We think you’ll agree that with the lure of regaining hairlines, getting self confidence back or even not going bald, hair transplantation has become a very popular procedure.
Not to mention that by the age of 35, two-thirds of American men will experience some degree of hair loss, and by the age of 50 approximately 85% of men have significantly thinning hair.
As much as a hair transplant sounds like a good idea, the reality is not everyone can get one and the prerequisite to getting one is not just having hair loss. There are many considerations patients need to be aware of to make sure it is the right procedure for them, but there are five main ones. So let’s get to it.
The ideal candidate is between age 25-65
While there are no limits to what age one can get a hair transplant procedure, an ideal candidate is between 25- 65 years of age. Patients younger than 25 are still experiencing premature hair loss, something that might change once they grow older. Patients over the age of 65 tend to have very thin hair and this solution might not work at its best. Someone who is completely bald or has very little hair left cannot get a hair transplantation surgery because there is little to no hair to transplant, a very important factor of this procedure.
If you are over the age of 65, you could still qualify for hair transplantation. It would just depend on this next consideration.
Your hair transplant will depend on your type of Hair Loss
As not all types of hair loss are the same, the best candidates for hair transplantation are those who suffer from pattern baldness. This is usually a genetic condition that affects only parts of the scalp, therefore leaving parts with good donor hair that can be extracted, also called donor hair follicles. Patients suffering from alopecia or other types of hair loss will have poor hair follicles, and the transplant would therefore not be successful, meaning they are not suitable candidates.
When it comes to hair loss, you must also be aware of the upcoming consideration.
You must also be aware of the classification of your Hair Loss
There are two important factors when assessing the amount of hair loss: severity of hair loss and quality and quantity of donor hair. This is an important step in deciding if a patient qualifies for hair transplantation, since there must be a good supply of healthy hair follicles available for hair transplantation to be successful.
Healthy hair follicles is not the only thing that should be healthy. YOU should also be in great health, according to this next consideration.
How healthy you are is important
As hair transplants are essentially a surgical procedure, a patient must be in good health before undergoing hair transplantation. A good immune system helps with reducing the risk of complications and will help the patient to heal more quickly and recovery time to be much shorter. Patients with long-term health conditions should talk to their doctor before undergoing the procedure. Taking blood thinners might also affect results, so be sure to discuss this with your surgeon before the procedure if you are taking them.
Robotic Hair Transplantation is different. In the case of the ARTAS iX, the procedure is considered minimally invasive, but patients should still be in good health. Recovery time is also very minimal and the procedure virtually painless.
Your Hair Type is also a deciding factor
Type of hair can also be a factor when deciding if hair transplantation is the right choice. For robotic hair transplantation, hair must be thick so as to provide better coverage for the affected areas. In the case of robotic hair transplants, extra curly hair might not work since the technology needs to find the direction of the hair follicle, which is difficult in curly hair. Very light hair or even white hair is also difficult for it to detect. But do not despair, there may be other solutions for you, like PRP injections.
So if you are considering getting a hair transplant, make sure to do your research and see if you qualify. We hope this article was helpful in helping you resolve any doubts.