Are hair transplants possible for individuals with scarring alopecia?

Are hair transplants a good option for scarring alopecia?

The answer to that questions is sometimes "yes" and sometimes "no". For many individuals who step into the office, the answer is frequently "no". A hair transplant is not a good option for them - at least right now. Not because we can't perform hair transplants in individuals with scarring alopecia but rather because the person sitting in front of me has a scarring alopecia that is currently active. They have ongoing hair loss and they report they have less hair than one year ago. Some have persistent itching, burning or tenderness in the scalp. These individuals are not candidates for a hair transplant any time soon.

A Balanced View of Hair Transplantation

It might sound surprisingly to have such a negative view of hair restoration for scarring alopecia. I would say that my view is balanced. The positive side of this topic is that a hair transplant can be a good option once the disease becomes quiet ... and stays quiet for a few years (ideally off medication). On previous blogs,  I have shared my personal views on the criteria we use when considering whether an individual is a good candidate for a hair transplant. These are mainly centered around lichen planopilaris (LPP) and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) as these have been studied most extensively in our center.

CRITERIA FOR TRANSPLANTATION OF LPP

CRITERIA FOR TRANSPLANTATION OF FFA