Transgender Hair Loss Treatments
Gender-Affirming Hair Transplant
Hair loss can be distressing for everyone. Transgender women seeing signs of androgenetic alopecia, commonly called male pattern baldness or trans male pattern baldness, can experience discomfort and worsened gender dysphoria. Without therapeutic intervention, this hair loss will become more severe as time goes by. So it is essential to address transgender hair loss at its roots with effective transgender hair restoration options and prevent it from progressing.
Hair loss is just one of many challenges that can come with transitioning, which is why transgender people need more than just routine care. They need support that’s tailored to their unique dermatologic needs. Thankfully, Ziering Medical’s expert surgeons are sensitive to the needs of transgender individuals and experienced in aiding them through the transition process. They are uniquely equipped to address the concerns of transgender hair loss.
Androgenetic Alopecia, HRT and Hair Loss
In the stages of preparation for the transition, the trans community has to consider a variety of health factors, including how hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might interplay with other medications they are using or existing health conditions. Androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male pattern baldness, is often not a top consideration. Yet this can be a significant issue for hormone-treated trans women dealing with hair loss.
Androgenetic alopecia is a common cause for thinning hair in both men and women. The hair loss follows a pattern, for cis-women it is general and the overall thinning rarely leads to hair loss so their hairlines are usually not affected. For cis-males, however, androgenetic alopecia hair loss starts in the typical M-pattern that gradually fills, leaving a semi-circle of hair on the sides and back.
This usually occurs in genetically susceptible individuals when dihydrotestosterone (DHT) causes hair follicles to narrow in diameter, shorten in length, and lighten in color. It is more common in cis-men than cis-women and begins earlier in life for them. While there is no cure, treatments slow or block the production of DHT and slow the progression of hair loss, though it will continue once the treatments are suspended. One such treatment, finasteride, can have side effects such as decreased libido or erectile dysfunction in cis-men.
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Transgender Hair Loss
HRT for trans women entails decreasing the number of hormones like testosterone and DHT, which is associated with secondary male characteristics, while increasing the number of hormones associated with secondary female characteristics such as estrogen. Trans women experiencing androgenetic alopecia prior to HRT may see a reversal of their hair loss.
Moreover, while blocking DHT in men tends to slow hair loss but not reverse it. Conversely, trans women can experience a reversal of hair loss. Why is this the case? It is believed that the addition of estrogen with the combination of DHT blockers makes a difference. Some doctors believe that this combination of increased estrogen with decreased DHT leads to slight changes in bone and muscle structure around the head, which could ease chronic tension that causes scalp inflammation that triggers increased DHT production starting the cycle of hair loss.
Transgender Hair Transplants at Ziering Medical
Transgender hair transplants cater to many patients who have lived for years trapped in an identity they never felt was their own. Gender reassignment surgery comes as the last stage in their journey that allows a final full emergence from their cocoon. For many, this process will include transgender hair restoration surgery.
These operations utilize the same surgical method and technology as other hair restoration procedures, but transgender hair transplants require the highest level of artistry and technique. Such as in creating a soft natural-looking hairline for patients who are transitioning from Male to Female (MTF). Commonly called transgender hairline lowering, this procedure transforms the existing masculine hairline into a flatter, more rounded, feminine hairline that frames the face.
Moreover, in addition to hairline lowering, trans women can also opt for eyebrow transplants. For most transgender patients, a combination of surgical and non-surgical treatments are recommended to promote transgender hair growth and address hair loss. These ensure long-lasting and beautiful results. For trans women, the cosmetic hairline feminization process using transgender hair transplantation is commonly implemented in conjunction with other facial feminization procedures. For example, brow lift, rhinoplasty, cheek implantation, lip augmentation, and other soft tissue and bone contouring.
For Female To Male (FTM) patients looking to achieve a more masculine appearance, facial hair transplants are available to create beards, mustaches, and sideburns. Transgender hair restoration surgery in small sections of body hair like the chest, abdomen, and pubic region is also commonly performed for FTM patients.
Gender Dysphoria and the Impact of Hair Loss
Dysphoria is the psychological distress resulting from the incongruence between the sex they are assigned at birth and their gender identity. In her testimonial, Ziering Medical patient Veronika Simms explains the significance of hairline treatment for trans women struggling with dysmorphia:
“As trans women, we experience dysphoria about many things. Some of it is social, and a lot of it is physical. As we move through our transition, we have the opportunity to not just align these aspects of our life, but perfect them as well. Personally, I had convinced myself that my hairline was ok. It wasn’t as bad as others I had seen. It wasn’t a major issue for me. But it had an effect on how I saw myself. It had an effect on my daily life.
So I contacted Dr. Ziering’s office for a consultation. I was extremely nervous with how they would react. I honestly didn’t think of this as a standard transgender surgery. In fact, I thought of this as a traditionally male surgery. And that made me very uncomfortable.“
She goes on to illustrate the importance of hair restoration services that go beyond the medical aspect of the operation and display sensitivity and understanding to the unique needs of patients such as trans women experiencing dysphoria and seeking transgender hair loss treatment. As Veronika states:
“Dr. Ziering and his staff were amazing. I found out very quickly that many patients were women, both trans and non-trans. And Dr. Ziering and his staff treated me no different than they would treat any other woman. The staff felt like family. It never felt like one of those forced customer service type families either. It genuinely felt like we all knew each other. So much so, as soon as I get back to California, I want to drop by just to visit.“
Hair Loss Treatment with Understanding and Sensitivity
Ziering surgeons are hair loss experts and are very sensitive to the needs of transgender patients. After all, the transition process is the start of a new chapter in our patients’ lives. And treating hair loss is a crucial part of ensuring this new stage continues without a hitch.
One of our clients, Valentina Z., attests to the quality of Ziering Medical’s services and its staff in helping her through the transition process and in dealing with treating the hair loss she was experiencing:
“I’m a 43 year old transgender woman, Dr Ziering and his wonderful staff have changed my life. I had a receding hairline at 42, very typical for a genetic male my age. I luckily came across Ziering Medical and he sculpted me a genuine female hairline. The office was comfortable and clean and very inviting, their bedside manner put me at ease, and the operating equipment/room was very professional. The whole process wasn’t stressful at all.I felt little to no pain throughout the entire procedure even during the initial localized anesthetic and within 4 or 5 months I was enjoying the results like I never had MDEE.”
This goes to show the significance of Ziering Medical’s transgender hair loss treatments and the effect these procedures can have in people’s lives.
If you are interested in transgender hair loss treatments or transgender hair transplant surgery, feel free to reach out and book an appointment with Ziering Medical. At one of our convenient locations in West Hollywood, Connecticut, New York, Las Vegas, and Newport Beach, our staff will be happy to explain this process in greater detail and answer any questions.