Why Hair Transplants May Not Be Appropriate
Not everyone experiencing hair loss is a good candidate for hair transplant surgery. A successful hair transplant depends on several factors, including the cause and extent of the hair loss, available donor hair, age, overall health, expectations and how the hair loss may progress in the future.
Insufficient donor hair
Hair transplant surgery redistributes a limited supply of permanent donor hair to areas where hair has been lost. If the donor area does not contain enough suitable hair to create a meaningful cosmetic improvement while accounting for potential future hair loss, surgery may not be recommended.
Unrealistic expectations
Hair transplantation can restore hair in areas of permanent hair loss, but it cannot recreate unlimited density. The amount of coverage that can realistically be achieved depends in part on the patient’s donor supply, extent of hair loss and individual hair characteristics.
A patient whose expectations exceed what can reasonably be achieved may not be a good surgical candidate.
Hair loss that is still progressing
Hair transplant surgery restores hair in selected areas, but it does not prevent non-transplanted hair from continuing to thin.
This is especially important in younger adults and patients whose pattern of future hair loss is not yet clear. A long-term plan should consider both the transplanted hair and the existing hair that could be lost in the future.
For some patients, non-surgical treatment may be recommended to help maintain existing hair as part of a longer-term hair restoration strategy.
Certain types of scarring hair loss
Not every form of hair loss is appropriate for transplantation. Some inflammatory or scarring forms of alopecia can damage or destroy hair follicles and may require evaluation and treatment by a dermatologist before hair transplant surgery is considered.
Age and long-term planning
Leonard Hair Transplant Associates evaluates adult patients age 18 and older, but reaching age 18 does not automatically make someone a good candidate for surgery.
For younger adults in particular, Dr. Matthew Lopresti considers the current pattern of hair loss, available donor hair and how the hair loss may progress over time before recommending a surgical approach.
When is someone a good candidate for a hair transplant?
Good candidates generally have permanent hair loss that can be addressed surgically, sufficient donor hair, realistic expectations and a treatment plan that accounts for potential future hair loss.
Chief Hair Restoration Surgeon Dr. Matthew Lopresti evaluates each patient individually before recommending Follicular Unit Excision, or FUE, Follicular Unit Transplantation, or FUT, non-surgical treatment or no treatment at all.