Recommended Age for Hair Transplant

Hey Doc! I’m 22 With Norwood Class 3 (with some thinning in the crown) and I was wondering at what age do you recommend one does a transplant. I have noticed that most of the patient photos are from people older than 40. I really don’t want to wait that long. Do I have to? Thanks!!

I generally do not like to perform a hair transplant on someone whose pattern is not clearly evident based upon miniaturization studies when I map out the scalp and hair. Men under the age of 25 generally fall into that category, but clearly I have done hair transplants on men under 25 when there is frontal hairline loss or a clear pattern that has advanced such that the medications like Propecia and Rogaine will probably, in my opinion, not work. Everyone deserves a personal assessment. In other words, there’s no set age.

A good one-on-one examination and the building of a Master Plan with each patient is critical. It seems like you are too early for a hair transplant and should get good results in the crown with Propecia. Get your baseline mapped to you know where you are going and do it yearly.

Warning: It is quite unfortunate, but there are many unethical doctors who recommend hair transplants on young men who are easily swayed by the power of their MD and their fear of going bald. Although this is an important warning for men under 25, it also applies to all men considering hair transplantation. Be sure that the recommendations are in your best interests at all times, not in the interest of the doctor’s mortgage or fancy car payment.