There are several reasons why you should not have a hair transplant if you are under the age of twenty-five and we will go through it one by one. Genetic hair loss is a progressive condition that worsens over time. Initially, the hairline begins to recede and then the crown begins to extend until the recession is finally achieved and the entire affected area looks like a horseshoe pattern.
Baldness is a common condition between men and women, but is more common in men. Baldness can cause frustration and anxiety in men of all ages. However, it is a very worrying issue for men under 25 years old. It can affect their confidence and calm.
While hair transplantation is a popular choice, many people question the ideal age for hair transplant surgery. They confuse what is very young and what is very old. We have tried to explain everything related to the ideal age for hair transplantation in this article. Keep reading to learn more about the right age to get a hair transplant.
Do not have a hair transplant if you are under twenty-five years old
For a hair transplant to work, there must be a permanent donor supply. The back and sides of the scalp contain the donor supply. The hair in this area is resistant to the effects of DHT, the hormone responsible for causing hair loss. However, this is not always the case. A condition called Diffused Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) affects the entire scalp – this condition is difficult to diagnose at a young age, especially when hair loss has just begun. If you undergo a hair transplant procedure and suffer from DUPA, not only will you lose your transplanted hair, but you will also have visible scars.
Another big issue with many young men and women is their unrealistic expectations. Young patients generally want to make up for all their hair loss – hair for hair. Unfortunately, this is not possible. They are born with about 100,000 hairs on our head. The top of the scalp has about 50,000 hair follicles, which translates to about 25,000 follicular units. The average person has anywhere from 5,000-8,000 follicular units for transplantation, less than half the original density.
Building a Masterplan with an ethical surgeon is vital
Every hair transplant patient should have a long-term plan for the hair transplant journey. The average hair transplant patient requires at least 2-3 hair transplants in his or her lifetime. Therefore, it is imperative that you use your donation wisely and plan for future hair loss. No one has a crystal ball, no one can say for sure where you will end up losing your hair wisely, so it is best to be conservative.
Most young patients do not plan for the future. You may not think you will be interested when you are fifty, but ask Brad Pitt, Matthew McConaughey and Ben Affleck if they are not interested in their appearance and I am sure you will hear differently. As long as you live, you will take care. There is life beyond your 20s. Although it seems that your hair loss is the end of the world, it is not.
How do you create a Masterplan?
First, you need to find a quality hair transplant surgeon, but be careful. There is a lot of misinformation, marketing and tricks, especially on social media. It is important to choose a surgeon who has gained a reputation for real patient reviews and results instead of marketing and advertising. The best place to find hair transplant reviews is hair loss forums like the hair restoration network.
The ideal age for a hair transplant
The hair restoration process is invasive and surgical. It involves collecting hair follicles from a bald area on the scalp – usually the back. After harvesting several follicles from the donor area, the surgeon transplants them into bald spots.
The hair follicles on the back of the scalp are bald resistant. So when transplanted anywhere else on the scalp, the results will also be permanent.
While hair transplants can be performed on people over the age of 18, they are not always ideal. According to hair transplant surgeons, the patient must be 25 years of age or older at the time of the procedure.
Now, a question may arise why should we wait until the age of 25 to get a hair transplant? We answered it below.
Why do I need a hair transplant after I am 25?
The age limit for hair transplant surgery is at least 25 years. There are several reasons to keep this age to a minimum age for a hair transplant.
Some of the reasons are listed below:
Before the age of 25, testosterone levels are not stable in the body. The main ingredient responsible for male pattern baldness is DHT (dihydrotestosterone). By the time we are 25, DHT is not fully mature. Therefore, it is best to wait until the age of 25 to have a hair transplant.
To undergo an aesthetic procedure, the patient must give legal consent. The legal age of consent of a minor is 25 years and over.
Healthy follicles are not infinite. Everyone has a limited number of healthy hair follicles that can be transplanted. So, if you receive a transplant before the age of 25, the transplant pockets at the age of 40 will be exhausted.
For these reasons, experts recommend hair transplantation after the age of 25.
Am I too young or too old for a hair transplant?
While experts advise patients to have a transplant after 25, it is not a stone. Undoubtedly it gives better results, but if strategically planned, patients can have a hair transplant before they become 25.
Hair loss is progressive and the hair transplant will not stop completely. Younger patients have more hair loss after the transplant. However, a specialist surgeon studies the patient’s case in detail and then plans accordingly. There is nothing so young or too old if you choose a professional. The results vary with age, but if the transplant is done correctly, you will not look bad.
It is better to have an aging hair line instead of the one that looks good now. Younger patients lose more hair and will probably need another transplant by the age of 40. They need to save healthy follicles. Thus, an aggressive hair line is not at all beneficial for young patients.
Do younger patients perform better than older patients?
It is a general misunderstanding. There is no guarantee that a young patient will have a successful hair transplant, while an older patient will not. However, for a successful transplant, elderly patients must be in good health. In addition, they should not have medical conditions such as diabetes or unhealthy habits such as smoking. If they meet these conditions, they have the same chance of a successful hair transplant.
In addition to the patient’s health, the surgeon’s experience is also very important in this regard. If the surgeon is a professional who knows what he is doing, he will perform better. On the other hand, the results of a hair transplant performed by an amateur will be inferior.