Hair transplant is not an easy decision when you are desperately seeking solutions for your hair loss. Yes, it is one promising treatment, but you don’t necessarily get desired results when deciding on a whim. One of the major factors that must be considered first is your age. Read and learn why the right number matters.

The key in determining good candidates for hair transplant surgery is estimating how the patient’s hair loss pattern might progress. Since male hair loss also affects young men, those in their early twenties are often left embarrassed, unhappy, and desperate that they search for quick fixes.
So, is hair loss really the end all and be all in these cases?

The answer, for now, is no.

Hair Loss Progression

In order to understand the rationale behind advising young men against opting for hair transplant straightaway is to know the progression of hair loss.

It doesn’t take rocket science to realize that hair loss is a progressive condition. It can leave a man completely bald, or it can result in a certain shape hence the term male pattern baldness. Hairs don’t shed overnight, rather it takes its time, sometimes thinning out first before it falls off.

When the effects of hair loss start to become obvious, those affected would often want to look good now. It is only understandable especially for men in their 20s when it is supposedly the prime of their life and you should be sporting youthful features. Aside from their own issues about it, some find it affecting their dating life or their career.
The distress that occurs over losing one’s hair is legitimate and it shouldn’t be brushed aside. But it also shouldn’t be done without careful consideration of one’s age.

Age Matters

Surgeons definitely proceed with caution before approving a candidate who is under the age of 18, or even those who are in their early 20s. It is in rare cases when teenage hair loss patients who wish to undergo the procedure are carefully vetted first before being approved – if they are approved at all.

For best results, it is advised that you wait until the hair loss process has slowed down or stabilized before undergoing a hair transplant. If you jump right into surgery, it’s still too early in the hair loss process to predict the pattern that your hair loss would take. As a result, your transplant may end up looking unnatural as you lose more hair. The transplanted hair will look luscious and would grow with vigor, while the surrounding areas will continue to get thinner.

Other Options

Surgeons commonly advise patients to stabilize their hair loss first using medical management before even considering surgical hair restoration. Two of the mainstays for male pattern hair loss management are topical and oral medications. These two are well-studied medications for male hair loss and they have been proven to be effective as well.

There are also newer options available in the market today such as light therapy, protein-rich plasma injections, etc. Once the hair loss has become stable, then one can consider having surgical hair restoration.

There are some surgeons who may provide a minor hair transplant to provide some density at the hairline with the understanding that you will likely need additional treatment in the future as your hair loss progresses.

The Right Age

It is the responsibility of surgeons to guide patients with their own anxieties. It is the ethical practice that they give them the hard facts instead of just simply going with what the patient wants but sacrificing aesthetic outcome in the future. Also, you wouldn’t want to risk using donor hairs which are of a very limited supply.

The improvements and increased reliability of hair transplant surgery might have exploded its popularity today, this could mean that patients are undergoing surgery when it isn’t really for their best interest. It could leave these patients disappointed five to ten years later when they are left with poorly-designed hairlines with very little consideration for a natural look.

Most hair transplant surgeons agree that the minimum age for a hair transplant is 25 and the ideal age is 40 and above. At 25 the surgeons have some idea as to how the hair loss is progressing and what can be done to approach it surgically.

Young, desperate and anxious patients are vulnerable and could jump at any easy solution. But having read this information, we hope that you now see the bigger reason behind the right age for hair transplant surgery. Look ahead instead of rushing into it today as inappropriate surgery could have you living to regret it.

Trust a hair transplant surgeon who is knowledgeable in hair loss for more information that is specific to your concerns. It doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about your hair loss today. Book your consultation at the Sydney Hair Transplant and let Dr. Daood and his team help you.

Are you wondering what in the world is causing your hair loss? You might be at a point where you find yourself alarmed at the amount of hair that’s been shedding, or the senseless exodus when you believe that you have been every inch the health buff. However, like an unraveling mystery, or bodies can sometimes surprise us. Here are 5 of the top reasons that would make you a potential hair loss victim.

Genetics

It has always been an erroneous belief that the hair loss gene hailed from the maternal side of the family. While it is true that the genetic factor for baldness is carried by the X chromosome, which you get from your mom, it is not necessarily true that it is the sole culprit. Genetic hair loss, or male/female pattern baldness, can also be passed down by the paternal genes.

Based on research, this form of hair loss is attributed to a particular androgen or male hormone. This androgen, which is tagged to be the main culprit for hair loss, is Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is not to say that this particular hormone is bad in and of itself, as it also provides a number of important functions for the body like the development of the male genitalia in the womb.

Hair loss occurs when DHT attaches to androgen receptors on hair follicles which then triggers the receptors to start miniaturization process. Eventually, the hairs affected sheds off resulting in bald patches which that takes on certain shape hence the term “pattern baldness”. Experts have yet to fully understand why the effects of DHT are more profound in some individuals compared to others. However certain possible factors that have been pointed out include:

• Increased local DHT production
• Increased DHT receptors
• Increased sensitivity of the androgen receptor
• Increased amount of circulating testosterone which is a DHT precursor

Age

We often associate hair loss with old age, however, if you look at the trend this is not necessarily the case. There are a lot of hair loss sufferers who lose their locks and even end up bald, at an early age. Although, age-related hair loss is mostly experienced by individuals who are in their twilight years due to the gradual decline of the structures.

If you look at the progression of hair loss, it is usually in the late twenties to the mid-thirties that changes in the overall appearance and density of the hairs start. Pattern hair loss at a younger age has not yet fully revealed since it may still advance over the years. This is a key consideration for individuals who will be considering a hair transplant.

In the event that an elective surgery is done at an early age, future surgeries might have to be done to maintain the natural appearance. It is for this reason that you should be properly advised by a certified and experienced surgeon because procedures done too early may have to be surgically corrected.

Read: Why Are Young Men Losing Hair Early

Disease or Illness

Certain conditions can result in hair loss, such as thyroid diseases (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism), ringworm of the scalp, or Systemic lupus erythematosus. Hair loss is only incidental to the condition due to the depletion of certain nutrients in the body or hormonal shifts.

The common symptoms of thyroid problems in include scattered hair loss and this is true for both an underactive and overactive thyroid. Fortunately, the hair loss caused by this condition can be reversed with proper treatment.

Ringworm is a fungal infection that when left untreated will result in permanent scarring. Severe infections will still result in patches of hair loss even after treatment has been done.

A more serious condition associated with hair loss is lupus, an autoimmune condition which destroys the hair follicles. Furthermore, the medicines used can also trigger more hair shedding. To manage the problem suggestions include, wigs, hair wraps, hair extensions, or a hair transplant.

Other health problems with hair loss as presenting symptoms include heavy metal poisoning, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, late-stage syphilis, HIV and any severe ongoing or chronic illness. 

Medicines and medical treatments

Medications may be formulated to provide therapeutic effects, however, it is also inherent in their chemical makeup that they also pose a certain risk. This effect is a result of the interference of the normal hair growth cycle resulting in two types of hair loss, Telogen effluvium, and Anagen Effluvium. The list of medications that cause this problem include:

• Anticoagulants
• Large doses of Vitamin A
• Beta-Blockers
• Antidepressants
• Gout Medications
• ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) Inhibitors
• Male and Female hormones

Medical treatments like Chemotherapy or dialysis may also result in hair changes which may eventually lead to hair loss. This is a reaction to malnutrition or the side effects of the medications used which leaves the patient immunocompromised. Fortunately, this type of hair loss is reversible once the course of treatment is finished.

Hair care and styling

The way you style your hair can pose a negative effect on the entire structure, especially if you wear it for prolonged periods of time. This is referred to as traction alopecia, caused by the strong amount of pressure applied on the roots of the hair follicles. Studies show that this is common among African-American hairstyles which tend to be scalp-pulling, similar to the tension created by weaves and extensions.

Read: Top-Knots and Man Buns: Hairstyles that Lead to Hair Loss in Men

Hair loss is a multifactorial phenomenon which has to be scrutinized more carefully if you are serious about getting the proper treatment and the likelihood of it being effective. To this effect, it is important that you find a good hair loss expert or surgeon, to guide you through the process of restoration.

If you have more questions, feel free to drop Sydney Hair Transplant Clinic a message.

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