Increasingly, younger men are turning to hair transplants below the age of 30 as a solution to hair thinning. While some younger men make good candidates for hair transplant procedures, the success of the results must be considered thoroughly beforehand.
Age and rate of hair loss are crucial factors in determining whether hair transplant surgery is right for a younger man. A hair transplant won’t stop you from losing more hair, so if you’re in the early stages of hair loss, hair loss prevention may be better than a hair transplant procedure.
Find out if it’s possible to get a hair transplant too early, and learn about hair loss management methods that really work.
What causes young people to lose hair?
Understanding the hair growth cycle can help you decide if you’re a good hair transplant candidate in your 20s.
- Anagen – This is the growing phase of the hair growth cycle and lasts for a few years.
- Catagen – This is the cessation period and lasts from two to three weeks.
- Telogen – this is the resting phase which lasts a few months. At the end of this phase, the hair strand then detaches from the follicle and sheds. After the strand sheds from the base, the hair growth cycle begins again.
The most common cause of hair loss in men is androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss. It is caused by the effects of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the production of which starts at puberty [1-2].
DHT affects susceptible hair follicles on the top, front, and crown of the scalp. That’s why most men with male pattern baldness see a receding or uneven hairline or a bald spot on their crown. When DHT binds to androgen receptors in your hair follicles, it can cause them to stop producing hair.
As the cycle continues, the hair follicles become shorter resulting in thinner or finer hair. Eventually, follicles remain in the catagen phase and won’t return to the growth phase.
When you have a hair transplant, donor hair follicles are taken from the back and sides of the scalp and inserted into areas where there is thinning hair or balding. The transplanted hair follicles keep their genetic composition, meaning they stay immune to the effects of DHT.
Why is it sometimes too early to get a hair transplant?
Getting a hair transplant earlier in life before it is appropriate can carry with it some risks.
Imagine a young man in his 20s whose self-esteem is hit hard by receding hairline and thinning areas of hair on the scalp. He opts for a hair transplant, resulting in a denser hairline and crown.
As the years pass, the transplanted areas remain dense but his original hair, susceptible to DHT, continues to thin. This is what happened to Wayne Rooney, who got his first hair transplant at the age of 25. By the time he was 30, Wayne Rooney’s transplanted hairline was still intact, but his hair had begun to thin across the crown.
As a result, Wayne has needed top-up hair restoration procedures to restore the hair across his scalp.
What's the best age to get a hair transplant?
Caj shares the ideal age range for a hair transplant and explains if it’s possible to be too young for the procedure.
How does your age affect your treatment?
Patient advisor Sophie explains why we often recommend more conservative treatments to younger patients.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Wimpole Clinic patient Neil candidly shares which hair transplant tips he would offer his younger self.
How to manage your hair loss
Hair loss management with medication and topical solutions is often a better treatment for younger men (although it depends on how much hair you’re losing, and how quickly). Commonly recommended hair loss solutions include:
- Minoxidil — a topical solution you apply to your scalp twice a day.
- Finasteride and Dutasteride — enzyme blockers that suppress your follicles’ reaction to DHT.
- Alternative hair loss treatments — non-surgical treatments like vitamin infusion therapy and laser light therapy can help minimise hair loss.
As always it’s important to remember that a hair transplant gives permanent results and as a result should be the last resort. Hair transplantation should only be considered when all other hair loss treatments have failed to work.
Can you get a hair transplant too late?
It can also be too late to get a hair transplant. If you don’t have enough donor hair follicles to treat your extensive hair loss (either through follicle overharvesting, or because your hair loss is too great according to the Norwood Scale) it may be too late to get the results you want.
It can be hard to tell if you’re the best age for a hair transplant. Speak to a reputable clinic for impartial advice about whether you’re ready for hair restoration surgery.
What to do if you’re losing lots of hair
Some men start to see hair thinning as early as their late teens to early twenties. This is understandably distressing. Some people feel their hair loss takes its toll on their dating, social, and career prospects.
So if your hair loss is getting you down, it’s time to speak with a consultant at the best UK hair transplant clinic. Our hair transplants are successful with people of all ages — just take a look at our gallery.
So if you want to find a solution to your hair loss, book a free consultation at the Wimpole Clinic. Get the best advice and treatment from a renowned clinic with proven results, and you can be confident your hair loss will be well treated.
Talk to a specialist ☎ 020 7935 1861.
Simply fill in your details and we’ll get in touch with you shortly.
Book a consultation
Simply fill in your details in the form below and we'll get in touch with you shortly.