Losing your hair can have a negative impact on your self-confidence, with a third of men citing hair loss as their main source of confidence loss. Over 50% of men aged between 24-34 believe that their hair is receding, and almost 40% of young men stated they would consider a hair transplant.
As a number of men start to notice hair loss in their twenties, it’s little surprise that one of the most frequently asked questions is ‘can you be too young or too old for a hair transplant?’, but the answer can be a little tricky to pin down. We look at why age isn’t always a deciding factor when it comes to eligibility for a hair transplant.
Is there a minimum age to have a hair transplant?
Like most reputable hair transplant clinics, Crown Clinic prefers to operate on patients over the age of 25. This is because by this age we can accurately identify what the eventual pattern of hair loss might be. If the surgery is performed at a younger age, it can be difficult to judge how the hair will continue to recede. However, we do take it on a case-by-case basis.
Hair loss is progressive, so if a transplant is carried out on a young person in the early stages of hair loss, there is a risk that the surrounding hair will subsequently fall out, resulting in a patchy look. Plus, you must remember that there is only a finite supply of donor hair that can be used for transplants.
Why do we start to lose our hair?
In men, the most common cause of hair loss is male pattern baldness. Also known as androgenic alopecia, the condition is thought to be a sensitivity to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
DHT is a by-product of testosterone, which is why it’s thought that males are more readily affected by receding hairlines. DHT starts to kick in during puberty, which is why some men start to notice hair loss during their teenage years. It causes the hair follicles to undergo a process called miniaturisation, which leads to a shorter growth cycle and increasingly fine hairs that eventually stop growing altogether.
How does an FUE hair transplant work?
Follicular Unit Extraction, or FUE, is a technique in which hair is harvested from the hair follicles already on the head. These harvested hair follicles are then grafted onto the balding area, giving a full, natural look.
Looking to find out more information about a consultation or even to book your FUE transplant? Crown has clinics in both London and Manchester and when you book a consultation, we can talk you through the best procedure for you.