If you’ve been considering a hair transplant very recently, it’s likely that you looked in the mirror one day, maybe before bed or after a shower, and noticed a growing widow’s peak. Or maybe thinning hair or excess shedding after combing.

The shock of an unexpectedly receding hairline or bald spot can be quite hard to grapple with. You might have asked yourself: what can I do to prevent further balding? 

Of all the questions you may have about hair loss, the most important one for you might be: Is now the right time to have a hair transplant? 

Everyone is different. There is no ideal age at which you should get a hair transplant, just like there is no ideal age for a tummy tuck or laser hair removal. Some can begin as early as their early 20s.

Many patients, once they’ve had a hair transplant and have seen how relatively easy it is, wish they had done it sooner. But on the other hand, you may not want to jump the gun and start too soon. It’s sometimes smart to wait (only if you are in your early 20s) and see how your hair loss progresses. 

Regardless, you should absolutely consult with a hair transplant expert and go over some key variables.

Your Age 

Male pattern baldness, which affects up to two thirds of American men by the age of 35, can start showing as early as age 18. Typically, we don’t advise you have a hair transplant under the age of 25, even if you’re experiencing early hair loss.

During your 20s your hairline is still forming. What you may think of as a receding hairline may simply be what’s called a mature hairline, which is not quite the same thing as a receding hairline. 

By the middle of your 30s any hair loss you may experience has typically stabilized. 

This doesn’t mean you can’t have a hair transplant earlier. 

A hair transplant relies on using donor hair from the back of your head. If you opt for a hair transplant too early, you may distribute the donor hair too heavily in one area, leaving little for future restoration. This is a common mistake lesser clinics make.

This also has to do with the natural density of your hair. You want to plan out carefully where to distribute your hair so as to achieve the best overall effect. 

Yet even still, we have had patients as young as 18 with severe hair loss, and seeing their joy at reversing this trend at such an early age is compelling. So again, there isn’t an ideal age for your procedure. We can help you evaluate your hair loss and give advice as to what we think is possible given your hair loss.

What About Beard Transplants? 

Facial hair is often associated with strength, maturity and masculinity. A lack of facial hair or the inability to grow a thick, manly beard can be embarrassing for some men. Their hair might grow very slowly, become wispy rather than full, and have a sparse, patchy appearance instead of growing in a full, uniform way. 

A beard transplant will enhance facial hair symmetry. 

The goal of the hair transplant is to provide a long-lasting and natural result that matches the pattern and texture of hair in the surrounding areas.

Patients seeking beard transplants tend to be younger – partly because beards have become fashionable in recent years, and patchy beards are often an affliction of younger men whose beards do not look ‘mature’. 

Hairline Design

‘How will my new hairline look?’ is one of the most important questions patients ask us when they begin our consultation. 

‘Will it look rounded, symmetrical, asymmetrical, more defined or less defined?’ It is a deep desire to want to know how the cosmetic procedure will look finished before it starts. People have a strong opinion and idea of how they want their new hair to look and move.  

The truth of the matter is there is no one size fits all hairline that Dr. Yazdan, or any top hair transplant surgeon for that matter, tries to create. What looks good for one patient may not look good for another – what makes sense for a young patient with progressive loss may not make sense for an older patient with more ‘stable’ and limited hair loss. 

In other words, hairlines must be carefully considered and customized for each patient. 

A close examination of the direction, sway, swirl and grouping of a patient’s hair will tell us how most naturally to design the new hairline. 

Recovery Time 

While there are no real limitations on what time of year you can have hair transplant surgery, there are several considerations you should take into account. How long it takes for a hair transplant to heal varies from procedure to procedure. 

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) – our trademark and gold standard – is so popular because it requires practically no healing time. There is no surgical incision and therefore no scar, compared to other methods like the “strip method.” For an FUE you are advised to recover for 5-9 days. 

Your head will be covered with tiny red dots from where the hair follicles were extracted and re-inserted, and there may be a small amount of swelling. While you should feel fit enough to go back to work after just 1-2 days post-op, most of our patients choose to take a week or two off to allow their hair to start growing in again, and the tiny punctures to scab over and fall off.

Start With a Free Consult

No matter how old you are or how much or how little your hair loss has progressed, it’s never the wrong time to get a completely free, no obligation quote. To find out if you are a good candidate and how much a hair transplant tailored to you would cost, simply click the VIRTUAL EVALUATION  button at the top of our website.

We will contact you within one business day to ask additional questions, if necessary, and map out your hair restoration plan. It’s always the perfect time to get started and learn more about the many options you have to achieve a younger look and invest in your confidence.