. In recent years, the demand for hair transplantation in women has been steadily increasing, and it is important to consider several sex-specific considerations to optimize outcomes. The pattern and trajectory of loss, psychosocial impacts, and treatment goals differ significantly between men and women. This paper aims to highlight the similarities and differences in hair transplantation between men and women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive PubMed review was conducted using the keywords "female", "women", and "hair transplantation". One thousand four hundred forty-three (1,443) peer-reviewed studies were identified by this search. Twenty-four (24) publications were highlighted in this paper that focused on hair transplantation considerations in women. These studies were analyzed for insights into patterns of hair loss, consultation practices, surgical techniques, postoperative care, and future directions for hair restoration.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The Consultation Phase Both men and women require a thorough consultation process to assess their hair loss history, as well as personal and family medical history. By age 50, 50% of men have androgenetic alopecia, and by age 80, 50% of women do as well.1 Unsurprisingly, men tend to present earlier for initial consultation than women. In a 2022 International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery Practice Census Results, the peak age of men presenting for transplantation was 30 to 39 years old, whereas for women it was 40 to 49 years old.2 Other studies have found the average age for surgery for women to be nearer to 50 years.3

For women, it is especially important to take a thorough gynecological and hormonal history, focusing on potential systemic contributors such as iron deficiency, thyroid disorder,
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