Can Another Person Donate Hair for My Hair Transplant in New York?

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Can I have someone else’s hair transplanted?

This question comes up again and again. When those interested in hair restoration call their local New York hair transplant clinic, or conduct a search on a popular medical forum; “can I have someone else’s hair transplanted” is asked by men and women of all ages. If you’ve been wondering the same thing, you’re not alone. It’s understandable- what could be a better solution for balding? We all know a friend who has impossibly thick, lush hair. Maybe they’re your age, but their genetic history includes a long line of full-haired people who all went to their graves with hairlines intact. Can that friend offer you some of what they have?

Unfortunately, the answer is, no. In theory, some complicated medical interventions could make it possible, but this is not done, and there are good reasons why. We’ll explain why only you can donate hair for redistribution on your head, and what some promising, alternative options are for those who lack donor hair.

Why must your hair transplant in New York be autologous?

Tissue which is donated from yourself to yourself is referred to as autologous in the medical world. When it comes to organ transplants, a high level of medication and preparation are required to avoid rejection of the tissue. Failure is unfortunately still unavoidable in some cases.

If your doctor were to place hair and scalp tissue from someone else’s head into yours, your body would naturally initiate an immune response to protect you from the foreign material and reject that tissue. The scalp would transition from inflamed to infected relatively quickly, and the hair would not grow.

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How are hair transplants done?

Unlike with organ transplants, you will be your own donor for a hair transplant. Immune-suppressant drugs such as those used for life-saving organ donation, carry serious health side effects and are not used for elective, cosmetic procedures. In general, it is believed that follicles transplanted from a different person would always carry a risk of rejection unless the patient took anti-rejection drugs for life. The risks would far outweigh the benefits.

DHT-resistant areas of the scalp typically include the back and sides. This is the same region where men typically retain hair even if they suffer from significant balding at the crown. Men with male pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia, will usually have a permanent horseshoe-shaped band of hair which remains dense. These hairs are genetically programmed to resist fallout and will thrive where they are transplanted. These are suitable hairs.

Alternately, some New York hair transplant doctors have been experimenting with various types of body hair grafting. Axillary hairs, chest hair, leg hair and even pubic hair show promise where all other options have failed. There are special considerations, and of course, the realistic texture and character of this hair will be different. Studies are ongoing for these methods, and more research is needed to develop consistent, safe and reliable protocols.

Fun fact: One exception to this standard is that identical twins with the exact same genetic makeup can donate hair to each other. If you’re a twin and you find yourself in this position, it will be worth looking into.

If you’re interested in a hair restoration procedure, the best way to find out if you’re a good candidate and have all your questions answered is to schedule an in-person consultation with a leading transplant expert. Contact Nova Medical Hair Transplant today.

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