Who is eligible for a hair transplant?

In principle any healthy male or female can be eligible for a hair transplant operation. However, there are some important criteria for eligibility.

Androgenetic Alopecia (Male Pattern Baldness) can easily be treated with a hair transplant. As nearly %95 of the male baldness is due to Androgenetic Alopecia, most of the men who are suffering from hair loss can be eligible for a hair transplant. On the other hand, hair loss in women is more complicated than male hair loss. For women the cases should be individually analyzed by the surgeon and in some cases patient’s treating doctor.

 

Another important criterion is the condition of the donor area. The donor area is the back part of our head that the hair grafts are extracted and transplanted into bald areas. In this sense, the density and quality of the donor area is vital for a hair transplant. If the patient lacks quality or density of hair at the donor area, suitability for a hair transplant might be problematic.

 

Some diseases can also be problematic for the suitability for a hair transplant operation. Diseases such as thyroid, blood pressure, or hypothyroidism can negatively affect a hair transplant. An operation can only be performed after the approval of the treating physician and the hair surgeon. On the other hand, individuals with chronic diseases such as liver, kidney or hearth failure cannot have a hair transplant. Furthermore, patients who had chemotherapy treatment for cancer cannot be eligible.

 

Can diabetics have a hair transplant?

Diabetics are more complicated than other diseases for a hair transplant. Type 1 diabetes patients cannot have a hair transplant because their bodies cannot produce insulin. Sugar fluctuations during the operation might hinder the well-being of the patient.

 

On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes patients can be eligible for a hair transplant. However, current status of the patient’s immune system should be evaluated. Furthermore, it should be noted that the post-operation period of the type 2 diabetes patients is different and longer than other patients.

 

What is the suitable age for a hair transplant?

In the past hair transplant operations were mainly applied to older men or women. However, nowadays younger people would like to tackle the hair loss problem earlier and they do not want to wait until older ages. In general, people who are older than 25 years can have a hair transplant. On the other hand, stabilization of the hair loss is vital before the operation. So, it is important to consult with an experienced hair surgeon to determine the eligibility.

 

Am I a good candidate for a hair transplant?

Any healthy person who is over 25 and suffer from Androgenetic Alopecia (Male Pattern Baldness) or in some cases other types of hair loss can be eligible for a hair transplant. However, there might be other criteria to be considered about the individual cases. The best way to find out your eligibility is to consult with a specialized doctor. At DrT , we offer free online consultations! Contact us to learn if you are eligible for a hair transplant.