Q: What are your thoughts on performing a hair transplant to the crown first?
A: It depends upon the person’s age, how bald he is likely to become, and the donor supply.
As a general rule, the crown should not be transplanted in a younger person (under 30) as the extent of his balding is hard to predict and crown thinning at this age often suggests that the person will become at least a Norwood 6.
If a person has enough donor hair (i.e. good donor density) and scalp laxity, so that coverage of the entire bald area can be accomplished if the patient becomes a Norwood class 6 (and it is unlikely that he will become a Class 7), then transplanting the crown before the front is reasonable.
If a person has a family history of baldness limited to the crown, even at an advanced age, and the person in question is following this pattern, then earlier treatment of the crown may be considered.
Lastly, if you do treat the crown in a younger person, or one with whom the extent of hair loss is uncertain, the crown should be transplanted with light coverage only. That way a limited amount of hair will be used up in this area and there will be enough left over for the more cosmetically significant top and front of the scalp.
For a complete review of this topic please read: Follicular Transplantation: Patient Evaluation and Surgical Planning. Dermatol Surg 1997; 23: 771-84. A copy in PDF format, and other hair transplant publications, can be downloaded at the Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration Medical Publications page.
Topic: Crown (Vertex)Tags: Bernstein Medical - Center for Hair Restoration / Crown / Donor Hair / Donor Hair Density / Family History / Follicular Transplantation: Patient Evaluation and Surgical Planning / Hair Transplant Age / Hair Transplant Medical Publications / Norwood Class 6 Hair Loss / Norwood Class 7 Hair Loss / Norwood Hair Loss Classification / Scalp Laxity
Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 1:43 pm
Rate This Post:
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Share/Save This Post:
Other Posts in this Topic:
- Should Young Person Start with Hair Transplant at Crown?
Q: I am 26 years old, have had two successful hair transplants, but am still losing hair in the crown... - Hair Transplant for Thinning Hair on Crown?
Q: Should you perform a hair transplant on a crown that is just starting to thin? A: A "thin" crown... - Can You Have a Hair Transplant to the Crown Before the Front or Top of Scalp?
Q: Can the crown be transplanted first instead of frontal area? Why is the crown the last choice? Any... - Does Rogaine Hair Loss Medication Only Work on Crown?
Q: I heard that Rogaine only works on the crown and not on the front or top of the scalp. Is this true? A:...
