Who makes a good candidate for hair transplant surgery?
When I see a patient at consultation I ask myself a few questions to help decide whether or not they would make a good candidate.
Is my hair loss stable enough for a transplant?
Determining whether or not your hair is ‘stable’ or ‘unstable’ is one of the most important questions I ask myself.
Hair restoration is all about moving hair from the back of the head (your donor) to the area of hair loss (recipient), but there is a limited supply.
If you are still losing hair it is often a better idea to first stabilise your hair loss with medication before proceeding with surgery.
Hair loss usually slows down in one’s 50’s and for this reason older men often make better candidates for hair transplant surgery than their younger counterparts.
How many grafts can I transplant?
At consultation I need to decide whether or not your donor will provide enough grafts to cover the recipient area and whether or not that is in fact a good idea.
The number of grafts we can move will depend on your donor, specifically the size and density. It will also be determined by the surgical technique utilised, Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) or Strip Follicular Unit Transplantation (Strip FUT).
Setting realistic expectations
Your pattern of hair loss along with your goals and expectations will not be the same as the next person. From the beginning an experienced surgeon will be transparent about what you are likely to achieve with hair transplant surgery and will suggest the best course of action to treat your hair loss. If they are unable to meet your goals or believe you have unrealistic expectations this should be spoken about openly even if that means disappointing you.
Christopher’s advice
We regularly operate on older men and women and have fantastic results. They often make very good candidates for hair transplant surgery as their hair is stable and we can manage their donor effectively.
Due to the fact there is often more hair loss, older patients are usually more suited to Strip Follicular Unit Transplantation (Strip FUT) than Follicular Unit Excision (FUE), which is why it is important to consult with a surgeon who regularly performs both techniques.
If you would like to discuss your hair loss and possible treatments please get in touch on 0207 770 6538 or reception@thedsouzaclinic.com
Mr. Christopher D’Souza MBBS MSc MRCS
Hair Transplant Surgeon & Medical Director
Talk to your Surgeon about your hair loss
Call us +44 (0) 207 770 6538
Mr D’Souza personally leads each new patient call and consultation.
What’s involved at a consultation?.
