AM I TOO YOUNG FOR A HAIR TRANSPLANT? HOW TO KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME

A question that we encounter quite often is, “Am I too young for a hair transplant?” It’s very troubling to lose your hair at any age, but the younger you are when it starts happening the more troubling it is. We come to expect it as we get older so we’re sort of prepared for it, but who expects their hair to start thinning in their early 20s or even their late teens? Unfortunately, that does happen sometimes. The truth is that there are some pretty big risks associated with having a hair transplant too early in life.

Feeling old before your time is something that no one wants to go through, and if you’re starting to lose your hair before you can legally buy a drink you’re probably eager to find a suitable solution. But if you’re considering hair transplant surgery your youth may mean that transplant surgery is not the best option for you. Let’s look at some of the reasons why.

Your Hair Loss Pattern Is Too Uncertain

The most important reason that a hair transplant in your 20s may not be the best option is that there is too much uncertainty. When hair loss occurs later in life it’s easier to predict how the hair loss is going to progress, so it’s easy to know where to harvest donor follicles for the transplant so that any potential scarring will not be visible later. It’s also easier to determine where to place the transplants so that it continues to blend in naturally with your existing hair over time. When hair loss begins earlier in life the pattern is unpredictable and if you get a hair transplant too soon, as the hair loss progresses you could be left with a patch of transplanted hair on top surrounded by a moat of thinning or baldness or if the transplanted area is at the hairline you might have a full hairline with a thinning or balding area above it. Either way, the look would be very obvious and completely unnatural and would require another surgery to correct.

Attempting To Cut Costs

Another problem with hair transplants at a young age is that it may be cost-prohibitive to a young person just starting out on their own in life. Although it is a surgery, it’s not often covered by health insurance, so young people desperate for help with their hair loss may seek out a “cheaper” price. But you should only trust a highly trained and experienced transplant surgeon to perform your hair transplant surgery. There are many clinics and “specialists” out there who offer low prices and will perform a hair transplant on anyone that asks for one regardless of the outcome for the patient simply to get the money. You have to be careful who you trust or you might regret it. Remember, you do get what you pay for. If you wait until the right time and until you can afford to have a highly skilled and respected surgeon perform your hair transplant surgery you will have a much better outcome with excellent results. It’s worth the wait in the long run.

How To Know When It’s Time

It’s generally agreed upon by most hair transplant surgeons that 25 is the minimum age to consider a hair transplant. By this age, we can get a better idea of how your hair loss will progress over time. However, this may still be too young for some people. The only way to know is to have a comprehensive evaluation and consultation with a qualified hair loss professional. You’ll know that it’s time to consider a hair transplant when your hair loss is negatively affecting your life, other treatment options have failed or are no longer working for you, and you’re at least 25 years of age.

What To Do In the Meantime

We understand that it’s incredibly frustrating to be facing hair loss and finding out that you’re too young for a hair transplant, but that doesn’t mean that you have to just sit around and wait. There are many treatment options that can help to keep your hair as thick and healthy looking as possible until surgery is an option for you.

• Medication- Speak with your healthcare provider to find out if medications that were developed to slow the progression of hair loss could be right for you. The most popular medications have a very low risk and a high success rate.

• Topical Treatments- Topical products such as HRI Men's Advanced 5% Topical Minoxidil with 5% Saw Palmetto and HRI Maximum Growth Therapy are highly effective at treating hair loss in its early stages. According to one study, 84% of men reported improvement in their hair loss with the use of a popular minoxidil product.

• Low-Level Laser Light Therapy (LLHT)- This is a non-invasive, drug-free treatment that has been clinically proven to be effective at combating early-stage hair loss. It uses laser light energy to stimulate cellular activity and hair growth.

These are just a few of the treatment options available to young hair loss sufferers before they are eligible for hair transplant surgery. We know it’s hard to wait, but keep in mind that hair transplants produce lasting results. So even if you’re not happy with your hair, there are treatments to help you right now, and you can look forward to a lifetime of gorgeous locks when the time comes.

If you’re a young person suffering from early hair loss and want to find out what treatment options are best for you schedule a discreet and private consultation at the Hair Restoration Institute to discuss clinically proven treatments you can trust to restore your hair. We will evaluate your hair and scalp health and degree of hair loss and discuss the best treatment options with you. You can find us at 1201 West Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth, Texas, or call 817-854-HAIR (4247) for a discreet and complimentary consultation.