What happens when a hair transplant and hair follicle stem cell treatment are performed together?
A hair transplant is a treatment that fills in empty areas, while hair follicle stem cell treatment is a treatment that improves the health and density of existing hair.
Therefore, in some cases the approach of completing the design with a hair transplant for M-shaped hair loss, and combining hair follicle stem cell treatment for crown hair loss is suitable.
This case introduces the 6-month progress of an actual patient who underwent a 4,000-hair hair transplant together with hair follicle stem cell treatment.
Why might a hair transplant alone leave something to be desired for crown hair loss?
A hair transplant is a treatment in which new hair follicles are moved and implanted into the areas where they are needed.
However, the crown has the following characteristics.
- In many cases a considerable amount of existing hair remains
- In many cases hair loss continues to progress
- In some cases preserving the existing hair is more important than transplanting
In particular, at the crown, temporary irritation to the existing hair follicles may occur during surgery, which can result in shock loss.
This is in most cases a temporary phenomenon, but it is an aspect that requires more attention when the existing hair is weak.
For this reason, crown hair loss is often considered with
✔ not only a hair transplant, but also
✔ medication treatment
✔ hair follicle stem cell treatment
taken together.
This Treatment Case
- Male in his 30s
- M-shaped hair loss + crown hair loss
- Taking finasteride for about 1 year or more
- Improvement at the crown had been insufficient
Treatment Plan
- M-shaped area: 4,000-hair hair transplant
- Crown: hair follicle stem cell treatment
- Follow-up: 2 weeks → 3 months → 6 months
How did the M-shaped area change?
At 2 weeks after the hair transplant, the transplanted hair is settling in and temporary shedding begins.
From about 3 months, new hair starts to grow,
and at 6 months you can see that the hairline is naturally completed and the density gradually increases.
There are individual differences, but generally in many cases the density continues to improve up to 10 months to 1 year.
Why was hair follicle stem cell treatment performed together for the crown?
In many cases, hair still remains at the crown.
For this area, rather than simply implanting hair,
keeping the existing hair healthy and
restoring its thickness is often important.
In this case as well, hair follicle stem cell treatment was carried out together, with the expectation of
- increased thickness of existing hair
- improved hair density
- improved scalp condition
.
Changes at the Crown After 6 Months
In the 6-month progress photos,
the areas of the crown that looked sparse have decreased compared with the beginning,
and the existing hair can be seen to have become thicker and healthier.
Because hair follicle stem cell treatment is a treatment that creates an environment in which existing hair can grow healthily,
it is in some cases considered together for crown hair loss that is difficult to fill in with a hair transplant.
Cases in Which Receiving a Hair Transplant and Hair Follicle Stem Cell Treatment Together May Be Beneficial
Combined treatment may be considered in the following cases.
- When M-shaped hair loss and crown hair loss have progressed together
- When a considerable amount of existing hair remains
- When you want to maintain crown density as much as possible
- When satisfactory improvement is difficult with medication treatment alone
- When you want more natural overall volume
The treatment method may differ depending on the progression of hair loss and the condition of the scalp, so it is important to decide through consultation with medical staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do a hair transplant and hair follicle stem cell treatment have to be done together?
They do not necessarily have to be performed together. Depending on the type and degree of hair loss, a hair transplant alone may be sufficient in some cases, and when preserving the existing hair is important, hair follicle stem cell treatment may also be considered together.
For crown hair loss, is hair follicle stem cell treatment better than a hair transplant?
It may differ depending on the condition of the crown hair loss. When enough existing hair remains, hair follicle stem cell treatment may be helpful, and when the area of hair loss is extensive, a hair transplant may also be necessary.
When do the effects of hair follicle stem cell treatment become visible?
There are individual differences, but changes are generally observed over several months, and it is important to continuously check the progress after treatment.
In Closing
A hair transplant is a treatment that naturally fills in empty spaces,
and hair follicle stem cell treatment is a treatment that can help keep existing hair healthy.
As in this case, when the two treatments are appropriately combined according to the pattern of hair loss, a more balanced result can be expected.
Because the treatment plan for hair loss varies depending on the state of progression and the scalp environment, it is important to choose the treatment that suits you after a thorough diagnosis.
References
- Gan Y, Du L, Wang H, et al. A Clinical Trial of Treating Androgenic Alopecia with Mesenchymal Stem Cell Suspension Derived from Autologous Hair Follicle. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2024;154(3):444–450. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000010841 (Free access)
- Garg AK, Garg S. Enzymatic Dissociation and Identification of Hair Follicle Stem Cells for Reversing Miniaturization in Androgenetic Alopecia. Hair Transplant Forum Int. 2025;35(3):88–92. doi:10.33589/35.3.88 (Full text)
The papers above are clinical and experimental studies on hair loss treatment using autologous hair follicle-derived stem cells. The introduced cases and research results do not guarantee any specific effect, and treatment results may vary from person to person.
This article was written after review by the medical staff of Modi Hair Plant Clinic.
This article was written based on an actual treatment case, and the treatment plan and results may vary depending on each individual's hair loss condition and degree of progression.