Who is considered a good candidate for a hair transplant?
If you have done some preliminary research about hair transplant procedures, you may have learned that not everyone is a good candidate for a hair transplant. Below is an overview of what usually is required, but ultimately, only a hair transplant doctor, like a hair transplant doctor in NYC, can determine if you might benefit from such a procedure.
What criteria must I meet in order to get a hair transplant?
- You were diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia. This is a common type of hair loss that is usually genetic. Alternately, if you have a hair condition that can be corrected with a hair transplant, you may also be a good candidate.
- You tried alternative medical therapy techniques but they were ineffective.
- Your appearance has been negatively impacted due to the amount of hair loss you have experienced.
- You have a sufficient amount of healthy hair in other areas of your scalp that can be used for the hair transplant.
Is there more than one type of hair transplant?
Yes, there is Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). Because FUE needs five times the amount of donor follicles as compared to FUT, a good candidate must have sufficient donor material. Patients who are younger are usually good candidates for FUE as they are more likely to have sufficient donor follicles.
Who is not a good candidate for a hair transplant?
A type of hormone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can cause the transplanted hair to eventually break down. Most patients have a natural resistance to DHT. However, some do not if they suffer from a rarer form of androgenetic alopecia known as Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA). If a patient has DUPA, their hair follicles will not be stable and as a result, the donor air will eventually thin. In effect, after a time it will appear that a hair transplant was never performed. Your hair transplant doctor may opt to perform a test of a sampling of your hair follicles to determine if you have DUPA.
Are there concerns for younger persons with hair loss when it comes to undergoing a hair transplant?
When a young person experiences hair loss, it’s natural for them to be concerned about the future and how much additional hair they may lose in the future. Unfortunately, a hair transplant may not solve their hair loss issues. In fact, if they undergo a hair transplant at a young age, they may continue to lose their hair and the transplanted hairline may become exposed.
Resources:
Wikipedia, Hair Transplant
Dr. Robin Unger, MD, Hair Transplant Doctor NYC
