Categories: Questions & Answers2.6 min read

By: Anderson Center for Hair

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How Young is Too Young for Hair Restoration Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is a big decision that should never be rushed into. Whether you’re 21 or 51, this decision shouldn’t be taken lightly. It should consider the recommendations of a trusted doctor and maybe even a loved one too! Especially when you’re young, the tendency is to find a silver bullet and jump for it, but in some cases jumping into a cosmetic procedure too quickly could cause more problems in the future. So before you decide to elect for hair restoration, here are some things to consider if you’re wondering about the hair restoration age limit.

Hair Restoration Surgery Considerations

1.     Progressive Hair Loss

In preparation for hair restoration surgery, the doctor identifies the patient’s rate and pattern of hair loss. This helps determine where to transplant the hair and what kind of hairline is being developed. However, the pattern of hair loss is much harder to determine when the patient is young as their hair loss hasn’t fully “settled in” yet. With unpredictable hair loss on the horizon, this could leave transplant sites with thick hair and other non-transplant sites lacking, creating an unnatural hairline.

2.     Family History

To provide the most informed recommendation, doctors should look at patients’ family history related to hair loss. The extent and pattern of hair loss in your family can help the doctor loosely determine the caliber and potential pattern of hair loss. Depending on the doctor’s analysis of your family history results, they may or may not find someone in their early 20s as a suitable candidate for surgery.

3.     Non-Surgical Options

Several non-surgical options can slow down hair loss and stimulate growth for younger patients. Some of these include:

  • Platelet-Rich Plasma
  • Low-Level Laser Therapy
  • Topicals
  • Orals
  • Stem Cell Therapy

If a younger patient still wants hair restoration surgery, the above methods can help stabilize hair loss until surgery is a better option. In the meantime, you can learn more about hair loss prevention here.

4.     Everyone is Different

What may be a viable option for some may not be the best option for others. Many factors go into the decision to have hair restoration surgery, no matter your age. As you look for your options, keep in mind the uniqueness of every patient’s genetics, scalp, and hair.

Our Recommendations

We generally recommend that patients wait until after they’re 25 to dive into the process of hair restoration surgery. However, there really is no hair restoration age limit. All of the listed non-surgical options are a great way to start the process and slow down hair loss until your doctor feels the procedure would be advantageous to your hair growth goals. We find that there are greater chances of success in patients over 40 years old. However, once again – every case is different and may yield different results.

Get Ready!

We want to work with you to find the best option. We take our jobs seriously and want to give you advice that will help you get the most bang for your buck. So, if you’re ready to start the process, click below!

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