Female Hair Loss · Treatment Choice and Progress
Female Hair Loss: Why Was Treatment Considered Before a Hair Transplant?
When hair volume has decreased significantly, it is easy to think first of filling it in with a hair transplant. However, if the area of hair loss is wide and even the hair at the back of the head, where follicles would be harvested, is insufficient, the order of treatment must be decided carefully. In this article, we look at the case of a woman in her 30s presented by Director Yujin Lee of Modi Hair Plant Clinic, and examine why treatment of the remaining hair was considered first rather than deciding on a transplant from the outset.
3-Line Summary
- A hair transplant requires evaluating not only the areas that look thin but also the amount and condition of donor hair available for transplantation.
- The patient in the video had a wide area of hair loss and insufficient hair at the back of the head, making this a case in which a non-surgical treatment, introduced as hair follicle stem cell therapy, was chosen first.
- The before-and-after photos show one person's progress. This does not mean the same treatment is suitable for all female hair loss or that the same changes will occur.
What Was the Condition of the Woman in Her 30s in the Video?
In the video, Director Yujin Lee introduces a female patient in her 30s with low hair density across the scalp who had been wearing a wig for a long time. The patient was considering both a hair transplant and non-surgical treatment.
What the medical team considered important was that the area to be filled was wide, but the hair at the back of the head available for harvesting was not sufficient. The Director explains that, taking into account the condition of the remaining fine hair and future plans for using donor hair, it was decided to proceed with treatment before a transplant.
| What Was Presented in the Video | What Was Considered in Choosing Treatment |
|---|---|
| Wide area of hair loss in a woman in her 30s | The overall hair distribution was evaluated, not just part of the hairline. |
| Insufficient hair at the back of the head as well | The required transplant amount and the donor hair that could actually be secured were considered together. |
| Remaining fine hair | Treatment targeting the existing hair was reviewed first. |
| Post-treatment progress monitoring | The scalp condition was examined at multiple time points, not from a single photo. |
The key point of this case is not that “women should not have hair transplants.” Even within female hair loss, treatment choices differ depending on the cause of hair loss, its progression pattern, and the condition of the donor area. It is best understood as a case in which the approach this patient needed first was determined.
Watch Director Yujin Lee's Video
The video explains the pre-treatment condition, the background for considering treatment before a hair transplant, and the progress photos. The text below separates facts confirmed in the video from general medical explanations.
Three Reasons a Hair Transplant Was Not Decided First
1. The Area to Be Filled Was Wide
A hair transplant is a surgery that moves hair follicles from another area and implants them. The video explains that this patient's area of hair loss was wide, so a large number of transplanted hairs might have been needed if surgery were planned. Rather than simply increasing the number of transplanted hairs, it was necessary to examine which areas could be supplemented, and to what extent, with limited donor hair.
2. Donor Hair at the Back of the Head Was Also Insufficient
Not everyone has sufficient and stable donor hair at the back of the head. Literature on pre-transplant evaluation also describes the importance of checking donor area density, hair thickness and whether thinning is present, and any accompanying scalp conditions. [1]
Director Yujin Lee explains that this patient's hair at the back of the head was also insufficient, limiting the amount that could be harvested. This is why, even if a transplant were considered in the future, the use of donor hair had to be planned carefully.
3. The Treatment Potential of Existing Hair Was Examined First
The video explains that treatment was first carried out targeting the remaining fine hair. This has a different goal from an approach that moves and implants hair. However, the presence of thinned hair does not mean that all of it will recover, and neither the condition of the hair follicles nor the treatment response can be predicted from photos alone.
Hair to be transplanted and remaining hair are considered together. In this case, rather than only determining the immediate transplant amount, a treatment order that considered both the condition of the existing hair and the reserve of the donor area was important.
What Is the Hair Follicle Stem Cell Therapy Mentioned in the Video?
Modi Hair Plant Clinic refers to a non-surgical treatment that applies autologous cells obtained from the patient's own hair follicles to the scalp as “hair follicle stem cell therapy.” It is an approach distinct from a hair transplant, which moves hair follicles to a different location. Specific harvesting and separation methods and treatment components can be found in the Hair Follicle Stem Cell Therapy Guide.
However, this case video alone does not confirm the number of procedures, injection conditions, or whether medication or other treatments were used concurrently. Therefore, we do not describe this patient's progress as “the result of a single injection” or “a result obtained without other treatment.”
This Does Not Mean It Is the First Treatment for All Female Hair Loss
Reduced hair volume in women must first be distinguished by cause. For female pattern hair loss, there are treatment options with accumulated evidence, such as topical minoxidil, and plans are made considering the individual's condition and whether she is pregnant or breastfeeding. The procedure introduced in this article does not uniformly replace existing medication. [3]
Before Treatment and 3-Month Progress Photos
First are the pre-treatment photo and the 3-month photo presented in the video. The dates marked on the photos are December 20, 2024 and March 22, 2025, respectively.
At this point, the pattern of scalp visibility and hair distribution can be reviewed alongside previous records. However, the impression also varies depending on the angle of viewing the crown, the part position, and hair length. Rather than concluding treatment success or the final result from a single 3-month photo, it is important to consider examination findings and additional progress records together.
Later Progress Photo from October 11, 2025
Next are the pre-treatment photo and the later progress photo from the video. While explaining the progress, Director Yujin Lee also mentions that the hair is not completely filled in. This case serves as material for examining both the changes and the treatment challenges that still remain.
In the later photo, a different pattern of hair coverage from before can be seen. However, because the combing direction and shooting conditions are not the same and no objective hair count data is presented, the improvement rate cannot be determined from photos alone, nor can the change be confirmed as the sole effect of a specific treatment.
Four Things to Check in Before-and-After Photos
- Comparison time points: Check when the first treatment and photo dates were, and how the progress period was calculated.
- Shooting conditions: Check whether lighting, angle, part, hair length, and wetness are similar.
- Treatment details: Check the number of procedures and whether medication or other care was used concurrently.
- Limits of interpretation: Average effect, success rate, or duration of maintenance should not be judged from one person's photos alone.
What Is Known from Related Research?
A human study published in 2020 compared autologous scalp micrografts containing follicle-derived cells with saline in 27 male and female patients with androgenetic alopecia. It was conducted with randomized assignment and assessor blinding, and reported increases in hair count and density in the treated areas at the 58-week evaluation. [2]
However, it was a small study with few participants, of whom 10 were women. In addition, the preparation method of the micrografts used in the study cannot be considered identical to Modi's treatment components, so the study results cannot be applied as efficacy figures for the clinic. The study itself also stated that larger controlled studies are needed. [2]
The existence of related research and what results a specific patient will experience are separate matters. The suitability of treatment must be judged together with diagnosis, current hair condition, and response to previous treatment.
In Consultation, Check This Before Deciding “Which Treatment to Get”
In a consultation for female hair loss, rather than deciding on surgery or a specific procedure from the start, it is better to first check how your current condition can be explained. If considering a hair transplant, a donor area evaluation is needed; if considering non-surgical treatment, criteria for evaluating goals and response are needed.
Questions About Your Current Condition
- How is the cause of reduced hair volume evaluated?
- Is there hair thinning or reduced density at the back of the head as well?
- Are additional tests or a review of previous treatment records needed?
Questions About the Treatment Plan
- What changes can be expected, and what are the realistic limitations?
- What role do medication and procedures each play?
- When, and by what criteria, will the response be evaluated?
- What are the expected costs, adverse reactions, and follow-up care plan?
Frequently Asked Questions
If hair is thin even at the back of the head, will a hair transplant be difficult in the future?
This cannot be decided from photos or visible hair volume alone. The hair density and thickness of the donor area, thinning, and the cause of hair loss must be evaluated. If there are not enough hair follicles for transplantation, the surgical scope or timing may be adjusted, or non-surgical treatment may be considered first. [1]
Is it possible to receive treatment first and add a hair transplant later?
A staged plan can be made after consultation. However, we cannot promise that receiving treatment first will make a transplant possible or reduce the number of hairs needed. The decision is made by re-evaluating the treatment response, donor area condition, and remaining areas of concern.
How many stem cell treatments are needed to achieve changes like those in the photos?
This video does not specifically present the patient's total number of procedures or concurrent treatments, so the required number cannot be determined from the photos alone. The actual treatment components, expected progress, and evaluation time points should be confirmed in consultation, and another person's number of sessions is not applied as is.
Can I stop my existing hair loss medication once I start stem cell treatment?
Please do not stop prescribed medication on your own because you are receiving a specific procedure. Whether to continue or change it should be decided after reviewing the roles of medication and procedures, side effects, and pregnancy or breastfeeding status. Which medications the patient in the video used concurrently cannot be confirmed from publicly available information alone.
If the later photos look good, can I end treatment?
Ending treatment or permanent maintenance cannot be judged from changes in progress photos alone. The current progression of hair loss and actual treatment response are confirmed through examination, and subsequent observation intervals and the need for maintenance treatment are determined individually.
Before Deciding on a Transplant, Find the Treatment Order That Suits You
What to note in this case is not only the fact that a specific procedure was received. It is that the treatment order was determined by considering the wide area of hair loss, limited donor hair, and remaining hair together.
Whether a hair transplant is needed, whether non-surgical treatment should be reviewed first, or whether existing treatment should be adjusted differs from person to person. In consultation, be sure to thoroughly check not only the available options but also the changes that can be expected and their limitations.
Let's Start by Checking Your Current Hair Condition Together
At Modi Hair Plant Clinic, we examine both the areas of hair loss and the donor area at the back of the head to discuss treatment direction. If you have information on medications you are taking, previous treatments, or progress photos, please share them during your consultation.
Phone inquiries: 02-544-8659
References and Video Source
- Issa NT, Tosti A. Trichoscopy for the Hair Transplant Surgeon—Assessing for Mimickers of Androgenetic Alopecia and Preoperative Evaluation of Donor Site Area. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 2021;54(4):393–398. DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1739245. PMID: 34984075.
- Gentile P, Scioli MG, Cervelli V, Orlandi A, Garcovich S. Autologous Micrografts from Scalp Tissue: Trichoscopic and Long-Term Clinical Evaluation in Male and Female Androgenetic Alopecia. BioMed Research International. 2020;2020:7397162. DOI: 10.1155/2020/7397162. PMID: 32071919.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Thinning hair and hair loss: Could it be female pattern hair loss? Patient information on the diagnosis and treatment of female pattern hair loss. Accessed: October 15, 2026.
Case and video source: Modi Hair Plant Clinic, Director Yujin Lee. Hair Loss Treatment Progress of a Woman in Her 30s · Real Review of Hair Follicle Stem Cell Hair Loss Treatment. The case photos in this article are progress materials presented in that video and are not photos of study participants from the references.
This article provides general medical information based on a video by our medical team and verifiable literature, and does not replace individual diagnosis or prescription. The photos show one patient's progress; individual responses and duration of maintenance may vary. Treatments involving tissue harvesting or scalp injections may cause adverse reactions such as pain, bleeding, and infection, and whether to undergo treatment and the method are decided after consultation.