Baldness can be reversed by transplanting hair from different parts of the head. While this often restores the look of a full head of hair, the hairline design is typically unique to each person. The most appropriate design is generally an individual choice; a low hairline for an older man can look unnatural, for example. Facial shape, age, ethnicity, and hair characteristics often help determine the best design as well. Other factors that can influence hairline design are gender, various characteristics of the hair, how much of it is in the donor area, and its color.
Choosing the best hairline design usually involves a discussion with a physician skilled in the procedure. General rules for transplanting follicles include they not be not lower than the original hairline, while the overall shape is usually customized to the particular person. The shape and texture can be created based on what a patient wants also. If a person in his or her 30s gets the procedure, it can be done, but doctors often advise not using too much donor hair because more will be lost with age. Hair transplantation is often done multiple times, and donor follicles typically cannot be replaced.
Older patients usually don’t lose as much hair in the donor areas. Physicians often recommend transplanting more to shape the hairline design for someone in his or her 60s or older. The hairline can be higher and denser, and usually cannot be made as dense if it is lower.
Another factor to consider is often whether the hair is straight or curly; diameter and color can also affect the ultimate result of the procedure. Several factors are usually considered in preparation for a hairline restoration. The amount of hair available to transplant is one of them, typically because there needs to be enough to fill the edge of the hairline, which is often the most noticed part.
Placement of each hair is generally crucial in getting the end result to look natural; if fixing a hairline makes the edge too straight, it can look odd. Surgeons sometimes create irregular patterns just to mimic a natural hairline. Individual grafts are sometimes angled during the procedure, so that the growth patterns can look natural. Various sizes of grafts can be done, and there are often several different options available in terms of the type of procedure. The hairline design can also be based on a person’s age or his or her ethnicity, otherwise it might look unnatural.
