Conflicting Hair Transplant Advice

Written by Brandon Ross, MD on December 5, 2007

I had a hair transplant consultation with Medical Hair Restoration in New York. The salesperson told me that they would be able to fill in my bald spot in one shot and that I would never need to have another surgery. I decided to have another consult with a dermatologist in New Jersey and he told me that he would not transplant my crown because I am too young and still have lots of hair. Which advice is best?

Without seeing you or even knowing your age, it is impossible for me to tell you what is your best option. However, I can tell you that the first guy’s advice is ridiculous. While they may be able to fill in your current bald spot “in one shot,” the salesperson is flat out wrong to tell you that you would never need to have another surgery. You have stated that you are young, and there is simply no way to accurately predict what amount of hair loss you will have in the future. If you lost all of your natural hair and only the transplanted hairs remained on your crown, you would still be able to visualize your scalp through your hair. This salesman is making you a promise that he just cannot keep.

The second consult presents a much more realistic scenario. Opinions vary, but many physicians are hesitant to transplant patients who are very young due to the uncertainty of future hair loss. In addition, the dermatologist noted that you still have lots of hair. If that is the case, then you may not be a good candidate for a hair transplant at this time. There needs to be ample space between you existing follicles to allow the new grafts to be placed without causing a lot of damage to the hair you
still have.

I would advise you to listen to the dermatologist. If you are still unsure, have one or more additional consultations. The more information you have, the better equipped you will be to make decisions on this very important issue. I would encourage you to avoid the franchise transplant centers and stick to independent physicians who perform only one surgery per day.

Brandon Ross, MD
Member, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons