Many patients facing the need for oncology treatment fear hair loss or thinning hair after chemotherapy. Hair loss after chemotherapy is common – and the issue of partial regrowth after cancer treatment affects a significant number of patients. However, there are effective methods to help such individuals. One of them is hair transplantation using the FUE method, which is increasingly chosen by doctors for patients struggling with thinning hair after chemotherapy or those suffering from partial baldness.
Hair after chemotherapy – cancer treatment and hair
Cytostatics administered during cancer treatment, in addition to destroying cancer cells, also damage other body cells, including hair follicles. Hair follicle cells are particularly sensitive to the toxic effects of cytostatics. The result is hair loss after chemotherapy, observed in patients. It affects not only scalp hair but also eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic hair.
Chemotherapy can cause complete hair loss in just 7 days. Patients often wonder if hair after chemotherapy will regrow and whether chemotherapy affects the later condition of hair. Hair after oncology treatment usually regrows, but in some cases, chemotherapy may permanently damage hair follicles. In such cases, hair after chemotherapy may not regrow at all or only partially. Many oncology patients struggle with severe hair thinning at the crown of the head or general hair weakening.
Regaining hair after chemotherapy – hair transplant
An effective way to restore hair after chemotherapy is a hair transplant using the FUE (Follicular Units Extraction) method. This procedure is also commonly used to treat partial baldness. The prerequisite for undergoing an FUE hair transplant is the completion of cancer treatment and the patient having at least some remaining hair that can be transplanted. It is not possible to perform a hair transplant if chemotherapy has led to total hair loss.
The FUE method involves harvesting individual follicular units using a metal punch. Collecting all the necessary hair structures, including stem cells responsible for growth, ensures long-term effectiveness of the procedure. The FUE hair transplant is completely safe and superior to the traditional FUT method. Scars from follicular unit transplantation are nearly invisible, and healing occurs faster.
How to prepare for an FUE hair transplant?
Before an FUE hair transplant, it is necessary to undergo the medical tests prescribed by your doctor. For at least 2 weeks before the scheduled procedure, patients must avoid Aspirin and medications containing acetylsalicylic acid. The day before the procedure, it is not recommended to consume alcohol or strong coffee. When attending the FUE transplant, it is advisable to bring headwear to wear after the procedure.
How does the FUE hair transplant procedure work?
The FUE transplant is performed under local anesthesia, making the procedure virtually painless. The doctor identifies the donor area (the area from which grafts are harvested) and the recipient area (the areas where grafts are implanted). Photographic documentation is also taken. Before the procedure, donor-area hair is trimmed to 2–3 mm in length.
About 30 minutes after anesthesia administration, the patient lies face down. The entire FUE hair transplant procedure usually lasts 2–4 hours. Hair follicles are extracted and stored in a special cooling container to minimize the risk of graft death. After harvesting a sufficient number of follicles, the donor area is bandaged. The remainder of the procedure can be performed with the patient seated. The recipient area is anesthetized, and the harvested follicles are implanted.
The procedure concludes with the application of a special ointment to the scalp. After transplantation, hair regrows gradually. Visible changes appear after about 4–6 months, while the full result is achieved approximately one year after the procedure.
Advantages of FUE hair transplantation
The benefits of FUE hair transplantation include:
- invisible scars in the donor area,
- suitability for people prone to wide or hypertrophic scars,
- possibility of correcting scars on the scalp,
- short healing time after the procedure,
- no need for follow-up visits after the transplant.
FUE hair transplantation is a modern technique. It is an effective solution for partial hair loss caused by chemotherapy, providing long-lasting results.
