Facelifts are transformative procedures that refresh your appearance, but some patients may experience temporary or permanent hair loss around the incision sites. Understanding why this happens — and what you can do about it — is essential in restoring your confidence and appearance.

Dr. Alfonso Barrera, a highly respected plastic surgeon in Houston, TX, has been practicing since 1985 and is a recognized expert in hair restoration. Today on the blog, we discuss why hair loss may happen after a facelift and Dr. Barrera’s approach to post-facelift hair restoration.

Why Does Hair Loss Occur After a Facelift?

Hair loss after a facelift, known as “post-facelift alopecia,” is uncommon, but it does happen. This can occur for a few reasons:

• Scalp Tension: During a facelift, the skin is repositioned to create a youthful appearance. This may cause stress to the hair follicles near the incision points.
• Incisions: Facelifts involve incisions near the hairline, occasionally leading to hair loss around those areas. Post-facelift alopecia typically occurs at the front of the scalp or in the sideburn area.
• Follicular Trauma: Some hair follicles may become damaged during surgery and go dormant.

Fortunately, most post-facelift hair loss is temporary, but solutions are available to restore your hair if it becomes permanent.

What Can Be Done About Post-Facelift Hair Loss?

Typically, hair starts growing back in the months after surgery, but if you don’t see any signs of new stubble, Dr. Barrera can determine whether your hair loss is permanent. If so, hair transplant surgery is generally the most effective hair restoration option.

Dr. Barrera removes micrografts (one or two hair follicles) and mini grafts (three or four hair follicles) from the back of your head in an area with robust hair growth. Your hair conceals your donor area, and the hair generally regenerates in that area. He places these grafts in the areas where you lack hair. Because they’re your healthy hair follicles, they continue producing hair like they did in the back of your scalp. This allows for natural-looking hair restoration.

The new hairs shed a few days after your transplant, but they soon grow back. A post-facelift hair transplant can give you a full head of healthy hair to match your youthful face. To see pictures of patient results, check out our post-facelift hair transplant gallery.

Help For Hair Loss After Facelift in Houston, TX

If you’ve experienced hair loss after a facelift and want to explore treatment, call our Houston office at 713-468-5200 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Barrera. We’re ready to restore your hair and your self-confidence.