Hair loss in women

It starts at the parting.And far earlier.

One woman in three experiences visible hair loss, and through the menopause it is four in ten. Because the hairline usually stays where it is, nobody notices for a long time, often not even at the hairdresser. That is exactly what makes an early assessment matter.

Utoquai 39 · 8008 ZurichDr med Sussan Rosenthal3,000+ procedures

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33%

of all women affected

40%

through the menopause

95%

hormonal or inherited

3,000+

procedures by Dr Rosenthal

Causes

Rarely one cause. Usually several.

In women the hairline almost never recedes. What happens instead is that the parting widens and the ponytail thins. Because it creeps up so gradually, years often pass before anyone looks into it, and rarely is a single trigger behind it.

Hormonal changes

Menopause, pregnancy, coming off the pill: any shift in oestrogen balance can disturb the hair cycle. Around the menopause it is the most common cause of all.

Inherited predisposition

In women, androgenetic alopecia shows as diffuse thinning across the top of the head. The frontal line stays intact, which makes it harder to grade and often delays the diagnosis.

Nutrient gaps

Iron, ferritin, zinc, vitamin D. A deficiency often shows in the hair first. Typical after dieting, with a restricted diet, following surgery, or with heavy periods.

Thyroid and sustained stress

Both an overactive and an underactive thyroid can set off diffuse hair loss. Prolonged strain pushes follicles into the resting phase early, often without anyone suspecting a connection.

Infections and illness

Telogen effluvium after COVID-19, a feverish illness or an operation typically sets in two to four months later. In most cases it recovers on its own.

Treatments

The diagnosis first. Then the method.

Stimulation · usually the starting point

PRP therapy

Plasma drawn from your own blood is prepared and introduced into the scalp. The growth factors it carries wake dormant follicles, with nothing foreign involved. Where thinning is in its early stages, this is the first step in most cases.

Nutrients

Mesotherapy

Hyaluronic acid, biotin, zinc and amino acids reach the root directly, without the detour through the gut.

Regeneration

Regenera Activa

Regenerative cells are recovered from a tiny tissue sample and returned. One session, no downtime.

Sapphire

FUE with a sapphire blade

V-shaped channels, no strip scar. Suitable if you wear your hair long.

Discretion

Non-shaven

A transplant without shaving: your existing hair stays full length and the procedure goes unnoticed.

It starts with a diagnosis. Not a sales pitch.

Dr med Sussan Rosenthal

Common questions

What patients want to know first

When does it count as hair loss?+

Losing up to 100 hairs a day is normal. Three other signs tell you more than counting does: the parting widens, the ponytail feels thinner, and the scalp shows through in backlight. If one of those applies, it is worth having it looked at.

Is a transplant an option for women?+

Yes, provided the donor area at the back of the head holds enough stable follicles. With diffuse hair loss that is not always the case, so it is checked beforehand. FUE and the sapphire technique work without a strip scar, and long hair remains possible.

What can be done without surgery?+

PRP, mesotherapy and Regenera Activa stimulate growth without a procedure. They suit early to moderate thinning and work well alongside a transplant. What they cannot do is bring back follicles that are already lost.

Can hair loss in the menopause be treated?+

Yes, and it is the most common reason women over fifty come to us in the first place. The order matters: blood values and thyroid first, treatment after. PRP and mesotherapy usually come first, and where the loss is pronounced a transplant is added.

Does my hair have to be shaved?+

No. With the non-shaven technique your hair stays full length. The procedure takes longer and asks more of us, but the day after there is nothing visible that you would have to explain.

Consultation

First find out what is causing it.

At Utoquai 39 we check blood values, thyroid and findings before any treatment is discussed. After that you will hear what is worth doing in your case, and what is not.

Book an appointment

Address: derma utoquaiUtoquai 39, 8008 Zurich
Doctor: Dr med Sussan RosenthalHair transplantation & hair medicine
Getting here: Tram 2 or 4, Höschgasse stopOpéra car park, 6 minutes away

The information on this page is general in nature and does not replace a consultation with a doctor. Treatment results vary from person to person and cannot be guaranteed.