Number of Grafts In My Donor Area?

Thanks to everyone for the great emails. Keep them coming in! Here’s one I received on Tuesday, but didn’t get a chance to answer until today…

Dear Dr. Rassman,
I have a slightly below average donor density and I am wondering if a hair transplant would be sutable for me. I am 33 years old and last year started receding agressively. I think I am NW 5 heading to 6. How many graft can you take from my donor for me to have a full coverage? In other words: How many total grafts does my donor have?
Thank you for your attention.

There are five characteristics that vary with each person, that determine the value of the hair for a hair restoration procedure. They are:

• Density of the hair. Yours is lower than average, but that in itself does not necessarily mean that you are not a good candidate
• Hair shaft thickness. The coarser the hair, the better it supplies bulk. Hair bulk is a critical element in producing fullness and coverage.
• The size of the balding area. The more bald you are, the more hair you might need. Sometimes, the goals may be changes to adjust to limited supply or a demand that is too high. That is something you must work through with your doctor.
• The characteristics of your hair. African hair is the best because it wants to cover, good wavy hair is the next best because it wants to flow together. The Italians and French had the best wavy hair. Straight is the most challenging, as found in many Asians.
• Color/contrast between hair and skin color. This is critically important. A Class 6 pattern blonde person could reduce his hair population to 85% of its original density and still look full as the blonde hair and blonde skin have low contrast. The same applies to black hair and black skin, brown hair and brown hair, sandy hair and sandy skin and any skin color with white hair. Salt and pepper hair works very well and I have produced some amazing results in very bald men with very little hair.

The amount of hair needed to transplant depends upon many things. Look at our website and see the hundreds of patients there, many who show balding patterns similar to your. The number of grafts are clearly defined for you to see.