It is possible to get a hair transplant even if you are completely bald, but the outcome may not be as successful as someone with a good amount of hair. Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure that involves taking hair follicles from a “donor” area of the scalp, typically the back or sides of the head, and transplanting them to the “recipient” area of the scalp, which is typically the front, top, or crown of the head.
A hair transplant can be done on people with a good amount of hair, or with a limited hair density, as long as there are some healthy hair follicles in the donor area that can be transplanted.
In cases of complete baldness, hair transplantation may not be the best option. The outcome may not be satisfactory, and the procedure may not be able to produce a significant improvement in hair density.
If you are completely bald, it’s recommended to consult with a hair restoration specialist to evaluate your case and determine if you’re a good candidate for hair transplantation or if other options such as Scalp micropigmentation, Scalp Reduction or Flap surgery are more suitable for you.
It’s worth mentioning that, hair restoration treatments are not considered a “cure” for baldness, but rather a cosmetic solution that can help to improve the appearance of hair loss.
How bald do you have to be to get a hair transplant?
Male pattern baldness starts typically with a receding hairline and thinning of the hair around the crown. As the hair loss progresses, the centre of the scalp loses more hair, eventually becoming bald.
If you are over the age of 30 and have come to the conclusion your hair loss has slowed or stopped sufficiently then, you can now consider a hair transplant.
The vital factor for a successful hair transplant is enough donor hairs to be grafted. The donor’s hairs are usually grafted from the scalp’s back and individually harvested.
If you consider a hair transplant, it will be helpful to you and the surgeon if you keep a photo diary of hair loss over a year or more.
This will give the surgeon a complete representation of your hair loss, enabling a comprehensive treatment plan.
Can a completely bald man regrow hair?
In some circumstances, you can regrow hair, but it depends on the hair loss you have experienced.
If your hair loss is related to androgenetic alopecia, your hair follicles have likely become scarred or closed as you have not had hair growth from these follicles for a very long time.
If this is the case, your hair will not regrow in this area of the scalp.
However, if the hair follicle is still active and intact, it is possible to kick start hair regrowth. A hair transplant specialist will advise you on the best possible treatment to trigger hair regrowth.
A recorded case of a 73-year-old man taking Spironolactone to treat liver cirrhosis. He took the drug for six years and then started to regrow hair which shattered the belief of dead or scarred hair follicles.
Was this the drug or a side effect of something else? There is no conclusive evidence.
Is it ever too late for a hair transplant?
Sadly, yes. You can wait too long and limit the chances of you being able to receive a hair transplant.
In some cases, the patient has thin hair where harvesting would be done. Further hair loss from taking thousands of hairs would not look natural, and the hair transplant surgeon is likely to decline the procedure.
If you consider a hair transplant, the transplanted hairs will come from your scalp and not a third party donor.
If you do not have enough hair to transplant, the procedure is unavailable.
