Who is a good candidate for a hair transplant?

Not everyone with hair loss is suitable for a hair transplant. A good candidate is medically fit and has a good donor area, because the quality of the donor area decides the outcome.

Not everyone with hair loss needs a transplant

Young patients, especially in the early stages of baldness, can often be treated with medical treatment to prevent further baldness and, to some extent, to help hair grow. Sometimes a transplant is recommended even for younger people, depending on personal and social reasons such as an upcoming marriage or depression.

Age and general health

A hair transplant is advisable only when you are medically fit for surgery. Age is not a bar, Transplant can be done in even at the age 70 provided the surgical fitness is mandatory.

Why the donor area decides the result

Transplanted hair keeps behaving like the hair in the place it was taken from; this is called donor dominance. So a good donor area, at the back and sides of the head, is essential for a good result.

The quality of the donor area depends on:

• the density of follicular units per square centimetre
• the thickness of the hair shaft
• the nature of the hair (curly hair gives better coverage)
• the looseness (laxity) of the scalp

Other features that help:

• a large donor area and a smaller area to be covered
• no medical reasons that rule out surgery
• no bleeding disorders
• no tendency to abnormal scarring (keloids)

Next steps