Hair Transplant: Patient Candidacy, Medical Optimization, and Surgical Considerations

Abstract

Alopecia is a medical condition that impact many people worldwide and has diverse causes, ranging from autoimmune to genetic factors. Hair transplantation represents a key therapeutic option for patients with progressive hair loss who are seeking improvement beyond the capacity of medications or less invasive procedures. While hair transplantation is most commonly utilized for androgenetic alopecia, individuals with other alopecia diagnoses may also benefit. The two main techniques for hair transplantation include follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit excision. Hair transplantation is particularly important given the profound psychosocial implications and cosmetic disfigurement associated with alopecia. Chronic hair loss patients may experience reduced self-esteem, increased depression and anxiety, and poorer quality of life. Despite the significance of hair transplantation, comprehensive guidelines informing the clinical and surgical management of transplant candidates remain limited. Therefore, this review aims to explore patient candidacy criteria, pretransplant medical therapy optimization, intraoperative considerations, and postoperative complications and medical management.

Keywords: alopecia; best practice; grafts; hair loss; hair transplant; medical management; patient candidacy; postoperative care; preoperative care; procedural techniques.