3 criteria to know: When to do a hair transplant?
When to perform a hair transplant?
Prerequisites for hair transplantation must be taken into consideration before resorting to it.
Balding of the scalp
Hair loss is the main factor to consider that justifies a transplant. Androgenetic alopecia, better known as baldness, is the most common cause of hair loss for both men and women.
This dysfunction of hereditary and hormonal origin leads to a reduction in hair mass to such an extent that the top of the scalp can go so far as to be completely bald. Other reasons such as stress or certain medications can disturb the hair renewal cycle and therefore lead to premature hair loss.
A hair transplant is recommended when a significant loss of hair density is observed by the patient. This seems obvious, but it is important to remember that this is indeed the very first prerequisite before embarking on a hair transplant.
The feeling of unease caused by hair loss
The psychological aspect is also an element that will determine when to perform a hair transplant. Baldness, especially when it is early, is often badly experienced. We live in a time when it is important to take care of the image that we send back to ourselves and to others. Although physical appearance is not the only element that makes you feel good about yourself, it can still have an impact on your general well-being.
Many people who lose their hair massively feel a sense of unease because they believe that the aesthetics of their face is degraded by this phenomenon. This can affect both confidence and self-esteem by creating a complex that is difficult to accept on a daily basis.
Since hair loss becomes complex, a hair transplant proves to be the most effective alternative to remedy it.
The capacity of the donor area
The first step in hair implant is the removal of hair follicles from the donor area at the back of the head.
Why are they taken from the back of the skull? The reason is not trivial. This area of the scalp is where hair growth is most consistent and strongest. It is therefore defined as the donor area because even if the follicular units removed do not grow back, they will regain their capillary volume. This is possible thanks to the other remaining hair, which continues to grow until it covers the removed areas.
Be careful though! This part may be the most robust from a hair point of view, but it is not less fragile.
The quality of the donor area plays a key role. This condition is essential to be able to benefit from an intervention. A capillary diagnosis carried out by an expert doctor makes it possible to evaluate whether the donor area is sufficient or not.
Possible pathologies of the patient
A hair implant is a surgical procedure. Consequently, the practitioner who performs the operation must be as close as possible to the patient. To determine the history of the latter, blood tests are requested before the hair restoration. The goal is to know the possible pathologies carried and deficiencies.
There are also diseases or treatments that make the procedure more complicated or even impossible, such as pathologies that affect the skin or the good health of the hair.
Anyway, before performing the hair transplant, a medical questionnaire must be completed by the patient.
When to do a hair transplant? The 3 criteria
There are 3 criteria that help determine when to do it:
- The stage of baldness
- The evolution of hair loss
- age
However, the best time to perform hair implants depends on each person. This, therefore, requires a capillary assessment carried out by an expert.
1. The balding stage
Stages of baldness in men – Norwood scale
There are 7 stages of baldness according to the Norwood-Hamilton scale. Each stage represents a different degree of alopecia progression, and the scale represents increasing hair loss. Level 1 is the lowest level of baldness, while Level 7 represents the highest stage of baldness.
It is possible to do hair transplantation from alopecia level 2 of the Norwood-Hamilton scale. At this stage, we are still talking about moderate baldness. The thinning of the frontal and temporal gulfs begins to be visible, but it is quite possible to benefit from the intervention from this moment on.
On the other hand, it is not recommended to carry out the operation from level 1 because at this stage, the baldness is not yet pronounced enough, and a hair transplant could damage healthy hair.
2. The evolution of hair loss
Ideally, doing a hair implant when the baldness is stable is the best time to benefit from a lasting result, allowing this technique to be used only once.
On the other hand, if your baldness is not completely stabilized, the hair loss could affect the other areas of the scalp that have not benefited from a transplant and thus create a new volume imbalance. By preserving your donor area, it will then be possible to perform a second hair transplant to fill the thinning with these new areas.
The best way to know when to perform your transplant is to perform a hair diagnosis. Experts will tell you if your current situation is conducive to restoring your hair.
3. Age
Even if there is no specific age for performing a hair transplant (at least 18 years old), it is recommended to perform a hair transplant from the age of 30. It is around this period that the hair loss begins to stabilize, and therefore the results of the transplant will be the most qualitative.
Attention! This figure remains global. Hence, the importance of carrying out a hair diagnosis with a professional is to determine when is the best time to start.
Where to do your hair transplant?
Discover its Hair, a clinic specializing in hair transplantation
Once you have determined the ideal time for your hair transplant and performed a hair diagnosis by an expert, one question remains: where will I perform my hair transplant?
The choice of establishment is decisive for the success of your operation. This is why it is necessary to call on a trusted clinic that combines the competence and well-being of the patient.
When to do a hair transplant?
The most asked questions: When can I do a hair transplant? Anyone can do a hair transplant as long as the hair loss is severe enough and the quality of the donor area is sufficient.
When not to do a hair transplant?
Proceeding with a hair transplant while the hair loss remains minimal (stage 1 of the Norwood scale) is contraindicated. This actually makes the task even more complicated for the doctor, who could damage healthy hair during the operation. Not to mention the fact that the evolution of hair loss at this stage is still far from stable, which may require further interventions in the future.
When baldness stabilizes?
Generally, baldness does not tend to stabilize for 30 years. This is why it is recommended to wait until this age to have recourse to hair implantation.
