What is a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a cosmetic surgical procedure which involves the extraction of the hair follicles from the donor area and their transplantation to the recipient site. Here the donor site is the area which lies at the back or sides of the scalp, while the recipient site is the area with baldness or thinning of hair or a receding hairline transplant. In the past, people opted more for home remedies and ayurvedic treatments to sort these issues of baldness or hair fall. However, in recent times, with the advancements in science & technology, hair restoration with transplant surgeries has emerged as one of the best one’s to treat these hair loss issues.
The transplant treatment helps in improving your aesthetics and self-confidence too, as most of us consider hair as a symbol of our identity and anything damaging it, would have a huge impact on us. Different treatment methods include, FUE Hair Transplant (Follicular Unit Extraction), FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) & QHT (Quick Hair Transplant). Though all of these help you in hair restoration the right type of treatment suitable for you is decided by the doctors.
If you are one among those thinking for a transplant treatment, one of the questions that keeps bothering you is: What is the right age for hair transplant? It is one of the most important factors to be considered. While, the other factors such as the hair loss pattern, the overall health and the treatment expectations also impact the success of the transplant results.
What causes Hair loss?
The reasons for causing a hair loss can be anything ranging from:
- Genetics– One of the most common causes of development of male pattern baldness or severe female hair thinning.
- Hormones– Some of the reasons for hair loss include the hormonal changes which occur during puberty, pregnancy and menopause.
- Underlying medical conditions– If you are suffering from medical conditions such as thyroid disorders, autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata and other scalp infections.
- Poor lifestyle– Poor nutrition habits if your diet lacks necessary vitamins and minerals, it would hamper the hair growth.
- Stress– One of the most common factors for hair loss in the modern era is stress, which has an impact on all the aspects of one’s life such as the social, psychological and economical aspects.
The hair loss also tends to follow a particular pattern. Irrespective of the cause of hair loss, the hair transplant treatment is one of the best solutions to restore the lost hair.
What is the Right Age for a Hair Transplant Treatment?
Hair loss is a problem faced by almost everyone and is a long-lasting one. Now-a-days, young adults of just 20 years of age are experiencing severe hair fall leading to baldness in most of the cases. With the advancements in science & technology, all of you get to hear about transplant surgery being the right solution to restore hair naturally and permanently.
However, one of the most common questions we get to hear is what is the right age to get a transplant treatment? The answer for this is not a definite one but it depends on various factors and according to few experts the following criteria determine the right age.
- If you are someone aged 21 years or below-
Doctors do not advise a transplant treatment at such a young age as the hair growth is not stabilized yet by this age and also the physiological factors such as the hormonal levels keep fluctuating.
In very rare cases such as in those with a loss of hair due to some major trauma or to cover the scars post trauma, transplant treatment is suggested in young age itself.
- If you are someone aged 21-25 years-
Like in the case of those aged 21 years or below, doctors would not suggest hair transplant treatment in those below 25 years, as most experts believe that hair growth is not stabilized yet and the pattern of hair loss is not very clear.
Rather than the transplant treatments, doctors usually recommend the non-surgical treatment options such as the medications, lifestyle changes and PRP injections.
- If you are someone aged between 26-35 years-
This is typically considered the right age, the golden age for the transplant treatment. The experts believe that hair loss is completely stabilized and donor hair is available in plenty. In this age patients will also have some realistic expectations from the transplant treatments.
Of course, other factors such as the overall health, any underlying medical and scalp conditions are to be thoroughly evaluated for, before planning a hair transplant treatment, as all these factors play a crucial role in determining the results.
However, this is considered the right age for the transplant treatment as the patients are psychologically and financially well prepared for the treatments and any necessary follow-up’s.
- If you are someone aged between 36-49 years–
Transplant treatment is highly effective, mainly in individuals with stabilized hair loss and in those with good hair density in the donor area. At this stage, the results from the hair transplant are usually long-lasting and more stabilized.
Many experts are of the opinion that in this age, hair treatment along with other medical treatments helps to provide you with the best possible results.
- If you are someone aged 50 years and above-
Experts are of the opinion that there is no upper age limit for the patients to undergo a hair transplant treatment. Factors such as good overall health, and the availability of sufficient donor hair is crucial to get the desired results from a transplant treatment.
Higher the age of the patient, longer is the time taken for the body cells to heal. However, statistics have shown the chances of recovery post- transplant is good even in those who have undergone the transplant in their 50’s (or) 60’s.
Why does Age matter for a Hair Transplant treatment?
Age is one of the most important factors while considering a transplant treatment for the following reasons: –
- Biological factors- If you are some one aged less than 25 years, then the process of hair loss is on going and it would be difficult to predict the future hair loss patterns and to plan the treatment accordingly. Hair transplantation in such early age could result in unnatural results, so it is advisable to get it done once the hair growth is stabilized.
- Psychological factors- Emotional factors play a critical role in recovery from any medical treatment. Elderly candidates provide you with a more realistic results and help you understand the commitment required for the aftercare precautions to be followed for.
- Early transplant risks- If you are undergoing a transplant treatment at an early age, the hair loss or growth patterns after it, would give you the unnatural results. In some cases, it would also result in patchwork or rework post-transplant.
- Worth waiting- It is important to wait for the right time until the hair loss stabilizes, mainly to ensure a predictable hair loss pattern and to allow for a better treatment plan and get good, natural results.
Pros & Cons by Age group
|
Age group |
Pros |
Cons |
|
Under age 21 years |
Faster healing to regain a denser hair. |
Unstable hair loss, higher risk of revision surgeries |
|
21-25 years |
Early intervention, quicker recovery. |
Possible ongoing hair loss, may need future revision surgeries. |
|
25-40 years |
Stable hair loss pattern, best results, optimal donor hair. |
– |
|
40-50 years |
Good hair stability, realistic expectations. |
Slower healing. |
|
50+ years |
To regain looks & boost confidence. |
Slower recovery & other health conditions are also to be considered, as they also impact the recovery. |
Apart from age some other factors such as the stability of the hair loss, the availability of the donor hair, the overall health and the treatment expectations will all play a crucial role in providing you with the most effective results post-transplant.
Choosing the Right Hair Transplant Clinic
Once you are eligible to undergo a transplant treatment, it is also important to choose the best hair transplant clinic in India to get the most effective results. You can choose to follow these tips to decide the right clinic:
- Experience & expertise-
Always look for experienced surgeons who are experts in providing the treatment with utmost precision & care.
- Advanced treatment techniques-
Treatment with advanced techniques such as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Quick Hair Transplant (QHT) are to be considered to get successful results post-transplant.
- Personalised consultation & treatment–
Hair loss is dependent on various factors causing it & the clinic you visit should offer you with a personalized consultation and the doctors should design the treatment plan as per your goals.
- Patient reviews & testimonials-
Before you choose the right clinic for treatment, do not forget to check for the patient reviews & testimonials to have a clear understanding of the success of the treatment results.
Age & it’s effect on the Hair Transplant Cost in India
The cost of the treatment in India depends on various factors such as:
- The number of grafts required for treatment
- The type of technique used. Treatments with more precision usually incur more treatment cost.
- Clinics with higher reputation would also charge more for the treatments. But, we should always outweigh the costs in respect to the results, especially when it comes to healthcare related treatments.
- The cost of the transplant treatment varies across different clinics and those located in the metro cities usually charge a higher price compared to those in the towns.
Age does not directly affect the hair transplant cost in India but younger patients with ongoing hair loss would require additional procedures or revision surgeries to get the best results. The cost of the treatment also varies based on the additional treatments involved such as the PRP (plasma rich therapy) or GFC (Growth factor concentrate) injections, as a part of the maintenance therapy. If you are someone whose hair loss has stabilized, you would not require any such revision surgeries and the treatment costs would also be lower.
Age-specific advice while you prepare for a Hair transplant
For younger patients-
– Wait for the hair loss to stabilize.
– Explore the non-surgical options like the use of medications such as Minoxidil, Finasteride, PRP, if your hair loss is still not stabilized.
– Always set some realistic treatment expectations for the future hair loss and understand the need for the follow-up procedures, in case of unsuccessful transplant results.
For older patients-
– Consult the physician if you have chronic conditions like auto-immune disease, thyroid or other inflammatory conditions while you undergo a transplant treatment.
– The hairline should be designed in such a way that the newly grown hair should blend along with the surrounding hair, even if it is the gray hair.
– If you are using any medications such as blood thinners you need to consult your physician and stop them for a few days before surgery to reduce the risk of bleedin
Post transplant recovery tips-Age-specific:
Recovery from a transplant treatment varies among different individuals and the following guidelines are to be adopted during recovery.
For younger patients:
-Avoid any sort of strenuous physical activities such as weight lifting or swimming in the initial few weeks post-transplant.
-Eating a balanced diet and maintaining good hydration is also crucial.
-Refrain from smoking or alcohol for the first few week’s post-transplant.
-Avoid direct exposure to sunlight for initial 2 weeks post-transplant procedure.
For older patients-
– You need to stop using any hair colors for a few weeks post-transplant as per your surgeon’s advice.
– Follow all the instructions on shampooing the hair immediately post-transplant and do use the prescribed hair care products only.
– A regular follow-up is important and any PRP or GFC injections, if recommended should be taken on time as per the doctor’s advice. Maintenance of the hair growth results is very important.
Conclusion
The right age for a candidate undergoing a hair transplant treatment is variable among different individuals. Most of the experts are of the opinion that a waiting time of until your mid-20’s is crucial to get the best possible natural results from a transplant treatment. Other than age factors such as the stability of the hair loss pattern, the availability of the donor hair and the over all health is crucial to get the realistic results with the treatment.
If you are suffering from hair loss and looking for options to restore hair naturally and permanently, it is important to get a consultation done with the top transplant surgeon’s at the QHT clinic. If you have any further questions or want to take a step towards restoring your hair naturally, book yourself a free consultation today at the QHT clinic and get treated by the experts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it possible to get a hair transplant treatment at 18 years of age?
No, as the hair loss pattern is not stabilized during this age and any early treatments would only cause unnatural results. This would also increase the chances for revision surgeries.
Is there any upper limit for the hair transplant treatment?
No, there is no specific age limit. The only things to be considered include the donor hair quality, and the overall good health. Many of the patients have gained successful hair growth results even in their 60’s & 70’s.
Will I need revision procedures post hair transplant treatment?
If you undergo a treatment, once your hair growth has stabilized, you will not require any additional procedures. In very rare cases, hair transplant revision surgeries are required if the initial procedure did not give you the successful results.
How does your age affect the recovery & results post transplant?
Younger patients heal faster while the older patients may take some more extra time to gain the desired results. Proper treatment planning and follow-up during the recovery phase helps you gain better results even in the older patients.