If you’ve been assuming a hair transplant, it’s probably because you looked in the mirror one morning and saw a scalp where there should be hair. The surprise of an unexpectedly receding hairline or bald spot can be quite visceral.
However, you most likely didn’t book a consultation with a hair transplant doctor or clinic right away. Of all the questions you may have about hair restoration, the most crucial question is: Is now the right time to have a hair transplant? Below, our team at Fabulous Clinic has put together some information to make your decision easier.
Here are some general guidelines for how to choose when to have a hair transplant:
Your Age
Male pattern baldness, which concerns up to two-thirds of men by the age of 35, can start showing as earlier as age 18. Commonly, we don’t advise you have a hair transplant under the age of 25, even if you’re encountering early hair loss.
From 18 -29, your hairline is still developing. What you may think of as a receding hairline may simply be a mature hairline, which is not completely the same as a receding hairline.
By age 35, any hair loss you may encounter has typically stabilized. This doesn’t indicate you can’t have a hair transplant earlier.
But it’s a good idea to wait until any rapid hair loss eases off so that your hair doctor or hair restoration expert can get a good idea of your pattern of hair loss.
A hair transplant depends on donor hair from the back of your head. If you opt for a hair transplant too earlier, you may spread the donor hair too heavily in one area, leaving too little for late when it’s needed in another area.
This also has to do with the natural thickness of your hair. In short, you want to plan out carefully where to distribute your hair to accomplish the best overall effect.
Your Expectations
As mentioned above, your donor's hair is in somewhat limited supply. The good news is that the donor's hair comes from an area that isn’t inclined to hair loss.
This means you don’t have to be concerned that you’ll have a hair transplant now, only for that identical hair to later fall out.
But what you do have to consider is where to put your donor hair to adequate use. The question you should ask yourself is this:
If you only have adequate donor hair to fit one area and not several, which area would you be most happy with? Going in with the right expectation is very crucial for a good outcome of hair restoration.
Recovery Time
While there are no real limitations on what time of year you can have a hair transplant procedure, there are several concerns you should take into account.
How long it takes for a hair transplant to heal differs from procedure to procedure. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is so popular because it demands practically no healing time. There is no surgical incision and thus no scar, compared to other methods like the “strip method.”
However, even with FUE, you are recommended to plan for 7-10 days of recovery time. Your head will be covered with tiny red dots from where the hair follicles were extracted and re-inserted, and there may be a little amount of swelling.
While you should feel fit adequately to go back to work after just 1-2 days post-op, most of our patients choose to take a week or two off to permit their hair to start growing in again, and the tiny punches to scab over and fall off.
Consider Fabulous Clinic for your hair transplant treatment
Our renowned Fabulous Clinic has revolutionized the way hair transplant clinic providers deliver precision, results, and continuity of care. We provide treatment for a wide range of conditions that cause or lead to hair loss.
Contact us today and make an appointment to visit us for an honest, no-obligation consultation.