26 Years Old Norwood 2: Am I a Hair Transplant Candidate?
I am a Norwood 2 with the crown areas receding as well as some hair loss in the frontal area. I am 26 years old. I consulted with a hair transplant doctor in Oklahoma and he recommended 1000 follicular unit grafts. He said I was a “good candidate” for a transplant. Is it possible to predict future hair loss and to customize any transplant procedures to take this into account? What is a good candidate?
Thank you for your inquiry.
Unfortunately, hair loss is a progressive condition. Though family history may be an indicator, hair loss is unpredicable and there is a good chance at your age with loss in the crown and minimal loss of hair in the front that you will continue to lose hair.
Before even considering hair transplantation have you tried using hair loss medication such as Propecia (Finasteride) or Rogaine (minoxodil)? Though hair loss medication is not guaranteed to work, it is the first line of defense in order to help prevent future balding.
At 26 and only a level 2 on the norwood scale – I would suggest that you may not a good candidate for a hair transplant. I would suggest reading the following thread on our hair restoration discussion forum entitled Am I Too Young For a Hair Transplant?
My recommendation for you at this point is consult with a doctor about getting on Propecia. Rogaine may help strengthen miniaturized hairs in the crown as well making it fuller. Use both medications for at least a year to see if they help you. At the very least they may help slow down or stop your hair loss. Keep in mind that any benefit obtained by using the hair loss medication will be lost upon stopping use.
In the meantime research hair transplantation and learn about it, what it is, how it works, who makes a good candidate, etc.
I encourage you also to join our Hair Restoration Discussion Forum and ask our veteran members some of your questions as well.
Bill
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog
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