For many people, the outward expression of their gender identity isn’t something they’ve ever put much thought into. If your physical appearance has always matched how you feel on the inside, it’s easy to understand why. For many trans men and women, however, it’s something they’ve had to think about their entire lives. At Modena Hair Institute, our goal has always been to help every single person who walks through our door look and feel their best—whatever that means to them.
We’ve specialized in hair transplants and non-surgical hair restoration techniques with the best available technology and the most compassionate team of experienced personnel you’ll ever meet. We know that transforming your appearance is a big decision for anyone to make, but it’s an especially important decision for many people in the trans community. No matter how you choose to express your gender identity, we’v helped thousands of men and women achieve some incredible results. Whether our patients are trans or cisgendered, our approach is always the same—focus on the hair. Here are a few things that anyone looking for a masculine or feminine appearance may want to consider when it comes to their hair.
Notable Female Characteristics
When compared to men, women traditionally have a much lower frontal hairline, a rounded hairline, and thicker hair throughout their scalp and crown. For anyone looking to achieve this look, we typically remove hair follicles one-by-one from the back and sides of the head (where hair is generally much thicker) and transplant them individually throughout any areas of temple recession and frontal hairline or crown thinning. This technique is called a Follicular Unit Excision (FUE). Dr. Amir Yazdan has pioneered this modern technique and employs cutting-edge instrumentation to execute surgeries that are as minimally invasive and painless as possible.
For our trans patients who have undergone gender reassignment surgery or take female hormones, common male hair loss patterns will, fortunately, slow down or stop completely. For those who choose not to go down that route but also want to keep as much of their hair as possible, we recommend taking topical solutions like minoxidil (Rogaine) or an orally administered daily medication like finasteride (Propecia). These non-surgical solutions help slow down hair loss and improve thinning hair.
Notable Male Characteristics
At the other end of the spectrum, men are commonly known to have receding and/or thinning hairlines whether they like it or not. So, if you’re after a more traditional male look and have a full head of hair, style it to your heart’s content! Another common characteristic found on many cis men is, of course, facial hair. For anyone hoping to achieve a beard, goatee, mustache or sideburns, no matter how thin or wispy their current facial hair is, a facial hair transplant can help deliver permanent, natural results. These transplants work very similar to hair transplants on your head. We move hair from the donor area (usually the back and sides of the head) to parts of the face where hair is missing. For our trans patients, this procedure has helped enhance the results of testosterone therapy alone. And don’t worry, the donor areas on your head won’t look any different than it did before the procedure. With approximately 100,000 hairs on the human head, your scalp won’t miss the 1,000+ needed to fill in facial hair.
We all deserve to feel comfortable in our own skin, and thanks to modern advances in hair restoration, you can. Contact us for a thorough discussion about your best options. We can’t wait to set you on your journey of transformation.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
What does it mean to transition? It is a journey that often seems to have a hazy “starting point” and an end point that can feel like a moving target. Familiarizing yourself with your options is a good way to make the process feel less daunting.
