Hair Transplants: Designing a Natural Hairline by Coalition Member Dr. Tim Carman

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:

Dr. Carman, I just looked at some of your cases. They look good. Your hairlines are more aggressive than some hair transplant surgeons, but still look natural on the cases that I looked at.

What goes into your decision process for making a hairline? Is there a distance you measure? Is it based on the existing line? Thanks.

The most important factor is estimating (based on age, current hair loss pattern, familial history, etc.) projected future balding and establishing a safe total area of transplant that can be supplied by the always limited amount of donor. I like to call this the patient’s “lifetime supply-demand” ratio, as best can be determined.

This guides each and every hair restoration case as to what is possible design-wise and will look natural not only a year from the hair transplant, but into the distant future as well.

Once that is established, the contour/shape/density all have to be designed so as to “fit” the variables involving bone structure, hair type, ethnic background, and overall facial character.

Dr. Timothy Carman
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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the hair loss forum and social community

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