Hair replacement can reduce the appearance of balding or thinning patches of hair via healthy hair follicle transplantation, and women are just as viable candidates as men. However, if you're currently pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, you may want to delay the procedure.
During Pregnancy
While hair replacement is not an incredibly invasive procedure that will require you to be put under, it is still an involved process. During each treatment, your scalp will be numbed as individual healthy hair follicles are removed and transplanted individually into balding or thinning areas of the scalp. These sessions take an average of 2 to 4 hours each.
Not only is having the numbing agent potentially harmful to your unborn child, you will be uncomfortable and possibly stressed during the procedure. During your first trimester, you are at higher risk for miscarriage and agitating yourself can cause unnecessary stress. During your third trimester, stress can trigger an early birth and you will be less comfortable in the treatment chair. Although any procedure you have during pregnancy is safest during the second trimester, your child will be at less risk if you choose to delay unnecessary medical and cosmetic procedures until after you have given birth.
When Considering Pregnancy
If you're hoping to get pregnant in the near future and want to start hair replacement before putting your child at risk, recognize that most successful hair transplantation treatments require more than one session, spread 1 to 6 months apart. Chances are, you'll be due for another treatment while pregnant. However, it is not medically necessary to continue treatments at recommended intervals in order for previous treatments to work. You can put the procedure on hold until after you have given birth and then continue where you left off.
Many women qualify for the hair replacement procedure, but since it is a process that takes a number of months, you may want to consider starting the procedure after you have given birth. If you're considering hair transplantation, be sure to discuss your pregnancy or possible pregnancy with your cosmetic specialist, physician or dermatologist.
