Hair Transplants and Progressive Hair Loss

Hello Dr.

I was hoping you could answer a quick question for me about hair transplantation. If I were to get surgery to repair some of the loss I have in the temple region, but genetically I’m predisposed to lose more (and possibly at a rapid rate). How would that work? I would get some hair transplanted and then immediately the rest would be lost? Do you have to wait until you’ve lost everything before getting the surgery?

I really appreciate your website, I think you’ve really helped a lot of people.

Best

You ask a good question, and this is exactly why we advocate a good examination that includes a miniaturization study.

Depending on your age, your family history, miniaturization of hair, etc a good doctor should be able to assess the degree of hair loss an individual may have in the future. Doctors are not fortune tellers (or in this case misfortune), but if one is balding, it does not necessarily mean that they will go completely bald. Usually, a pattern emerges that you can see in the Norwood classification chart (see here). The Class 7 pattern patient is only present in 7% of the general population and most of these young men see that pattern emerging by the time they are 25 years old.

A good doctor would be able to advise you on how to go about the treatment process. If the doctor is concerned you may completely go bald, he may recommend a treatment plan differently.