Eyebrow Hair Loss and Transplants
Eyebrow hair loss can completely alter a person’s appearance, but with an eyebrow transplant procedure, patients can greatly diminish any apparent loss.
The procedure itself is referred to as follicular hair transplantation. Hair follicles are found naturally on all areas of the body except for the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. In the case of hair transplantation, the follicles are harvested from the back of the patient’s head, as these hair follicles are more resistant to baldness than hair follicles on other areas of the scalp.
Causes of Eyebrow Hair Loss
There are many causes of hair loss in the eyebrow area. Some causes can be controlled, some can not. When it comes to diseases that cause hair loss, Alopecia Areata is the most common. Alopecia Areata comes on without warning, bringing with it patchy hair loss that sometimes resolves on its own and at other times never does. The medical profession is not sure what causes this disease, so they speculate that it could be due to genetics, autoimmune disorders, chemicals in the immune system inhibiting the hair growth, the hair just dying off, or it could possibly be stress related. Thyroid problems can play a big part in hair loss as can Diabetes and Lupus. Not all hair loss comes from diseases. Over plucking, electrolysis, scarring from surgery, burns or accidents and hormonal imbalances can all contribute to eyebrow hair loss.
The Eyebrow Hair Transplant
The procedure itself is designed to implant between 50 and 350 hair follicles, which have been obtained from the back of the scalp, into each eyebrow area. The area on the scalp from which these follicles are removed is called the donor area. Once enough follicles have been removed the area is then sutured. The follicles that have been harvested from the donor area are then cleaned and divided into individual hair grafts. The surgeon’s skill is very important when it comes to eyebrow transplants. The smallest of microscopic incisions must be made in the area to be transplanted in a bid to minimize scarring. Each graft is then meticulously placed to make sure that the proper angle has been achieved. This type of hair transplant is much more difficult than other types, because eyebrow hair grows in different directions and at odd angles; so it is very important that proper placement of each graft be precise. This procedure takes approximately two hours to complete and is done in an out patient setting. The pain from this technique is minimal and normally requires only the use of a mild oral sedative.
What to Expect
Some crusting around the implant sites will occur within two to four days after implant. Between three and five days, any redness or mild inflammation from the procedure will subside. At one week the sutures are removed from the donor site. Surprisingly, the implants will begin to fall out at about two weeks, but will begin to re-grow about 12 weeks later and become permanent. Due to the fact that scalp hair is used, the hair will grow on the eyebrows just as it would on the head; as a result periodic trimmings will be needed to keep the eyebrows looking natural.
