New medical advances for women losing hair

Nov 2007

Hair loss is a devastating dilemma, not only for men, but for a huge number of women in this country.

And it's not just thinning tresses. Ever think about overplucked eyebrows or even lame lashes? Now new procedures and medical advances are helping females get their hair back.

Mindy Forer's hair didn't always look healthy.

"I was losing most of my hair in the very front of my scalp," said Morer.

The effects were not only physical, but emotional.

"It is one of the most depressing things for a woman to lose her hair," said Morer. "It's just not natural."

Hair loss affects as many as 30 million women in this country. While men have been getting hair transplants for years, now women, like Forer, are getting them, too. Last year, there was nearly a 70 percent jump in female transplant patients over the year before.

"I typically am performing procedures on four to five women every week. It's definitely a growing trend," said Dr. Jeffrey Epstein, hair restoration specialist.

Epstein says transplantation is now more refined, making it viable option for women.

"I'm also doing other procedures such as eyebrow and eyelash restoration," said Epstein.

"When I tell people I had implants in my eyebrows, they say, 'What?!'" said Maggie Vazquez, who had eyebrow transplant.

Vazquez sought help after overplucking left her eyebrows bare.

"I decided to do the hair because it's a more natural look," said Vazquez.

"I love my transplants. It makes me feel so much better about myself," said Morer.

Spencer Kobren is the founder of the American Hair Loss Association and hosts a radio show on balding. He says the procedure is not for everyone.

"Those women who have hair transplants who aren't good candidates go through an incredible emotional roller coaster," said Spencer Kobren, American Hair Loss Association.

To get the best results, you need a dense strip of donor hair. But since many women are hair-thin all over, Kobren says that can be difficult.

"It comes out from the sides, the top, the back," said Kobren.

Epstein says he typically finds enough hair to make it work.

"They may not be a good candidate for a dramatic change, but they can be a good candidate for enough of a change where they feel better about themselves."

Epstein says it's critical for women to get a full medical work up before opting for hair restoration surgery. Many times female hair loss is only temporary, caused by medications, dieting, or pregnancy. In those cases, he says hair transplants should not be used as a solution.