Traction Alopecia Repair: Hair Transplant for Tension Hair Loss

Traction alopecia — hair loss caused by prolonged tension on hair follicles from tight hairstyles (braids, cornrows, weaves, tight ponytails, locs) — is one of the most common causes of permanent hair loss that isn't hormonal. Unlike androgenetic alopecia (DHT-driven pattern hair loss), traction alopecia is caused by physical damage to follicles. Hair transplantation can restore hair to traction-damaged areas, but candidacy and technique differ from standard male-pattern-baldness transplants.

What Is Traction Alopecia?

Chronic tension on hair follicles initially causes reversible thinning — if the tension is removed, hair regrows. But sustained tension over months or years causes permanent follicle damage (scarring), and the hair loss becomes irreversible. The most commonly affected areas are the frontal hairline (from tight ponytails), the temporal hairline and edges (from braids and cornrows), and the occipital hairline (from traction at the nape).

Transplant Candidacy

Transplantation is appropriate when the hair loss is permanent (scar tissue has replaced the follicles — typically confirmed by examination or biopsy), the traction-causing hairstyle has been discontinued (continued tension will damage transplanted grafts too), and adequate donor supply exists. Candidates must commit to avoiding the hairstyle that caused the damage — transplanted hair is not more resistant to traction than native hair.

Technique Differences

Traction alopecia transplantation differs from standard hair transplant in several ways: the recipient area may have scar tissue (which has reduced blood supply — affecting graft survival), graft placement angles must match the natural growth direction of the affected area, the affected areas are often along the hairline margins (requiring precise single-hair graft placement for a natural edge), and the patient population is predominantly women with Afro-textured hair (requiring experience with curly-hair graft handling).

Cost in Colombia

Traction alopecia repair is priced similarly to standard FUE — $2.00–$3.50 per graft in Colombia. A typical temple/edge restoration requires 500–1,500 grafts ($1,000–$4,500). Larger-area restoration (full frontal hairline) may require 1,500–3,000 grafts ($3,000–$8,000).

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