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Independent medical information

Hair Restoration and Transplantation

How hair loss is diagnosed, which causes are temporary or medical, what medicines, laser devices and transplants can and cannot do, and when to see a doctor.

Hair restoration covers the diagnosis and treatment of hair loss: medicines, other medical treatments, hair transplant surgery and cosmetic cover such as wigs. Hair loss has many causes, some temporary and some needing medical treatment, so working out which type you have comes before any decision about surgery.

In short

Effective treatment for hair loss begins with finding the cause, and some people have more than one cause at the same time.6 Inherited pattern hair loss is the most common type2, while loss after illness, stress or weight loss is often temporary and grows back.1 Medicines only work while they are used1, and a transplant moves existing hair rather than stopping inherited loss from progressing.3 The route starts with a GP or dermatologist naming the type of loss; a transplant only makes sense once the pattern, how far it may progress and the donor supply are known.34

A clinician examining a patient's scalp with a digital trichoscope
Illustrative image. It does not show a real clinician, clinic or patient.

What this field covers

  • Diagnosis: history, scalp examination, a hair pull test, and blood tests or a scalp biopsy when a medical cause is suspected.36
  • Medicines: minoxidil applied to the scalp and finasteride tablets, the main treatments for male pattern baldness.1
  • Other medical treatments: steroid injections or creams, immunotherapy and light treatment for particular types of loss.1
  • Hair transplant surgery: moves small bundles of hair, usually from the permanent donor area, to thinning or bald areas.4 The two main ways of harvesting hair are follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT).
  • Cosmetic cover: wigs, extensions and styling, for temporary or permanent loss.3
The hair growth cycle, and donor and thinning areas in male pattern hair loss Left: a cycle diagram with three phases joined by clockwise arrows. Anagen, the growth phase, leads to catagen, a short phase in which the follicle breaks down, which leads to telogen, the resting phase, and back to anagen. A marker on the arrow from telogen back to anagen is labelled exogen: the old hair is shed as the next growth phase begins. Right: an outline of the scalp seen from above, with the front at the top. In male pattern hair loss, thinning typically affects the front and temples and the crown, shaded in bronze. A green band around the back and sides marks the donor area that hair is usually taken from in a hair transplant. Simplified diagram, not to scale. Anagen growth Catagen breakdown Telogen resting Exogen old hair sheds as new growth begins Male pattern hair loss scalp seen from above Front Thinning: front and crown Donor area: back and sides
Each follicle cycles through growth (anagen), breakdown (catagen) and rest (telogen); the old hair is shed (exogen) as new growth starts. In male pattern hair loss, thinning typically affects the front, temples and crown, while transplant hair is usually taken from the back and sides. Simplified diagram, not to scale.

Start with the cause

Concern or symptomPossible causesUsual first step / type of specialist
Gradual thinning on top or a receding hairlineInherited male or female pattern hair loss12; hormonal change such as menopause2GP or dermatologist to confirm the pattern before medicines or surgery are discussed
Sudden shedding all over the scalpIllness, stress or shock, weight loss, iron deficiency1; pregnancy; thyroid problems; some medicines2GP; blood tests may reveal a medical cause3. Much of this hair grows back1
Round or patchy bald spotsAlopecia areata; scalp infection; a hair-pulling disorder2GP or dermatologist; steroid injections into patches are one option1
Thinning where hair is pulled tightTraction alopecia from tight styles or harsh treatments, which may become permanent if scarring develops2Changing hair care habits6; dermatologist if loss persists
Hair loss after cancer treatment or a major illnessEffects of treatment or illness; hair usually regrows26The treating team or GP; cover with wigs while waiting1
Several causes can overlap, for example shedding after pregnancy alongside early inherited loss.6

Main types of option

OptionWhat it can doWhat it cannot do
No treatment or waitingAppropriate for many temporary types of loss, which grow back without treatment1Reverse inherited pattern loss
Wigs and cosmetic coverCover temporary or permanent loss without medical risk3Change the underlying hair loss
MinoxidilHelp early loss in men and women16; results take about 6 to 12 months6Regrow a full head of hair; benefits fade when it is stopped6
FinasterideSlow male pattern loss and stimulate some regrowth6Keep working once stopped1; not for women1
Low-level laser deviceSmall studies suggest improved hair density in hereditary loss3Offer long-term evidence, which is still needed3
Hair transplantMove hair from the permanent donor area to thinning areas4; most suited to permanent loss on the top of the head3Stop inherited loss from progressing; more than one operation may be needed3
Medicines and surgery are often discussed together rather than as alternatives.

What cannot be decided online

The type of hair loss is confirmed by examining the scalp, nails and other affected areas, asking how and when the loss started, and sometimes by blood tests, a pull test or a scalp biopsy.36 Photographs cannot show scarring, inflammation or the density of the donor area.

Transplant surgery is intended for people who have been appropriately selected and diagnosed, and the professional society for hair restoration surgeons advises confirming that the doctor will perform the surgery personally rather than delegating it to an unlicensed technician.4 Your age, how far the loss may progress and how much donor hair you have shape whether surgery makes sense, and these are judged in person.

When to seek urgent medical help

  • Sudden hair loss, patchy bald areas or noticeably more shedding than usual: see a doctor promptly, because sudden loss can signal a medical condition that needs treatment.2
  • After a transplant: redness, heat, soreness or swelling around the treated or donor area, pus, a wound opening, or feeling generally unwell or feverish can mean infection. Contact a doctor straight away.5

Guides in this section

Surgery has its own section: see hair transplant, with FUE and recovery after a hair transplant. Because transplant work is sometimes delegated to technicians,4 see how to check who is qualified to operate.

Common questions

Sources

  1. NHS. Hair loss. NHS website; reviewed 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/hair-loss/. Accessed 5 November 2026.
  2. Mayo Clinic Staff. Hair loss: symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic; n.d. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20372926. Accessed 5 November 2026.
  3. Mayo Clinic Staff. Hair loss: diagnosis and treatment. Mayo Clinic; n.d. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372932. Accessed 5 November 2026.
  4. International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. Surgical treatments. ISHRS; n.d. https://ishrs.org/patients/treatments-for-hair-loss/surgical-treatments/. Accessed 5 November 2026.
  5. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Surgical wounds and preventing infections. Guy’s and St Thomas’; n.d. https://guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/surgical-wounds-and-preventing-infections. Accessed 5 November 2026.
  6. American Academy of Dermatology. Hair loss: diagnosis and treatment. AAD; n.d. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/treatment/diagnosis-treat. Accessed 5 November 2026.