Alvi Armani x CANSA Event Report Back: Redefining Recovery & The Role of Hair Restoration After Cancer

“Redefining Recovery: The Role of Hair Restoration After Cancer,” 

Alvi Armani & CANSA put emotional healing and self-image at the heart of survivorship.

Alvi Armani South Africa has partnered with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) to support cancer survivors in reclaiming confidence and self-image through safe, medically guided hair restoration treatments.

In honour of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Hairnews’ own Brad De Waal was very happy to attend the October 24^th event celebrating the wonderfully compassionate work that such teamwork can achieve.

“Redefining Recovery: The Role of Hair Restoration After Cancer,” expands on this initiative and the role hair restoration can play in emotional healing. The collaboration offers complimentary consultations and evidence-based treatments that are tailored to each survivor’s medical history and recovery stage.

Key highlights of the day included featuring how hair restoration can be fundamental:

• Partnership impact: Alvi Armani and CANSA are providing cancer survivors access to professional hair restoration consultations and treatments that prioritise safety and self-confidence.

• Emotional recovery: Dr Kashmal Kalan, Medical Director at Alvi Armani, emphasised that restoration is not about vanity - it’s about identity, dignity, and regaining a sense of control.

• Medically guided care: Treatments such as FUE transplants, PRP, and exosome therapy were discussed as carefully timed in collaboration with oncologists to ensure patient safety.

• Awareness drive: Many survivors are unaware that hair restoration is an option. This initiative aims to normalise post-cancer restoration as part of holistic recovery in South Africa.

Redefining Recovery: The Role of Hair Restoration After Cancer

For many cancer survivors, the end of treatment should mark the beginning of recovery. Yet for countless men and women, one of the most visible reminders of their journey remains - hair loss.

Through a new partnership between Alvi Armani South Africa and the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), survivors now have access to medically guided hair restoration treatments and medications that supports both their confidence and emotional well-being.

The initiative offers complimentary consultations and assessments for cancer survivors, providing safe, evidence-based treatments that help restore a sense of normalcy.

“Hair loss is one of the most emotional effects of cancer therapy,” says Dr Kashmal Kalan, Medical Director at Alvi Armani South Africa. “It’s not just about appearance; it’s about identity. Helping patients restore their hair often helps them reconnect with who they were before the illness.” 

Focus: Uniquely Personalised Recovery Treatment

Each patient’s treatment is personalised, based on their medical history and stage of recovery. Procedures such as follicular unit extraction (FUE) - a minimally invasive method that transplants individual follicles - are often paired with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or exosome therapy to stimulate scalp health and growth.

Safety is paramount. Alvi Armani works closely with each patient’s oncologist and generally waits six to twelve months after chemotherapy or radiation before beginning restoration work.

Dr Kalan emphasised that hair restoration is not about vanity.

“When someone looks in the mirror and recognises themselves again, it can be deeply healing. Regaining a sense of control is a vital part of recovery. We don’t just treat the scalp; we support the person. Seeing a survivor smile at new hair growth - that’s what it’s really about.”

Dr Kalan and Alvi Armani’s work is distinguished by precision, meticulous planning, and an artistic eye for symmetry, ensuring each patient receives a result tailored to their facial structure, age, and personal goals.

Emotional Well-Being: Putting Post-Cancer Recovery in the Spotlight

Despite proven success internationally, post-cancer hair restoration remains under-discussed in South Africa. Many survivors are unaware that it’s an option or worry it may be unsafe. Through its partnership with CANSA, Alvi Armani aims to change that.

“Internationally, hair restoration after cancer is part of holistic recovery. It deserves the same recognition here. We need to normalise the idea that restoring appearance is a legitimate part of healing,” Dr Kalan concludes.

Alvi Armani’s core mission is combining medical expertise, surgical precision, and aesthetic artistry to help patients regain their confidence, something that CANSA recognises as being critical to each patient’s full recovery and emotional healing.

"At CANSA, we know that recovery is about more than just completing treatment. Supporting survivors’ emotional well-being, including helping them feel confident in their appearance, is a vital part of healing. This partnership with Alvi Armani makes safe, professional hair restoration accessible to those who need it most," says Makoma Raolane, CANSA’s National Sustainability Manager.

With this partnership, Alvi Armani and CANSA want to remind survivors that recovery doesn’t end with treatment – it begins the moment they start feeling like themselves again.

Individuals affected by cancer who are interested in the initiative can contact Alvi Armani South Africa directly - referencing their affiliation with CANSA - to schedule a complimentary consultation.

For more information, visit https://cansa.org.za/ and https://alviarmani.co.za/.