Hair Transplant involves moving follicles from permanent donor area on back of head to balding (recipient) area on frontal hairline area. These transplanted hair follicles are not sensitive to DHT hormone and grow for long years. But not everyone with balding is a good candidate for Hair transplant. These 5 points need to be considered:
1. Realistic expectations: you need to understand that hair transplant will only cover the area where hair loss/ baldness has happened. It can’t cover thinned out area on scalp, specially in crown. For hair thinning & to prevent progression of(existing) hair loss, you need to continue prescription medication.
2. Age of the patient: Ideal candidate for hair transplant is between age 25-65yrs. Patients losing hair at an early age are not very good candidates, as the hair loss pattern may advance at fast rate. Similarly elder patients over age of 65yrs may have thinner donor hair and associated comorbidity, which may affect the hair growth.
3. Type of hair loss: The best candidates are those with patterned Male baldness. It’s a hereditary condition that typically affects front & top of scalp. There are plenty of hair follicles on the back & side of scalp that can be harvested and used as donor hair follicles. Ideally the patient should have significant receding of hair line . Patient suffering from other types of hair loss such as cicatricial alopecia that affects entire scalp can’t be a good candidate for hair transplant as there will not be enough donor hair follicles.
4. Grade of hair loss: Hair loss has to be assessed according to severity of hair loss, the quality of donor hair available & density. If patient has advance pattern of hair loss& is completely bald or has very little donor hair left, the patient will get limited benefit from hair transplant surgery. He will also require body hair transplant. Similarly if the hairs are weak or fine, it will not survive transplant procedure.
5. Overall health: Though hair transplant is done under out patient surgery under Local Anesthesia, its still a surgery. Thus the patient need be in good health before undergoing the procedure. He need to inform the doctor if you have only long term health condition. Certain medications like blood thinners, Minoxidil application need to be stopped couple of days before the procedure. You need to consult a Certified Plastic surgeon for details regarding techniques & expected results of hair Transplant