Am I Too Young for a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgery that moves hair you already have to fill an area with thin or no hair. There are different types of hair transplant surgical procedures, but the results are the same: a fuller head of your own hair.
But who qualifies as a candidate for a hair transplant? Is age a factor? Let’s discuss FUE hair transplants and whether you can be too young for the procedure.
What are FUE Hair Transplants?
Dr. Heil offers only the most effective hair transplants for the discerning man at The Center for Hair Restoration in Pittsburgh. As such, he prefers FUE or follicular unit extraction. This method is far superior, as it does not involve a linear scar.
In the FUE procedure, the follicles not programmed for balding are harvested from the back and sides of the head. This produces a naturally blended look after the hairs are transplanted to the thinning or balding area.
Two of the most advanced hair transplant systems available in the USA are ARTAS and NeoGraft. Dr. Heil is the sole practitioner in the tri-state area to offer ARTAS, an incredible advance in hair restoration.
The physician-guided robotic system harvests healthy hair grafts, and no area is “over-harvested.” It also uses a 3D digital mapping system to harvest healthy hair follicles and implant them naturally randomly.
Who should get a hair transplant?
To be considered for a hair transplant, you need enough healthy hair on your scalp to be transplanted and the ability to grow hair on the thinning area of your scalp.
During your consultation, your hair transplant surgeon will examine your scalp and potentially test your blood to determine whether you should get a hair transplant. They’ll also help you understand what results you can reasonably expect. For example, while a full head of hair may be unrealistic, a fuller head of hair could be easily attainable.
Is age a factor?
Hair loss can begin at any age, with one in five men experiencing hair loss before they turn 20. It’s not just men that are affected, either, as women also experience pattern baldness, usually after going through menopause. Realizing that your hair is starting to shed can be a traumatic experience at any age. Still, younger people can find it particularly impacts their self-esteem and wonder whether age is a factor in getting a hair transplant.
While there is no definitive age, a hair transplant is best for people over 25. Before that age, it’s challenging to determine their potential hair loss and balding patterns. For example, if a person under 25 was concerned about their hairline and had grafts in this area, the surrounding hair could recede and fall out, producing a patchy result.
Age is also a factor because donor hair becomes more limited with age. If you have a transplant when you are under 25 and find that more hair is falling out, you may not have enough hair to keep transplanting when you experience extensive hair loss in the future. Because there’s only a finite supply that can be transplanted, surgeons must use it wisely.
