Knowing what and when to do something about your hair loss is key to a successful result. Planning treatment or hair transplant. Managing your goals and expectations. Understanding what can realistically be achieved and long-term being happy with the results. As a result planning and deciding whether to start with a treatment or hair transplant can have long-term effects.
A Naturally Maturing Hairline Or Male Pattern Baldness
Managing Your Expectations
Hair loss can be emotional and often distressing for some. Especially when younger. An important rule when researching is don´t allow your heart to rule your head. Always consider the consequences of your actions. Hair loss is progressive as well as unpredictable. The earlier hair loss begins the more likely the pattern will continue to an advanced stage. In a man´s early twenties the hormone levels are changing. At this time it is common for the hair quality and hairline to alter slightly. This is known as a maturing hairline. Not to be confused with male pattern baldness.
The priority should be to preserve your hair growth. This is especially true at a younger age. With a number of FDA approved hair loss treatments available. It is possible to preserve and often improve the quality and growth of your hair long-term. Regardless of age there should be caution when fixing a low, adolescent hairline. But, especially when young when the future hair loss pattern is hard to predict. “Front-loading” a hair transplant automatically increases the area of hair loss. Even with excellent donor area hair characteristics donor planning is vital. Stabilising hair loss should be the first option.
Maybe the two biggest factors to consider are your age and your hair loss stage. Genetic hair loss is progressive. As a result, can be hard to predict in the early stages. Especially at a younger age. It is important to consider that a hair transplant is not a cure for hair loss. Fixing a low hairline is permanent. Hence planning treatment or a hair transplant is important from day one.
As a result, if hair loss continues a low hairline can look unnatural and out of place. Treatment can help to maintain your existing hair. Also, add to a hair transplant result when used together. As well as your age and hair loss pattern there are a number of other factors the Doctor considers when planning. Your family hair loss history, and potential future hair loss pattern. General health and well-being including your medical history. The quality of your hair characteristics. That can include hair colour to skin complexion and hair shaft thickness.
Planning – Treatment or Hair Transplant
Treating Each Area Of Hair Loss
Your age now and at what age did you begin to lose your hair?
How progressive has your hair loss been?
What is your family‟s hair loss history, maternal and paternal?
How have you addressed your hair loss, tried various medication, if so how effective?
Have you undergone a hair transplant before, if so what technique, how long ago and how many grafts?
What are your objectives? Do you want to achieve conservative or aggressive coverage?
Where are your priorities? Front hairline, mid-scalp, crown, entire head, repair?
The total area of hair loss may vary from 5 to 250 square centimetres. The potential size of the crown can create a high demand for donor hair. This demand cannot always be met. The frontal area of the head. From the hair line back to a line drawn between the two temporal angles. Can measure roughly 50-60 cm2. The top of the head from behind the frontal areas to the front border of the crown measures around 150 cm2. With the crown around 150cm2.
If a minimal hair density (15 FU) was placed. To a fully bald crown (175cm2) it would require around 2600 FU. If we place a more cosmetically acceptable density (35-40 FU). The number increases to close on 7000 grafts. This is more than the average person has available.
How Good Are Your Donor Hair Characteristics?
On average, a man will have at least two hair transplants over their life. Planning is important to ensure natural coverage can be achieved over time. The quality of your donor hair characteristics will dictate the graft numbers and the quality of your result. As well as how many hair transplants are possible overtime. Without the correct donor management, too much hair had been removed. As a result, this will impact future hair restoration. Factors the Doctor considers when measuring the quality of your donor hair are:
- Donor hair density
- Donor Surface Area Size
- Hair Characteristics
- Scalp Laxity
- Which transplant technique
Hair characteristics can cover a variety of factors. From the hair colour to the calibre or diameter of the hair. If the hair is curly or straight to the contrast of the hair against the skin complexion. All these aspects carry an important role for the doctor when planning your hair transplant.
One fundamental factor that helps to determine a person´s result is the diameter of the hair shaft. The number of hairs per follicular unit and their general hair characteristics. Hair calibre or hair diameter is arguably more important than the density of follicular units per cm². You may have an above average density but fine hair. As the appearance of baldness is due to light penetrating through the hair the hair thickness plays an important role.
The better your hair characteristics the greater help in creating a natural-looking density and maximum coverage when rebuilding a new head of hair, especially in Norwood 5 cases and above. Planning for further hair loss also becomes easier, as the hair calibre allows for wider coverage whilst maintaining a good density. Ideal hair characteristics include a thick hair shaft, curly or wavy hair, a lax scalp and low contrast between your skin complexion and your hair colour. That is why a hair transplant works and can give a man even in Class 5 and 6 the appearance of coverage and density (donor permitting) without matching hair for hair on the head.
Learn more about the hair transplant techniques – Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
Hair Restoration Europe (HRE) is an information and clinic directory. As a result, does not favour or recommend any one clinic. The views of this site are independent of any advice or assessment made by a hair restoration clinic.
HRE takes no responsibility for the advice or assessment you receive from a clinic. Especially a hair transplant. A surgical procedure. With permanent results. Protocols may vary from clinic to clinic. Do not assume all clinic standards are the same. We strongly recommend you spend time and research. Before committing yourself to a decision.