Top 3 Worst Hair Transplant Candidates

Today, surgical hair restoration is a refined technique that when done right is virtually undetectable even under close inspection. However, not every person is a suitable candidate for hair transplantation. In fact, some individuals make terrible patients for a variety of reasons that we will explain in detail. Are you wondering if you’re a suitable candidate for hair transplant surgery? Keep reading.

 Number 1. Unrealistic Expectations

Unfortunately, this issue is quite common and can leave patients feeling cheated and often times feeling worse about their procedure than they did about their hair loss. Prospective patients must be cognizant about the limitations associated with hair restoration. It is important to remember that hair transplant surgery does not create new hair; it simply re-arranges pre-existing hair to another area. Prospective patients who want a hair transplant to restore their hair to a level of density they had as an adolescent, while understandable don't have realistic expectations.

The goal of any hair procedure should be to achieve the "illusion of density", which is defined as a perceived fullness and dense appearance to the hair. However, this is not a true density. Prospective patients who will not accept anything other than true density should reconsider having a procedure and perhaps look into other non-surgical alternatives, such as hair systems.

Number 2. Unstable Hair Loss

A hair transplant does not treat hair loss or stop the progression of androgenic alopecia (genetic hair loss). In some cases, a hair transplant may accelerate hair loss due to telogen effluvium (shock loss). Individuals who are losing hair rapidly may not be able to achieve any cosmetic benefit from a hair transplant, because they may end up losing more hair than they have replaced. Unfortunately, this is often the case with young individuals who are eager to restore their hair and typically have unrealistic expectations.

In some cases, patients will request to have their hairlines lowered to mimic their juvenile hairlines. Sadly, with the progression of hair loss, the results will look unnatural as the patient continues to lose more hair, some patients are left with nothing more than a tuft of hair on their scalp resembling an island. For this reason, it is advised that patients try medical therapy for a year prior to having a procedure; medical therapy includes Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) both FDA approved to treat genetic hair loss.

Number 3. Impulsive Patients Looking For The Cheapest Surgeon

Like the saying goes "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is".  Sadly, with so many low-cost, low skill hair restoration clinics offering an absurd amount of follicular unit grafts for a ridiculously low price, the amount of hair transplant repair patients is rising like never before. These clinics may not even have a physician on staff or the physician on staff may not even specialize in hair restoration.

Surgeon selection is crucial for receiving natural undetectable results that will last a lifetime. Finances can be replaced over time however, a patients donor supply is finite and a precious resource that must be utilized efficiently, because it can never be replaced. While the allure of cheap surgery sounds enticing, the truth of the matter is cheap surgery can end up being more expensive in the long run. In some cases, patients end up with a depleted donor area, unsightly scarring with an unnatural result.

Unfortunately, many of these patients can no longer be repaired because there isn't sufficient donor hair available to repair the previous work. For this reason, patients who do not have the finances available to select a competent hair transplant surgeon with a proven track record of producing excellent patient results should hold off on surgery or save up until they can afford a competent hair restoration surgeon.

Bottomline

Hair transplantation is the only real way to regrow hair on a bald scalp, but that doesn’t mean that it can work miracles or cure hair loss. Anyone who is looking for a hair transplant to miraculously cure their hair loss aren’t suitable candidates for hair transplantation. In addition, those who have aggressive hair loss and choose to not take any preventive medications such as finasteride or minoxidil should think twice before getting into the surgeon's chair.

Lastly, while hair restoration is an elective procedure, it is still surgery. Therefore, patients should choose a surgeon with a long track record of producing excellent results, instead of looking for the cheapest surgeon. Cosmetic procedures are unlike anything else, a car you can sell, as well as a house. But a hair transplant result stays with you for life.