I’m 20, and My Hairline Has Matured More Than I’d Like

Hi,

I am a keen reader of your blog. I’m 20 years old (male), there is no balding in either my father/mother, or their father’s/mothers.

However, from early puberty, the corners of my hairline have “matured”, but a little too far for my liking. I understand that your general rule is not to perform surgery on young patients, however… if you are satisfied that there would be no further progression, would you “fill in” a young person’s hairline? .5-.75″ and also possibly lower the actual hairline down a small amount?

I know I’m in the UK and your offices are in the US, but I’ve not yet found what looks like a reliable, trust worthy, honest hair transplant surgery in this country! Approximately how many grafts/hours/sessions etc would the process take? I can e-mail pictures if required.

Thank you.

It is understandable that you do not like your current hairline, but even with no evident balding in your family, you may have genetic male pattern balding. It is difficult to tell how bald you may or may not be at such a young age. At the least, you need a miniaturization study, a good history, and exam — and then develop a good Master Plan for the future management of your hair loss.

There are doctors who are willing to transplant hair in patients who are in their early twenties with only slight balding or recession. However, I am cautiously resistant to the idea of lowering your hairline at this point, because I do not know if you will bald further as you get older. With that said, a hair transplant may accelerate balding and cause you to lose more hair, leaving you in a worse position than you are currently at. I would wait for perhaps at least about 5 more years before considering a hair transplant.

For more about the mature hairline, please see Maturation of a Hairline — Moving From Juvenile to Mature.