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Traction Alopecia Hair Transplant

Traction alopecia is one of several types of alopecia, a generalised term that refers to conditions that result in hair loss. The 'traction' aspect of this form of alopecia refers to any movement, such as tugging or restriction, that puts stress and strain on the follicles and scalp.

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For example, people who wear very tight protective headgear or frequently wear their hair in tight hairstyles for extended periods commonly experience traction alopecia, where the pulling and pressure on the scalp can damage the follicles.

In some cases, a topical solution or medication like minoxidil may be a suitable option. This is usually because the traction alopecia is at an early stage or because the damage is superficial, and the follicles remain healthy enough to regrow.

However, if you have hair loss and thinning areas and would like a permanent way to resolve the impacts on your appearance, a traction alopecia hair transplant may be the perfect way forward.

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What Is a Traction Alopecia Hair Transplant?

The advanced, minimally invasive FUE transplant process we use at KSL Clinic is a great option for restoring hair loss owing to traction alopecia. 

Replacing individual follicles allows us to map out a bespoke transplant, which can be adapted depending on the causes of your tractional alopecia. That could be due to:

  • Wearing heavier or longer hair extensions or weaves for several years.
  • Using denser or restrictive headwear such as helmets or accessories.
  • Having cornrows, tight ponytails or braids in your hair.

Tractional alopecia is particularly common for dancers and performers who wear their hair pulled back severely for hours at a time, those who have worn hair extensions for a prolonged period, or professionals in construction and sports who wear tight protective headgear.

The customised nature of an FUE transplant is ideal because the underlying causes of the tractional alopecia might influence the areas subject to hair loss. Heavier hats, for instance, tend to irritate the crown and templates, whereas tight ponytails can cause hair loss around the face, and extensions can damage hair growth towards the back of the head.

receding hairline before and after
results womens hair
womens hair transplant before and after 1
pushed back hairline fix

Potential Treatment Options for Traction Alopecia

As with all hair loss concerns, the right treatments will depend on the severity of the hair loss, the availability of donor follicles, and whether you are able to take action to prevent further damage to your scalp and hair.

Following a private, no-cost consultation, we could recommend:

  • Making changes to your hair style, avoiding dyes, bleaches and heat, or using gentler medicated shampoos or treatments like topical minoxidil to restore the health of your hair and encourage blood flow to the scalp to assist with new growth.
  • Therapies like platelet-rich plasma therapy, which augment the overall health and condition of your scalp and hair and can stimulate regrowth in areas where follicles remain but have become dormant or inactive.
  • A tractional alopecia hair transplant, where we’ll use a microscopic process to extract individual donor follicles before grading these and implanting them in the desired location to replenish the thickness of your hair.

While you might compare different types of hair transplants, we always recommend FUE procedures since this approach eliminates scarring, assures you of a precise outcome, and is available on a walk-in/walk-out basis without any need to spend the night in our clinic or run the risk of a general anaesthetic.

What Is the Hair Transplant Process for Traction Alopecia?

The FUE hair transplant process is completed within one appointment, although the exact duration of the procedure may depend on the number of grafts we need to complete to restore your hair.

We start with a local anaesthetic, which ensures the area for donor follicle extraction and graft implantation is entirely pain-free throughout. We also offer entertainment to help pass the time and ensure you are comfortable and relaxed.

From there, the hair transplant process is as follows:

Extracting Donor Follicles

We’ll extract each graft individually, where one graft includes up to around five hair clusters, using a Micro Punch tool that creates a tiny incision around one mm across.

01

Sorting and Grading

Each graft is then checked and graded – an exacting process that means we can verify that the colour, growth direction, density and texture of every single hair is consistent and will fit perfectly into your other natural growth.

02

Hair Transplantation

When we are satisfied that the graft will slot in seamlessly, we will implant this using a similarly small, microscopic tool, avoiding any need for large incisions or stitches.

03

What Are the Benefits of a Traction Alopecia Hair Transplant?

Tractional alopecia can have a profound impact on your self-esteem, especially where the cause of the hair loss is associated with wearing hair extensions or protective headgear or as part of your profession where you haven’t known the potential for hair loss in advance.

Choosing a hair transplant with a regulated, GMC-registered surgical team is an excellent way to ensure your hairline is replenished, youthful and thick, with permanent regrowth that starts within a few weeks and will be completely regrown within a year.

Some of the many advantages of a skilful FUE hair transplant to correct tractional alopecia include:

Personalised, bespoke outcomes, with each hair transplant designed and completed according to the appearance you’d like to achieve and adapted based on your face shape, natural hairline, and the areas impacted by hair loss.

Pain-free, one-day procedures, with clients welcome to return home after their transplant, with a low-risk local anaesthetic and high-quality pain relief and recommendations to minimise residual redness, swelling and discomfort in the initial days of the recovery process.

Comprehensive aftercare, where we’ll ensure you know precisely how to care for your transplanted follicles, avoid harsh chemicals or soaps that can damage your hair, and steer clear of swimming or strenuous exercises for the next two weeks.

We welcome prospective clients to review our celebrity stories, patient testimonials, and before-and-after gallery, which show some examples of the real-world outcomes a FUE hair transplant can achieve.

Before and after results of traction alopecia hair transplants....

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Before & After

Before & After

Before & After

How Much Does a Hair Transplant for Traction Alopecia Cost?

The bespoke nature of our hair transplant service means we do not offer generalised or vague pricing. Instead, we invite clients to attend a cost and obligation-free consultation at any of our locations, where we can offer tailored guidance.

Hair transplants with KSL Clinic tend to cost from £2,500 to £6,995, but that can vary significantly between two people, depending on the areas and extent of hair loss linked to your tractional alopecia, how you’d love your hairline to look, the characteristics of your natural hair, and access to healthy donor follicles.

A consultation enables us to verify whether a hair transplant is suitable, estimate the grafts needed to complete your transplant, and provide an accurate quotation. It also includes information about our accessible interest-free one-year payment plan or extended financing option through our reputable partners should you wish to take advantage of these options.

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Celebrity Story

Stuart Hogg

Professional Rugby Player

"I chose KSL Clinic for my FUE hair transplant, and everything from the consultation through to my procedure and aftercare was faultless. They accommodated my busy schedule, and I want to thank the whole KSL team and their director of surgery, Dr Matee. KSL have exceeded my expectations so far and I’m looking forward to the end results being even stronger.”

View Stuart’s before and after images and learn more about his experience of an FUE hair transplant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Hair Transplants for Tractional Alopecia Likely to Be Successful?

Yes, although some types of alopecia are less suited to hair transplants, usually because ongoing hair loss means the implanted follicles will likely be impacted or that further hair loss is expected, a high-quality procedure is often a permanent resolution for traction alopecia.

The key is to ensure your hair transplant surgeon has the right skills, knowledge and expertise to create a result that is entirely natural, matches your existing hair and achieves the outcomes you aspire to.

Why Does Traction Alopecia Cause Hair Loss?

Tractional alopecia can occur for myriad reasons, but it groups together types of hair loss and thinning that happen when the hair and scalp are put under tension for longer periods of time—be that pulling, weight, rubbing, or other stressors.

Very tight hairstyles, heavy hair extensions, and restrictive helmets or hats can all damage the follicles, pulling the hair away from the scalp and rubbing against the scalp, impeding further growth.

Early-stage tractional alopecia may self-correct if you make changes to your lifestyle, such as avoiding tight headwear and removing extensions, but once the follicles become permanently damaged or destroyed, a hair transplant is a great option to replenish your hair.

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