Question:
Hi, I'm a 16 (almost 17) year old male. I have a naturally bad hairline that is like a large widow's peak. I don't experience hair loss but my hairline makes me feel very self-conscious. Is there any transplanting procedure or anything else I can do to fix my hairline? I am literally willing to do anything it takes.
Answer:
Given your very young age, it’s highly unlikely that an
ethical hair restoration physician would consider performing hair transplant surgery
on you to fix your “naturally bad” hairline. The reason for this is that it’s
virtually impossible at this stage to predict if you will eventually suffer
from the effects of androgenic
alopecia (pattern hair loss).
We have a finite number of donor grafts available to address
future balding. If you were to use a number of these grafts to create a low
juvenile hairline, you may end up with an unnatural appearance in the future
should you eventually go bald with too few grafts remaining to address the
areas of concern. Essentially, you’d be left with an isolated island of hair up
front.
Of course, there are exceptions. If you have no family history
of hair loss and it’s
reasonable to assume you will retain most of your existing hair, a surgeon may
agree to augment your hairline. However, he may also recommend you start
applying Rogaine
(minoxidil) daily and perhaps start taking Propecia
(finasteride) once you turn 18 as an extra precaution. These drugs are both
FDA approved and clinically proven to slow the effects of genetic hair loss and
regrow hair.
I suggest discussing your concerns with our parents. If they
are supportive, try consulting with one or more of the skilled and experienced hair
transplant surgeons recommended by the Hair Transplant Network.
To learn about our criteria for recommending physicians, click
here. David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator