Can You Get a Hair Transplant for Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia?

Frontal fibrosing alopecia [1] is one of many conditions that cause hair loss. For some clients, a minimally invasive FUE hair transplant may offer a permanent solution, but this will depend on the severity of the condition and how well it is controlled.

Generally, Hair transplants for FFA are generally not recommended at first due to the nature of the condition, however, studies have shown that hair transplants may be successful, provided the clinician performing the procedure verifies that there is no follicular inflammation at the donor extraction site, and as long as follow-up checks are performed carefully along with ongoing therapies to optimise healing and prevent further hair loss. [2]

KSL Clinic’s sector-leading hair restoration specialists advise anybody suffering from frontal fibrosing alopecia to book a consultation as a first step. 

This enables us to evaluate your scalp and hair, advise whether a hair transplant would be suitable, or recommend alternative therapies if we do not believe a transplant is the right approach at this point in time.

How Does Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Cause Hair Loss? 

The hair loss condition primarily affects women, with the majority of diagnoses impacting female clients aged 55 to 63. This is because hormonal changes during and after menopause are thought to be linked to frontal fibrosing alopecia, or FFA, in a proportion of cases. [4]

FFA can cause hair loss on the front and sides of the scalp, as well as on the eyebrows and eyelashes, and can either result in hair loss or scarring. 

The key to effective treatment is managing symptoms, preventing FFA from progressing and slowing the pace of hair loss.

Exact causes are subject to debate, but many medical professionals specialising in hair loss state that FFA can be caused by:

• Environmental factors, including toxins, infections, stress, surgery and some cosmetic and beauty products.
• Hormones and genetics: Although frontal fibrosing alopecia isn’t a hereditary condition, a percentage of cases run in the family.
• Inflammatory responses and autoimmune disorders, including hypothyroidism, psoriasis, and lupus, where immune cells attack the follicles and cause damage that leads to hair loss.

It is common for FFA to be confused with or assumed to be androgenetic alopecia or female pattern hair loss, and there are some signs that hormones play a part in whether or not a person develops frontal fibrosing alopecia.

However, the hair loss condition can also affect those with balanced hormone levels, which means the issue isn’t likely to be corrected purely by using a conventional prescribed hormone replacement therapy. [5]

Will a Hair Transplant Reverse Hair Loss Caused by Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia?

As we’ve indicated, a hair transplant can be a good way to restore hair loss and thinning in some cases of FFA, but this isn’t a universal answer and may be unsuitable for clients for whom the condition is not yet controlled.

This is why a private, one-to-one consultation is essential. 

Researchers have found that 80% of transplants to replenish eyebrows in frontal fibrosing alopecia patients, for instance, are successful – but equally that the outcomes were relatively temporary, and many saw further hair loss within the following three to four years. [6]

Dr Matee, our Director of Surgical Services, says, ‘While an advanced FUE hair transplant process is minimally invasive and safe, we will not recommend a transplant procedure if we doubt that the treatment will prove a total success, or where there are indications that another approach would be more satisfactory.

If, for example, FFA is not well-managed and is responsible for progressive and current hair loss, there is a chance that even the most carefully implanted grafts might fail, which means we must verify the suitability of every candidate on an individual basis.’

What Are the Alternatives to a Hair Transplant for Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia?

The ideal treatment plan for frontal fibrosing alopecia will depend on the stage of the condition. If you have been diagnosed with FFA and it has been stable for an extended period, we may advise that now is the perfect time to embark on a hair transplant.

For others, where the condition is active, we could recommend:

• Platelet-rich plasma therapy, which uses biodynamic compounds extracted from your blood to reactivate dormant follicles. It stimulates cellular healing within the scalp tissue to help naturally prompt fresh skin and hair restoration.
• Laser light therapies, which can reduce the severity of symptoms, and work similarly to PRP in stimulating dormant follicles to encourage new growth.
• Gentle and medically supervised hair and scalp care routines, such as avoiding heat and tight hairstyles that can aggravate pressure on the scalp and using gentle, fragrance-free products.
• Anti-Inflammatory Medications, Prescription corticosteroids or hydroxychloroquine can help suppress the immune response and reduce inflammation.
• 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors, Medications like finasteride or dutasteride may help in some cases, particularly if there’s an androgen-related component.
• Topical Treatments, Clobetasol or tacrolimus can be used to reduce inflammation on the scalp.

If you’d like more information about the best ways to manage frontal fibrosing alopecia, the treatment options our accomplished hair restoration experts would recommend, or whether a hair transplant would be right for you, you are advised to book a free consultation at the KSL Clinic of your choice.