Have I Got Some Unusual Q’s For You!
17th August 2016
Let’s face it – it’s not every day that you’re quizzed on the difference between anagen and catagen, or how to notice telogen effluvium among the various forms of alopecia.
As a hair transplant clinic, we recognise the absolute need to make patients feel as comfortable as possible. With this responsibility, we must answer any questions as compassionately and with as much empathy as we can – even if the question is totally unexpected and warrants a chuckle or two. So, why wouldn’t you use that opportunity to get all your weird and wonderful queries settled?
After countless years of experience and a revolving door of patients, questions seem to get decreasingly unusual. Hair and hair loss can certainly seem a puzzling subject for many and the questions dismissed in many patients’ minds become more frequently asked.
The truth is, we’ve sometimes been left stumped by a question we’d never expect to hear! Here are a few examples that prove no question is too silly to ask:
Is our scalp strong enough to hold onto our hair, or vice versa, when our hair is facing towards a wind at a speed of 80mph? Could this lead to hair loss?
The answer: Absolutely not. There are many reasons you may experience hair loss, but this isn’t one of them.
There are various causes of hair loss, including illnesses, stress and genetics. It’s important to remember that losing a reasonable amount of hair is a natural part of the hair growth cycle, enabling it to be replaced by healthy new strands.
Stress and sickness can also send the growth cycle into shock and trigger more hair to enter the shedding phase too, which gives the appearance of sudden hair loss. Hair growth is likely to return once stress levels are reduced, so it’s not usually a lasting cause for concern.
Pattern baldness is a genetic condition that occurs when hair production slows down and creates weaker or shorter strands of hair, eventually ceasing to grow in some areas. This accounts for more than 95 per cent of hair loss in men and can start as early as age 21. It is also the most common cause of hair loss in women, too.
I like armpit hair on a woman, so can you carry out a hair transplant on this area after a woman has regularly waxed?
The answer: Well, it’s definitely not the most unusual place we’ve worked on. Check out our blog on pubic hair transplants if you don’t believe us!
With regards to the actual issue, regular waxing can gradually damage the hair root until it reaches the stage of no regrowth, which will naturally stop the number of hairs growing. While it sounds like this person would be looking for a quick fix, it’s only going to delay the process if you don’t allow time for the hairs to grow back naturally first. If it gets to the point where we’re discussing surgery, hairs can be obtained from the scalp, but other areas like the pubic region are also possible.
Will my hair grow back the same colour after a transplant?
The answer: It’s not always possible to guarantee it, but if the hair from the donor site and the transplant site is the same colour, then the likelihood of a match is much higher. This is particularly the case with hair transplants, where hair is taken from one area of the scalp and implanted in another.
However, if a patient is having an eyebrow transplant, for example, the donor hair usually comes from the head, so if there is a difference in colour that may impact the overall look of a transplant. With cases like this – for example, if a redheaded patient has brown eyebrows, we could look to take hairs from elsewhere in the body in order to achieve the best consistency in results.
So, how abnormal does your question seem now? Although it’s daunting to put yourself in front of a specialist and ask these things for fear of looking silly, you can be sure that we’ve heard many other bizarre questions before, and will likely have an answer to put your mind at ease. If your questions are racking up and making you tear your hair out, why not get in touch about a consultation?
