Am I a Good Candidate?
Who is a good Candidate?
A successful hair transplant can be a life-changing improvement in most people, boosting their confidence that would otherwise not be possible.
Am I a good candidate for a hair transplant?
Generally, men whose hair loss has progressed Norwood scale 3 or above and their hair loss is stabilised, then they are good candidates.
If your hair loss has been progressing for five years, you are also a good candidate.
Before you decide to undergo surgery, carefully consider your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. Our primary aim is to meet your expectations as much as possible.
Hair characteristics
Several characteristics of the hair may or may not make you a good candidate for a hair transplant. For example, hair skin colour contrast, thickness texture, and curly texture affect the cosmetic result.
Hair density
Hair density in the donor area is one of the most important factors when determining who will be a good candidate for a hair transplant.
Specifically, surgeons will look for a good density of hair follicles in these areas of the scalp. The donor hair follicles taken (harvested) from these areas are used to cover the bald ones. It is essential not to compromise these areas by overharvesting; otherwise, whilst correcting some areas of the scalp, new balding regions are created in the donor areas.
Conversely, someone with a low density of hair follicles in the donor area may not be a good candidate for a hair transplant.
It would be best if you had a moderate-to-high level of hair density in order to be able to transplant donor follicles. Therefore, we invested In cutting-edge devices in our clinic to thoroughly study these areas for the best outcome with these devices, we could accurately measure their density, follicles, and hair thickness to achieve the best possible result for our patients.
Hair texture
When looking at hair texture, those with curly or wavy hair usually expect better results with fewer follicular units. Afro-Carribean hair is a great example of this. Although Afro-Carribean follicular unit density tends to be lower than Caucasian or Asian hair (0.6 FU/mm2 vs 1 FU/mm2), the fact that the curls are so dense creates the impression that more of the scalp is covered – creating a better result.
Hair colour
Hair colour is one of the most significant factors determining the result’s effectiveness. This is due to the contrast between hair colour and scalp colour. The bigger the contrast between the two, the more obvious that balding appears.
Those with similar hair and skin colour (i.e.. dark skin and dark hair, or light skin and light colour hair) are less ‘noticeably’ bald than those with a high contrast between the two. This means that those with less hair transplantation can achieve a better cosmetic outcome than those with less skin-hair contrast.
Hair thickness
Likewise, hair thickness is another determinant in the success of a hair transplant. Those with thick hair require fewer grafts (hair follicles) to get the same cosmetic effect as those with thinner hair. This is because thick hair covers more area of the bald scalp, preventing light reflection from the bald skin.
Scalp flexibility
Scalp flexibility (laxity) is also considered when determining a candidate’s suitability for a hair transplant. If you have low laxity of the scalp (i.e. a tight scalp), removing follicles from the scalp and transplanting them will be better than someone with high laxity (i.e. a loose scalp).
Considering all these factors together is important when determining whether someone is a good candidate. For example, some patients have a high density of hair follicles in the donor areas, but they may have other unfavourable hair characteristics that offset the benefits of this density.
The best way to determine whether or not you will be a good candidate is to book a one-to-one consultation with one of our specialist hair surgeons in our clinic, who have a holistic approach to your hair loss problem.
Is FUE Suitable For Me?
In general, healthy people will have healthy hair follicles in good condition for a transplant operation and the most favourable position for a good recovery and better outcome.
The treatment is suitable for men with male pattern baldness and has stabilised their hair loss with medications or naturally with age. A hair transplant can also be an option for both men and women whose hair loss is due to burns, trauma, or other health conditions.
When looking at the right age to get a hair transplant, it is advised that men wait until they are 25 or older as hair loss generally begins to slow and become more predictable.
Need help ?
If you require any additional information regarding your hair transplant procedure please leave us your details below and a friendly fully trained telephone representative will give you a call back as soon as possible. All calls are completely confidential.