Model Kimberley Wallis, 26, has detailed her experience with traction alopecia, a condition caused by prolonged tension on hair follicles, which led to an 8cm receding hairline and bald patches. Her journey involved failed attempts with minoxidil and microneedling, culminating in a botched hair transplant in Turkey and a subsequent corrective procedure in the UK.
Traction alopecia can develop from hairstyles such as tight ponytails, braids, and extensions that repeatedly pull on the hair. According to Dr. Sharon Wong, a consultant dermatologist, this tension can trigger inflammation around the hair follicles, known as folliculitis. If left untreated, this inflammation can lead to irreversible scarring and permanent hair loss.
"Red bumps or tenderness on the scalp are early warning signs that the hair follicles are under excessive strain," Dr. Wong stated. Early intervention, including ceasing the offending hairstyles and maintaining scalp health, can allow follicles to recover. Minoxidil, the only licensed topical treatment for hair loss in women, can be helpful in early stages but is ineffective once scarring has occurred.
Wallis first noticed thinning hair four years ago. She tried microneedling, which she says worsened the condition, followed by minoxidil for 18 months with no improvement. Continuing to style her hair tightly for modeling work, her hairline visibly receded. Two years ago, she underwent a hair transplant in Turkey for £4,000, which she described as "botched," leaving her hair sparser and uneven. The procedure resulted in a significant loss of self-confidence, causing her to withdraw from social activities and modeling.
By early this year, her hairline had receded by approximately 8cm in some areas, prompting a second hair transplant in the UK. This procedure involved blood tests to rule out other medical issues and confirmed that her hair loss was due to styling and genetics. The second transplant, a ten-hour follicular unit extraction (FUE), involved relocating hair from the back of her scalp to her hairline.
Roshan Vara, a hair transplant surgeon at The Treatment Rooms in London who performed Wallis's second transplant, explained that the procedure typically takes seven to 14 days to recover from. The number of women seeking hair transplants has increased by about 20% in recent years, according to trichologist Steve O'Brien. However, traction alopecia is considered a minor cause of female hair loss, which is generally more complex than male pattern baldness. Factors such as stress, illness, diet, and hormonal changes, including menopause and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, can contribute to hair loss in women.
Experts caution that hair transplants are not suitable for everyone, particularly those with hair loss due to autoimmune conditions like frontal fibrosing alopecia, as the transplanted follicles could also be affected. Following her second transplant, Wallis followed post-operative care instructions, including avoiding touching her hair and protecting the new follicles from sun damage. While full results will take up to 18 months, she reports seeing new hair growth and has resumed social and professional activities, vowing to avoid tight hairstyles and extensions in the future.