Androgenetic Hair Loss

There are two key factors in male & female pattern balding, known by the medical term androgenetic alopecia (AGA). These factors are hormones and genes.

Hormones

Two androgen hormones play a key role in hair growth and in inherited male and female hair loss patterns. They are testosterone and its metabolite dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Genes

AGA is genetically based, although tracing it through the family tree can be unpredictable. The exact genes are not known at this point and some patients provide a negative family history, however, some give positive. This gene sensitizes the person’s scalp follicles to DHT, which eventually causes hair follicles to stop generating hair or to generate only peach fuzz hair (vellus).

Androgenetic alopecia derives its name from androgen hormones (andro) and genes (genetic). Alopecia is simply the medical term for loss of hair.

Our surgeons are trained to understand the genetics of AGA and recommend treatment plans that will create the most natural looking result and blend most suitably with the pattern of any future hair loss. If you suffer from AGA, we will predict the final appearance of your hair loss, judging from the speed of onset and its progression. This will help decide where best to place your transplanted hair bulbs.