Are Hair Transplants an Option for Young Men with Advanced Hair Loss?

This question, asked by a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition hair restoration physician Dr. Timothy Carman:

I am 21 years old and suffering badly from [tag]male pattern baldness[/tag]. My hairline has receded quite a lot since the age of 18 and in the last 6 months the hair on my scalp has become really thin. I went to my doctor today and he said I should either start using [tag]Propecia[/tag] (which after researching I am very scared to use due to the side effects caused) or go to a [tag]hair restoration[/tag] surgeon and see what they have to say.

I’m seriously thinking of having a [tag]hair transplant[/tag] done. At first I thought of just getting my hairline restored but now I want to have a full HT. I am looking for short term results (5-10 years). Thereafter I won’t be too bothered about losing my hair again. After looking at the [tag]Norwood Scale[/tag] for [tag]hair loss[/tag] I seem to be a 3.

From your photos, I would concur that you appear to be heading toward advanced hair loss as you age. At 21, and with this advanced degree of [tag]balding[/tag], it is my opinion that you are too young for a hair transplant procedure. The artistic creation of a natural, long term solution depends upon the surgeon’s ability to optimally utilize the limited supply side of the “lifetime supply-demand balance” as I like to call it. Although you want to restore a lower hairline, an advanced degree of loss behind that hairline would require more supply than you have available in your lifetime.

I realize you think that in a few years you “won’t care” about any short-sighted surgical plan, but believe me- you will. There is only one thing I see that is worse than the feeling patients have when they are facing thinning/loss of their hair: that is having “something” done on their heads from years ago that looks anything but normal. These patients are very distressed. Be wise, take [tag]finasteride[/tag] (the side effects are very very low indeed) and give that a year to judge the results. At your age, conservative medical management is all I would recommend for you so that you and your surgeon can get a better idea of your long term prognosis.

Dr. Timothy Carman

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David (TakingThePlunge) Forum Co-Moderator and Editorial Assistant for the Hair Restoration Forum and Social Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.

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