In our society, more people are warming up to the idea of hair transplants as a way to look younger or give themselves a hair makeover. That’s not surprising. In fact, hair transplantation is one of the most effective procedures in the field of hair restoration surgery.
But how likely can you find the perfect match for your existing hair? And what risks might come with the surgery? Let’s take a closer look at these questions and provide you with some answers.
Understanding The Basics
Hair transplantation is a procedure that involves the transplantation of healthy hair from one part of your body to another. This procedure can be done in several ways, but it’s typically done using follicles from the back or side of the scalp. It’s typically performed on people experiencing hair problems, such as baldness or thinning.
The most common method is FUE (follicular unit extraction), which involves cutting individual hairs from a donor area and inserting them into the recipient area. This method allows for more natural results and less scarring than traditional methods.
Can You Get Hair From Someone Else?
The general answer is, no, you cannot. At first thought, this would seem a bit strange. However, if science has advanced enough that we can transplant organs such as kidneys, livers, and hearts, what is so different about hair transplants between two individuals then?
The answer lies in understanding the following key concepts.
Genetic Compatibility
The first requirement in a hair transplant is genetic compatibility. Hair transplants are often performed on people with donor hairs that have been taken from their own heads. Because not all hair has the same genetics, using hair from a different person during a transplant procedure can cause problems in the grafting process.
It’s important to note that cells in each hair follicle have characteristics that allow it to grow in a particular pattern and direction. Therefore, if two types of hairs are transplanted, then they will be rejected as incompatible by the body because they do not fit together correctly.
Antigenic Immune System
The second factor in a hair transplant is whether or not the patient’s immune system will accept the grafts, which is another reason someone else’s hair will not be a good fit for you. That’s because the body’s immune system creates antibodies against substances exposed to, such as an allergen or an infection.
If someone is allergic to something, their body can create antibodies against that substance, leading to an autoimmune response whereby the immune system attacks itself instead of attacking foreign substances (like allergens). This process is known as antigen presentation, a process your body relies on to determine which cells are foreign and should be destroyed, leaving only those cells that are self-identical unharmed.
The Exception
While we’ve established that hair transplantation between two different people is not standard practice, there is one exception to this — and that’s in the case of identical twins. This information is based on a relatively recent published report in a medical journal detailing a successful hair transplantation procedure from one twin to the other. In this case, the successful hair transplantation procedure was conducted in response to a skin condition affecting one twin but did not exist with the other. However, as you may have probably inferred, this is one of the very rare cases where you can transfer hairs between individuals.Conclusion
To sum up, it all boils down to our unique genetic code. We have blood types, eye colors, and fingerprints, and now scientists have found that we all have a particular set of genes, which our hair follicles contain. Ultimately, this is why it is generally impractical to use hair follicles from another person to grow or create new ones in another person’s body.Schedule a Consult
Interested in hair replacement? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Northwestern Hair specialist. Choose between comprehensive in-person and convenient virtual consultations.