Hair Transplant for a Bald Spot

A bald spot may result from pattern loss, traction, an inflammatory disorder, injury, or another cause. Its shape, surface, border, hair at the edges, and changes over time help guide assessment. A smooth patch that appeared quickly is not automatically suitable for surgery, because active loss can affect newly placed follicles or nearby hair.

When appropriate, follicles from a donor area are placed into the spot to match the direction and density of surrounding hairs. Healing can include crusting and temporary shedding. The transplanted hairs need time to grow, and the final blend depends on the contrast between donor and existing hair.

Photograph the area in consistent lighting and note when it began, whether it is enlarging, and whether you have itching, scale, pain, or broken hairs. Avoid tight styles or repeated rubbing while waiting for assessment. Ask about treating the cause first. [Bald Patches](/symptoms/bald-patches/) and [Traction Alopecia](/conditions/traction-alopecia/) provide useful background for that discussion.

Seek prompt medical review if the spot is expanding, painful, red, scaly, draining, tender, or smooth and shiny, or if other patches appear. A dermatologist should assess sudden or active loss before a cosmetic procedure. Fever, severe pain, or rapidly spreading redness warrants urgent care.

Ask what caused the spot, whether the follicles and skin are healthy, how donor hair will be matched, and what happens if the area changes later. Discuss expected healing, grooming, and alternatives such as [Scalp Micropigmentation](/treatments/hair-restoration/scalp-micropigmentation/).