Over recent years there has been a dramatic rise in people looking to go ahead with hair transplants. Providing you are over the age of 18 years, there is not a minimum age for hair transplant procedures. But there are guidelines and advice that it would be helpful to take into account if you are considering going ahead.
So, if there has never been a minimum age for hair transplant procedures, why has there suddenly been an increase in google searches for ‘hair transplant?’ What may have changed? Who are the ideal candidates? What are the options? Let’s take a closer look at the finer details of an ever-expanding industry.
Why is it more popular?
Between 2017 and 2021, the searches on Google for ‘hair transplant’ have increased by 43%
As with any type of treatment, popularity can help bring the price down. Competition in the industry is a good thing for the client, it gives them choice, and prices become more competitive.
Attitudes to men getting cosmetic surgery treatments have changed, too. Thanks to male influencers, and celebrities who endorse the procedure, it is more popular than ever, and the minimum age of hair transplant clients has dropped.
Advances in the procedure mean that it can now be carried out in a much more pain-free manner than ever before.
Who can have the procedure?
We’ve heard that for anyone over the age of 18 years there is no minimum age for hair transplant procedures. It is possible to have the procedure carried out at an early age, but there are things to consider before going ahead.
For example, although the transplanted hair will remain in place, hair loss may well continue in other areas of the scalp. If hair is transplanted onto the front of the hairline, hair on the top of the scalp will likely continue to thin or stop growing altogether. For this reason it is important that clients who undergo this treatment at an early age are prepared to have further procedures later on.
Who are the best candidates?
Quite simply, anyone with sufficient healthy hair, that can be transplanted to the area that needs it, is suitable. The ability to grow hair on the thinning area of the scalp is also a requirement.
It may not be suitable for those with chronic health issues (e.g. heart, kidney or liver disease), or anyone with thick or fibrous scars, following injury or surgery.What is the best age to have a hair transplant?
The minimum age of hair transplant procedures is 18 yrs. This is not necessarily the best age to go ahead, though. Although there is no legal minimum age for hair transplant procedures for those over the age of 18 years, the procedure can be successful for anyone between 18 and 65 years.
It is generally advised to wait until the age of 25 years to get the best results. Prior to this age the hair loss pattern may not be fully determined, so the results may not last and a further procedure may be necessary. The hair transplant specialist will need to take into account the level of hair loss, the hair loss pattern, quality of the donor hair and the size of the balding area. It’s vital that you carefully consider who to use for your procedure. Here at Enhance Hair Restoration, we are one of the UK’s leading hair transplant clinics. Our expertise and years of experience mean that you will be in safe hands from start to finish.
There is more than one type of hair transplant, and your surgeon will help determine which is best for you. It may be that you are offered non-surgical procedures, if that’s what the experts predict will have the best outcome.
If you do go down the route of surgical procedures, there are two options. These are called FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) and FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction).
The best candidates for this are those affected by male pattern baldness. This is one of the reasons that there is a guideline that suggests the minimum age for hair transplant is best, and most effective for over 25s. By this age the pattern of hair loss is established, and the best treatment can be advised.
FUT treatment involves removing the skin from the donor site. It is then divided into individual groups of follicular units before being transplanted to the recipient site.
The FUE procedure means that follicles less than a mm in diameter are extracted from the donor site and replaced in the bald area.
Both of these treatments are advanced surgical procedures, so it is imperative that they are only carried out by experienced professionals. The increase in patients being enticed abroad for cheap procedures has not gone unnoticed by the UK industry. There are disadvantages to be aware of if this is something you might consider. Pre-operative and post-operative assessments and checks are vital. This is not always possible if you are travelling abroad for your procedure. There is also a recovery period to take into account, and it is much better to be able to access your clinic at short notice if any problems arise. This is going to be much more complicated if you have already travelled home from a clinic abroad.
If you are considering a hair transplant, then you should be aware of what is involved before, during and after the procedure. There are several options available that can help with thinning hair or hair loss, and you should take time to explore these treatments in detail before making your final decision. Choosing a professional, established clinic, such as Enhance Hair Restoration will mean you are in capable, experienced hands. Our expert surgeons will be able to tailor the most suitable treatment to fit your circumstances, and we will be on hand to answer your questions and give you the best advice. Be sure to ask plenty of questions so that you understand what is involved, and then you can go ahead, safe in the knowledge that you are in the hands of the experts.
