Should I get a hair transplant?

Question

Hello, I am a 21 yr old Asian male and am interested in a hair transplant. I am willing to go through more procedures in the future but am hesitant about taking finasteride. I suspect that baldness comes from my dad as there is no one in my mother's side with the gene. So I have included pictures of his balding as well. If anything, I am willing to wait for my hair loss to advanced like my fathers and then do the surgery. I am in my youth and this is taking a toll on my esteem. Thank you.

Amir Yazdan, MD · Answer

While the pattern of your hair loss suggests you would be a good candidate for hair transplantation, your age does not. The problem with doing hair transplants on young patients such as yourself, is that your hair loss will continue progressing as you age, ensuring that you'd need continuous procedures to maintain a desirable density and hair line. Hair transplants don't cure hair loss, they just treat the affected areas. Therefore, to stop hair loss and prevent it you will need to utilize one or more medical management tools. While your concerns with using finasteride are understood, it should be noted the risks are rare. That being said, there are other options such as minoxidil, PRP, and laser therapy, all of which are effective. You should meet with an experienced and trustworthy hair restoration surgeon who can help you set up a hair loss treatment plan. Be cautious if a hair transplant surgeon is quick to get you signed up for your surgery. You should be aware of the risks of getting a hair transplant at your age as well as what medical management options are available to you. Even if you decide to go forward with surgery at this time, you'll likely need to medically manage in conjunction.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

I recommend that you wait a few more years before getting a hair transplant.  You are still too young and it's unknown how bald you are going to get.  You may consider drug treatment of Finasteride.  Find a good hair transplant doctor and make an appointment.  If you know you want hair restoration done in a few years, start planning now.  Ask your doctor to come up with a master plan.

Emile Brown, MD · Answer

You are an excellent candidate for a hair transplant procedure to help add density in your frontal area. You are also right in preparing for more possible transplant procedures in the future, especially given the early onset of your hair loss. However, I do not believe you need to wait for any further hair loss before undergoing a transplant. I would strongly encourage you to at least give finasteride a try as well - it is very effective and the rate of sexual side effects is low.

Baubac Hayatdavoudi, MD · Answer

A great first step would be an online consultation. Often you can submit photos to top hair restoration surgeons for a complimentary evaluation. This should help lead you in the right direction. Having multiple consultations with different doctors cannot hurt.

Parsa Mohebi, MD, FISHRS · Answer

You don't have to wait for your hair loss to progress. Our Psychology of Hair Transplant study shows that the most impact of hair loss in the type of social anxiety is seen in younger men and they are the ones that get the most improvement in those areas. It seems like you have a good donor hair. Please set up a consultation with a good hair transplant surgeon and evaluate your options.

Jordan P. Sand, MD · Answer

Hi soulersteam and thank you for your question.
Thank you for sharing your photos. It does look like you may have a genetic predisposition to hair loss. At a younger age, medical therapy is typically utilized over surgical restoration to help maintain hairs and prevent further loss as it is hard to tell exactly where the hair loss will proceed. This type of treatment include medications such as finasteride, minoxidil and PRP. I would recommend a consultation with a hair restoration specialist who can evaluate your scalp and help develop a longterm multi-modality treatment plan for you.
Good luck!

Robert Jones, MD, FISHRS · Answer

Age 21 is too young to consider hair restoration surgery. Consider propecia, minoxidil, PRP and Laser therapy. I usually suggest patients wait till age 25 before considering hair transplantation.Dr. Robert Jones

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

What you need is to find a doctor who understands the progressive nature of balding. With this much balding at 21, you may be heading for a Class 7 pattern and typically Asians do not have the donor supply to treat such a large area of balding. What you need is a Master Plan for your hair loss, not a hair transplant at this time. Too many doctor will rush to transplant you leaving you with an incomplete end result, so be careful.

Amit Gupta, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Thank you for asking this question.
  
Firstly, you know how you have got the hair loss, from who and what will be the pattern of it. Please understand that hair loss will always progress, if even if you do any preventive remedy it will just postpone the baldness. You are at a very young age to get a hair transplant, but this will be entirely your decision to go for the transplant or not. If you can’t compromise your look today then I think the ideal thing to do is to get the anterior hairline corrected and start using preventive remedies to save the existing hair. You require around 1600 to 1800 grafts for the front. Your donor area looks very healthy so you can choose either of the two techniques. Please be informed that if you decide to get the surgery done then this won’t be your last session. 
  
Good luck!
  
Regards, Dr. Amit Gupta

Brian Goertz, MD (retired) · Answer

It may be that you are per-programmed to be Norwood Class 5 Pattern of balding like your father. It is important to explore medical therapy with a well respected full time hair transplant surgeon to help develop a plan that will not only suit you now but in the future as well. Seeing how you respond and how your hair loss proceeds or stabilizes will help guide you to hair transplantation if needed in the future.

Should I get a hair transplant?

Answers (12)

More Hair Transplant Questions

Was my donor area over-harvested? I'm 30 y/o male. (Photos)

Finasteride and biotin: Male 26 old, 11 days post-op hair transplant.

Graft fell out (6 days after surgery). Is this normal? (Photo)

Would going on rollercoasters effect my hair transplant at all?

Micro-needling after hair transplant and shaving head 1 week post op?

Finasteride AKA Propecia. Does it cause erectile dysfunction?

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS