What Factors Influence Hair Transplant Hairline Design?

This below question was asked by a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums and answered by recommended hair restoration surgeon Dr. Wen-Yi Wu:

What factors are considered when designing a hair transplant hairline?

Generally, there are two types of hairline shapes: Bell-shaped and round. The round design is better suited for a wider head with mature stable temporal hair. The bell-shaped hairline fits a narrower head, conserves grafts, and matches the arc of temporal recession.

The lateral terminus of the hairline can either end with the tail moving backward or with a slight flare. If the lateral terminus flares outward, i.e., curves toward the temples, and the temple hairline is not rebuilt, the hair restoration surgeon will need to commit to rebuild the temple hair in the future since the hair loss progression may move backward exposing the scalp behind the initial hairline and causing the entire hairline to look unnatural.

Conversely, if the lateral terminus points almost directly backward, then the temple can progress in recession backward along this line and continue to look natural, this design is suitable if the temple is not planned to be transplanted at the outset.

In either case, the temple may require rebuilding, either at the initial session or in the future because a hairline that juts too far in advance of the temporal hairline looks unnatural like a bad toupee.

Dr. Wen Yi-Wu

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
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