WhatsAppI frequently get asked about age suitability for hair transplants, including the youngest and oldest ages you should consider. In truth, there is no definitive answer, and each person’s case is different based on factors like hair quality, hair loss condition, life choices, and aims.
In this guide, I want to show the realities of having a hair transplant in later life and whether it’s possible to have one at age 70 or over. There really isn’t a “cut off” point for hair transplants, but there are a host of important factors you must consider that affect their viability as you get older, so read on to find out more.
Understanding the hair transplant procedure is crucial so you know exactly what you are putting your body through. This will help you gauge whether you can cope at 70 or older. A typical hair transplant consultation and surgery involves:
The surgery typically lasts several hours, depending on the method used, and the recovery period, during which your scalp is tender and potentially swollen, can be between 7 and 10 days.
Compared to other invasive surgeries, hair transplants are relatively painless. During the procedure, your scalp is numbed using local anesthetic. Your scalp can feel sore afterward, and it is normal for scabs to develop that will eventually crust and fall off after 7-10 days.
Compared to a younger patient in their 30s, having a hair transplant at age 70 or older involves more considerations, including:
The main influencing factor is your general health and how you would cope with having surgery in later life. As we get older, our bodies recover more slowly, and surgeries (even something as minimal as a hair transplant) take their toll and can feel worse than they should be.
You essentially have to consider whether you feel fit enough to undergo the procedure, the expense and travel time, the recovery period afterward, and whether a hair transplant is necessary or beneficial at this stage in your life.
Aside from being mentally OK with a hair transplant at age 70 and knowing you will cope with the recovery, some factors dictate whether you are a suitable candidate or not, including:
Physical fitness plays a role in hair transplants, as this can affect the quality of your hair and your recovery post-surgery. If you have a range of pre-existing medical conditions, a hair transplant surgeon may advise against undergoing the procedure.
The condition of your hair matters greatly, too, as with hair transplants, you are using your hair as donor hair, not someone else. You can’t just get young and healthy hair from a willing donor.
Therefore, if your hair condition is poor (i.e. it’s thin, grey, and brittle), that’s precisely how it will look when it is transplanted into your areas of hair loss. You can only work with your hair, so a transplant may not be worthwhile if your hair has seen better days.
Alternatively, you may still have a full head of thick hair that you have cared for for 70 years, in which case a hair transplant could yield great results. This is not usually the case, though, because as we get older, the condition and quality of our hair naturally degrade. This is why it’s far better to have a hair transplant when you are younger—typically in your 30s or 40s.
So, can you have a hair transplant at age 70? Potentially, suitability has to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and you have to look at individual factors, including your general health, the extent of hair loss, and the quality of your hair.
As you are older, you also have to consider the possibility that the recovery period could be more extended and more difficult, and the hair transplant results will only reflect the current quality of your hair.
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