Can Hair Transplant Treat Early Hair Loss for Person in Early 20s?

April 4th, 2007

Q: I am in my early 20’s and I was told my hair loss pattern is a Norwood Class 6, on its way to becoming a Class 7. My hair is brown in color and medium to coarse and I was told I have high density in my donor area. Although I was told I could have hair transplants, do you think that I should based upon what I have told you?

A: The main concern I would have is that when someone is already a Class 6 by their early 20’s, he may eventually be left with only a very thin see-through fringe as he ages. A high donor density now does not insure that this will not occur – and coarse hair at 22 does not insure that it will not become fine over time.

Since the hair restoration would require one or more large sessions, there is a risk that the donor scar will not be hidden over time. If you had a widened donor scar, you would need to grow your hair longer on the back and sides to cover it (if that is even possible).

This may not be ideal for a younger person who would have otherwise been able to wear his hair short, and now would not have that option. Regardless of the maturity and good judgment you may feel you have now, your thinking may change as you age.

Hair transplants should generally not be performed in those under 25 because:

Very short hair/or a shaved head can be an acceptable look
Receded temples and a thin crown is not a good look for a young person
When hair loss begins at a young age, the course is unpredictable and will more likely than not result in extensive hair loss
Young persons tend to have worse/more stretched scars than older patients
When we are younger, we generally tend to think more short-term
When we are younger, our decisions are often more emotion-based
When you get older, you may change mind about having surgical hair restoration, but the hair transplant procedure, once performed is irreversible.