Recently, a TV drama set in a postpartum care center aired an episode on postpartum hair loss and female pattern hair loss, drawing considerable attention. When a lead character delivered the line, “The baby's bottle isn't the only thing that's empty,” it struck a strong chord among new mothers.
In reality, there are countless cases of women experiencing female pattern hair loss symptoms after childbirth and suffering stress as a result. Postpartum hair loss is very common, reportedly affecting 1 in 3 new mothers. The cause is a sharp drop in estrogen, a female hormone, after childbirth, which accelerates postpartum telogen hair loss.
Postpartum hair loss typically begins with the loss of 30–40% of total hair during the 3–6 months after childbirth. Hair loss gradually stops after 6 months, and it is common for hair to return to a normal state after about 1 year. During this period, efforts such as using anti-hair-loss shampoo, getting sufficient protein, and avoiding hair treatments are needed.
The problem is that in some cases, hair loss symptoms persist even more than 1 year after childbirth, and the hair does not return to a normal state. Given that many women are sensitive about their appearance, experiencing postpartum hair loss that lasts for more than a year tends to cause deep frustration. In severe cases, women may suffer from depression or obsessive-compulsive symptoms, making it difficult to lead a normal social life.
Therefore, if postpartum hair loss does not resolve naturally even 1 year after childbirth, it is advisable to undergo a thorough examination and treatment.
Importantly, preventive treatment should be considered before postpartum hair loss occurs. Restoring hair that has already fallen out is difficult. The key, therefore, is to undergo a treatment that can help prevent postpartum hair loss before childbirth, fundamentally minimizing hair shedding itself.
For those who have tried every method said to be good for hair loss without improvement and were dissatisfied, or those planning pregnancy and childbirth for whom medication and laser treatment are difficult, a thread lifting procedure using poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) may be considered. The principle is to insert threads made of 100% PLLA into the scalp to improve female pattern hair loss.
Receiving PLLA treatment in advance before pregnancy helps minimize postpartum hair loss. Because PLLA treatment involves inserting 100% PLLA threads directly into the scalp to act locally, it minimizes concerns about systemic side effects and has a long maintenance period. In particular, its treatment effect lasts 1–2 years, offering the advantage of longer intervals between treatments.
Previously, PDO threads, the same as those used in general skin lifting, were mainly used; however, because they are quickly broken down and absorbed, the duration of stimulation was short compared with the hair growth cycle of 2–3 years. In contrast, when lifting is applied to the scalp using PLLA threads, the key point is that the mechanical stimulation ignites and activates fibroblasts. In addition, inducing a foreign-body reaction, a chemical stimulus, promotes new collagen formation.
Director Yoo Hwa-jung of Modi Hair Plant explained, “The principle of PLLA treatment is to promote microcirculation in the scalp to revitalize the hair follicles,” adding, “The threads deliver to the scalp a role similar to that of a supercharger, which supplies more oxygen to an engine.” She further noted, “In particular, PLLA threads take about 1–2 years to fully break down, so they are effective at providing sufficient stimulation over a long period.”
Source: Segye Biz │ Published 2020.11.16