A simple answer is yes, patients with grey or greying hair can safely and successfully have a hair transplant operation.
Although, there is a common misconception that grey hair is less healthy and weaker than naturally coloured hair, in reality, many times grey hair will be more textured and thicker, which works very well for hair transplantation.
Grey Hair Transplant
Grey hair is a natural phenomenon for everyone. With age there is a decrease of pigmentation (melanin) in the hair. Melanin is responsible for giving colour to the hair, eyes and skin; therefore, when melanin starts decreasing due to age or other factors - such as stress, we see the effects as greying hair.
Hair loss, on the other hand, is not in the same way natural to everyone as grey hair is. While both of these are related to genetics, and losing your hair as you are getting older may be something that people know, it is not however set in stone. Your hair may turn grey early, yet you may still have all of your hair even in your eighties and vice versa.
The connection between grey hair and hair loss
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When thinking of investing in hair restoration, the same criteria apply to people with grey hair as to those with naturally coloured hair.
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What is the reason for the hair loss?
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What is the patient's physical condition after examination and what is their medical history?
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What is the state of their scalp?
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What is the patient looking to achieve?
The effectiveness of the transplantation doesn't depend solely on the patient's age, therefore that shouldn't be a reason to hold someone back from researching and looking for the right treatment.
One of the most important things during that decision process is finding doctors who specialize in hair transplant procedures. Having a consultation with your prospective specialist will help you know exactly what the process is for your specific needs, as well as help you feel at ease with the changes and aftercare.
Will the hair be patchy and a different colour after the hair transplant?
This is a common question and it is a good reason why you should have a full consultation and specific plan with your hair transplant surgeon.
Transplanted hair actually has the same genetic makeup as the hair that existed in the donor area before, and so it should behave in the same way as the previous hair follicles.
Sometimes, when greying has taken place in most of the scalp, it might look like the new hair is darker initially. However, that will only last a couple of hair growth cycles, after which the transplanted hair will take on the colour of its new location.
Is grey hair transplantation effective?
Can transplanted hair be dyed?
Yes, it can. If a patient has had a hair transplant operation after which they decide that they would like to dye their hair, they can do so safely, but only after the scalp has fully healed. This period could be from 4-6 months after the operation, and it is always advised to meet with your expert hair doctor first.
When planning for your transplant, it is good to talk with an expert about what you may be looking to do after the operation, as in this case, choosing the FUE treatment, instead of the FUT (strip) treatment, will greatly reduce the amount of waiting time that is needed for healing.
Find out more about the specifics of your grey hair transplant!
Preventive Measures and Treatments
