Scarring Alopecia
Cicatricial alopecia and when a transplant is possible.
Scarring alopecia destroys the follicle and replaces it with scar tissue – the loss is permanent and needs urgent dermatological care.
Scarring (cicatricial) alopecia permanently damages follicles and requires careful assessment before any transplant.
Transplant suitability
A transplant may be possible only once the condition is inactive. See repair transplant and scar camouflage.
When the follicle is destroyed
In scarring (cicatricial) alopecia, inflammation destroys the hair follicle and replaces it with scar tissue. Unlike androgenetic loss, the follicle does not survive – the loss is permanent in the affected area. It needs urgent dermatological assessment.
Why the diagnosis is urgent
Scarring alopecias can progress and are sometimes accompanied by itching, burning, redness or pustules. Early dermatological treatment can halt the inflammation and protect the remaining follicles. A scalp biopsy often confirms the diagnosis. This is not a cosmetic problem to postpone.
Why a transplant is delicate here
Transplanting into an active scarring alopecia is contraindicated: the same inflammation can destroy the transplanted follicles. Only after the condition is stable and inactive for a prolonged period, confirmed by a dermatologist, is a transplant into the mature scar tissue considered – with a survival rate below the usual 90–95% because scar tissue is less vascular. See transplant into scar tissue.
The honest sequence
Diagnosis and treatment first, stabilisation of the inflammation, then – only if inactive – a cautious plan, often with a test session assessed after 8–12 months. Where perfusion is insufficient, SMP is the more honest option. See safety.
This page is for general information and does not replace medical advice. Results are individual and cannot be guaranteed.
scarring alopecia: key points
Early treatment can halt the inflammation and protect remaining follicles; a biopsy often confirms it.
Transplanting into active disease is contraindicated; only after prolonged inactivity is a cautious plan considered.
For the full overview, see our main page on hair transplants in Istanbul.
Frequently Asked Questions
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