African American Hair Restoration

Consultations offered at our four convenient locations in La Jolla, San Diego, Newport Beach and Beverly Hills

African American Hair Restoration

Hair is an important and influential facet of culture and self-expression. However, factors such as genetics, traction alopecia, or male/female pattern hair loss can cause shedding, thinning, and balding.

African American hair restoration consists of a range of specialized treatments that are tailored for the diverse curl patterns and texture of African American hair. These treatments allow patients to achieve natural-looking results that enhance not only their appearance but also their confidence.

Dr. Richard Chaffoo is one of the co-founders and the surgical director of California Hair MD, one of the top hair loss clinics in the world. Dr. Chaffoo offers more than 30 years of experience and is America’s Only Triple Board-Certified Hair Transplant Plastic Surgeon. He is a regular guest speaker at numerous global meetings on plastic surgery and hair restoration surgery, and he teaches and trains other plastic surgeons who are interested in hair restoration surgery at the annual Aesthetic Society meeting. He is also involved in cutting-edge research with his biotech company to develop new treatment options for hair loss.

Dr. Susan Stuart is one of the co-founders of California Hair MD and is a board-certified dermatologist and hair restoration superspecialist. Dr. Stuart has more than 20 years of experience and is a former president of the San Diego Dermatologic Society. She is the go-to dermatologist for several publications and media outlets, and is also involved in research to develop novel hair loss treatments and technologies.

To get started at any one of our Southern California offices, please contact us online or call the office most convenient for you:

About African American Hair Restoration

This hair type often requires advanced techniques and a deep understanding of follicular curvature, curl patterns, and scalp characteristics to ensure healthy graft survival and natural-looking results.

What Makes African American Hair Different?

African American hair itself is elliptical and has the smallest diameter of all hair subgroups. African American hair has been found to grow at a slower rate, likely due to its smaller diameter, and typically breaks faster than it grows. This is because the hair contains fewer cuticular layers, making it more susceptible to damage and breakage at lower stress levels. African American hair is also typically less dense. (1) Because of these unique attributes, it is important that you work with someone who has the expertise necessary to tailor your treatment to the traits of your specific hair type, rather than someone who takes a one-size-fits-all approach.

Candidates

Candidates for African American hair restoration typically include anyone of African American descent experiencing balding, shedding, or patchiness. Patients experiencing male or female pattern hair loss, as well as traction alopecia or thinning due to tension-causing hairstyles, may also be suitable candidates.

Anyone interested in hair restoration should be in good overall health and hold realistic expectations regarding the results of their procedure. Dr. Chaffoo will determine each patient’s eligibility for each of our hair restoration treatments during their consultation.

Personal Consultation

Before starting your hair restoration treatment, you will need to attend a personal consultation. During this consultation, Dr. Chaffoo will meet with you individually to learn more about your medical history, motivations, and treatment goals before evaluating the health and condition of your scalp. He will use the information shared throughout the consultation to determine the best treatment for your case. He will also tailor certain aspects of your treatment to ensure each of your concerns is addressed. This consultation serves as an opportunity to ask any questions you may have, as we want you to feel well-informed, comfortable, excited, and confident about your upcoming hair restoration.

To schedule this consultation and receive your personalized treatment plan, please contact us online or call the office closest to you:

Preparation

Dr. Chaffoo will provide you with a set of detailed preparation instructions before you begin your hair restoration treatment. These instructions may vary depending on the details of your treatment plan, but each is designed to facilitate the best possible results.

You may be advised to discontinue taking blood-thinning medications and supplements under medical guidance. You should plan to take some time away from your career and social commitments, as well as pre-arrange transportation home from the procedure.

Available Treatments

At California Hair MD, we offer a selection of both surgical and non-surgical treatments to help you restore your hair. During your consultation, Dr. Chaffoo will evaluate your scalp and medical history to determine the best treatment, or combination of treatments, for your circumstances.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a minimally invasive hair restoration procedure that utilizes a circular punch tool to individually extract viable hair follicles from the sides and back of the scalp before placing them in areas experiencing thinning or shedding. (2) This treatment leaves minimal scarring, making it an ideal option if you prefer wearing your hair shorter.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is a hair transplantation procedure that involves removing a strip of tissue from the back of the scalp to harvest a significant number of grafts at once. The strip is then dissected before the individual follicles are placed into various areas of the scalp. If you are experiencing more extensive hair loss, require a larger number of grafts, and you typically wear your hair longer, this treatment may be more suitable for you.

Hair Restoration Medications

Hair restoration medications are topical or oral medications that may be taken to restore new growth or prevent further hair loss. At California Hair MD, Dr. Chaffoo offers both finasteride and minoxidil.

Finasteride is an FDA-approved hair restoration medication for men that targets 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that contributes to hair loss in men. This medication is administered orally.

Minoxidil is a topical medication that can be used for hair restoration and to slow hair loss in both men and women. (3)

Platelet-Rich Plasma

Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is an emerging treatment that uses the regenerative and wound-healing properties found in blood to stimulate new hair growth. This treatment contains more than 20 different types of growth factors (4) as well as small proteins called cytokines, which can form new blood vessels, encourage cell growth, and influence inflammation. These growth factors communicate with each other on a cellular level to signal new hair growth. (5)

Cost of African American Hair Restoration in Beverly Hills and San Diego

The cost of your hair restoration treatment will vary depending on the type of treatment chosen, the size of the treatment area, whether additional treatments are performed, and several other factors. Dr. Chaffoo will discuss the cost of your procedure during your consultation, once the details of your treatment plan are established.

To learn more about the cost of your personalized hair restoration procedure, please schedule a consultation online.

FAQ

What treatment methods are available for restoring African American hair?

Dr. Chaffoo offers a wide selection of different treatments, including FUE procedures, FUT procedures, hair restoration medications, scalp micropigmentation, and PRP to restore new growth.

How is hair restoration different for African American patients?

African American hair holds characteristics different from those of other races. Restoring African American hair requires specialized techniques and extensive knowledge, which is why it is important to seek the expertise of a Triple Board-Certified Hair Transplant Plastic Surgeon, such as Dr. Chaffoo.

Will the results of my hair restoration procedure look natural?

Yes, Dr. Chaffoo carefully inserts each graft at a specific angle and placement to replicate your scalp’s natural hair growth patterns.

How long will it take to recover from African American hair restoration?

Recovery will depend on the treatment performed. If you receive a surgical treatment, you may need to take up to two weeks away from your career and commitments to focus on recovering. Non-surgical treatments like medications and PRP often require little to no downtime.

Can I combine different hair restoration treatments for more enhanced results?

Yes, Dr. Chaffoo may recommend combining your African American hair restoration with supplements or another non-surgical treatment to enhance your results.

References

  1. Maymone MBC, Laughter M, Pollock S, et al. Hair Aging in Different Races and Ethnicities. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2021;14(1):38. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7869811/
  2. Sharma R, Ranjan A. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Hair Transplant: Curves Ahead. Journal of Maxillofacial & Oral Surgery. 2019;18(4):509-517. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-019-01245-6
  3. Badri T, Nessel TA, Kumar D D. Minoxidil. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482378/
  4. Garg S, Manchanda S. Platelet-rich plasma—an “Elixir” for treatment of alopecia: personal experience on 117 patients with review of literature. Stem Cell Investigation. 2017;4:64-64. doi:https://doi.org/10.21037/sci.2017.06.07
  5. Stevens J, Khetarpal S. Platelet-rich plasma for androgenetic alopecia: A review of the literature and proposed treatment protocol. International Journal of Women’s Dermatology. 2018;5(1):46-51. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2018.08.004