Are you a hair transplant candidate?
Hair restoration is one way to counter the effects of hair loss, but not everyone is a good candidate for these types of procedures. Here are five questions to ask yourself to determine if you are a candidate for a hair transplant.
5 questions to ask if you are a hair transplant candidate
1. Do you have enough donor hair? There must be sufficient donor hair from the fringes of the scalp that can be transplanted to balding areas. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons advises individuals with very little or extremely thin hair against considering hair transplant surgery, since the variety of grafting procedures use existing hair and may not lead to the desired results.
2. Are you the right age? People in their early 20s who have already started balding should not consider transplant surgery. As they age they are sure to experience more balding, and taking grafts from existing areas at the fringe of the scalp could leave them hair on top and none left on the sides as they age. Hair transplant surgery is typically only a option for men and women over the age of 30.
3. Do you suffer from male pattern baldness? Baldness is rated on a scale developed in the 1950s and revised in the 70s by Dr. O'Tar Norwood. Men with a Norwood Class 3 or higher (decline of hair above the temples and forehead and on the crown of the head) are considered potential candidates, the American Hair Loss Association says.
4. Is your hair loss stabilized? Men whose balding has appeared to have stabilized and desire a thicker, fuller head of hair are good candidates.
5. Do you have the right type of hair? People with wavy, curly hair or thick, coarse hair often achieve better results in transplant surgeries. Dense hair provides better supply for grafts, while wavy hair blends better with existing hair.
While hair restoration surgery is a good option to combat hair loss, it is important to remember these procedures typically don't replace a youthful head of hair. At the most, successful hair replacement surgery provides patients with modest improvements in areas where their hair has receded.
