Why do transplanted hair follicles grow for the rest of the patient’s life typically?
Transplanted hair follicles typically grow for the rest of the patient's life because they are taken from the area of the scalp known as the donor area. The donor area contains hair follicles that are genetically coded differently than the hair follicles that fall out. The hair follicles in the donor area are not susceptible to DHT, or dihydrotesterone, which attacks hair follicles and causes them to weaken and eventually stop growing. So once we take the hair follicle from the donor area and place it in the recipient area, then it should grow for the rest of a patient's life.Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS