Body Hair Transplantation in Young Patient with Advanced Hair Loss?

This question comes from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums: 

I’m a young patient – in my early 20’s – with an advanced balding pattern (Norwood Class V) interested in body hair transplantation (BHT). I would like to restore my scalp with grafts from my beard, chest, and legs. Would I be a good candidate for this procedure?

Body hair transplantation, according to most experts, is a procedure reserved for those with depleted scalp donor supply in dire need of hair restoration. Body hair grafts “retain their donor characteristics,” meaning they look like body hair and grow differently – even after being transplanted, and generally don’t blend well with natural scalp hairs. Now, this doesn’t mean body hair grafts can’t help camouflage scalp scars, add density to the vertex/midscalp regions, or provide adequate coverage in extreme repairs; however, a large amount of body grafts implanted diffusely in the scalp of a young patient would not – likely – look natural.

An individual in this situation should first consult with a trusted hair restoration physician. This doctor will evaluate the following: 1. if this young patient is properly utilizing preventive medications – like finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine) – that may improve the hair loss and make the patient a suitable candidate for hair transplantation in the future; 2. if this patient is even a candidate for any surgical procedure; 3. if this patient does have enough scalp donor supply for a traditional hair transplant procedure; and 4. if this patient may be a candidate for a combined procedure with scalp and some body hair grafts.

Depending on the outcome of the consultation, conservative augmentation with body hair grafts and scalp hair grafts may be possible. It is unlikely, however, that a trusted physician would recommend full restoration with body hair on a young patient with an advanced balding pattern.
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Blake Bloxham – formerly “Future_HT_Doc”

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning

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