When is it too late for a hair transplant?
In most cases, there is hope, even if you think you've lost too much hair already due to male pattern baldness. There are many newer treatments on the markets and solutions for hair loss. Let's break it down...
How bad is the hair loss on the Norwood Scale?
If you are almost completely bald, except for the fringe of donor hair around the back and sides of your scalp, you have lost the equivalent of approximately 25,000 grafts. The number of available grafts in the average person utilizing a single harvest method (strip or FUE), is about 6000-8000 grafts. You can see that there is a supply to demand mismatch—you need 25,000 grafts and I only have 6000-8000 grafts to work with which may mean you are not a great candidate for a hair transplant.
If you are a Norwood Class 5 there is still hope, and you may be a good candidate for a hair transplant depending on the density you desire. It all depends on your Norwood stage which is why we recommend seeing a hair transplant doctor to adequately assess your treatment options.
Norwood Classification (which is used for male hair loss), not to be confused with the Ludwig Scale to measure hair loss in women.
What if you are young and have hair loss?
Age plays a crucial role in the success and considerations of a hair transplant. As individuals age, hair loss patterns can become more pronounced, and the availability of donor hair may diminish. Younger patients might have more flexible options and better outcomes since their hair loss pattern is still evolving, allowing for more strategic planning and preservation of donor hair.
In contrast, older patients might face a greater challenge due to potentially reduced donor hair density and the increased risk of further hair loss in non-transplanted areas. Additionally, older individuals may experience slower healing and recovery times. There is normally no age limit on getting a hair transplant but we encourage the patient to be over 23 years old.
However, there are no strict age limit on for hair transplant, but hair transplants are generally discouraged at a very young age due to the stage of hair loss. Each clinic has their own rules and this can be discussed at your consultation after an evaluation of your donor hair, scalp, health and wanted results to see if it's too late for a hair transplant.
Is it hopeless, could I do a hair transplant?
It depends. If you want a full head of hair and look like you’ve never lost any hair, the situation is hopeless. If you are willing to accept moderate scalp coverage (the appearance that you have some thinning), some bald areas are not covered or have thin coverage, or willing to use both strip and FUE graft harvest transplantation methods then a hair transplant is a possibility.
A single harvest method; a FUE hair transplant, has the limit of 6000-8000 grafts. If you are willing to utilize more than one harvest method, the number of available grafts is increased to 10,000 to 12,000 grafts. This is usually enough to cover all the bald areas with moderate density.
See patient before and after images shown here. To see more Hair Transplant results, click here
100% authentic RESTORE clients. No photoshopping. No trick photography. No Stock photos.
100% authentic RESTORE® clients.
No photoshopping. No trick photography.
1,852 Grafts
Drew J.
IT Professional
RESTORE® Client
2,172 Grafts
Josh K.
IT Professional
RESTORE® Client
5,929 Grafts
Jamie S.
Management
RESTORE® Client
Not all patients will experience the outcomes shown in the photographs and described in the testimonial statements on this website, and not all persons will be eligible for the procedure. Results will depend on a number of factors, including your personal medical history. Please ask a physician about your individual case. Testimonials were compensated for their endorsements.
That's great, but...what if you are completely bald?
You already said I’ve lost up to 25,000 grafts and all I have available is 10,000-12,000, I’m still short about 12,000 grafts. If you are completely bald, nature gave us a great gift. In the average person, 12,000 grafts appear to be the same thickness as 24,000 grafts—the human eye can’t perceive the difference very well. We use this trick to cover as much of the bald area as we can using fewer hairs than you had in the area originally.
What else do I need to know?
The process of obtaining 6000-8000 scalp grafts or more will require 2-3 procedures. To add a second harvest method may require another 2-3 procedures. Adding body will add more procedures.
What techniques can help to save what I have?
If you’ve lost that much hair you should be on medical therapies such as finasteride and minoxidil. You won’t grow new hair with this regimen, but it will help you in several ways:
- Keep the bald area as stable as possible and slow the hair loss process
- It will ensure that the health of the donor hair is maximized give the best transplant result
Scalp micropigmentation and HS Max fibers can also be useful in making the transplant result look thicker. These do this by decreasing the contrast between the scalp and the hair.
Of course a hair transplant is one of the best ways to restore your hair. It's your own hair as the surgery takes hair follicles from where you a plentiful and places them where you need more coverage.
The bottom line. It's probably not too late.
Even in cases of extreme hair loss, a hair transplant is a great treatment options if you’re expectations are realistic and you are willing to accept multiple procedures, multiple harvest methods, and adjunct products or procedures. Contact us today to discuss your options on your hair restoration journey with RESTORE