Can You Get a Hair Transplant in Your 20s?

Hair loss is usually associated with ageing. It’s understandably disconcerting to notice hair loss at 20. Yet, hair loss can occur as early as 17 and continue throughout life. For younger men, this loss of hair can lead to problems with confidence and self-esteem.

Hair transplants offer a potential solution. The procedure involves extracting hair follicles from elsewhere on your body and inserting them into your scalp. However, with most people experiencing male hair loss at 20 are still in the early stages of hair loss. Therefore, undergoing a hair transplant can present several problems at such a young age and we recommend exploring surgery at a later age after stabilising hair loss with medications like Finasteride and Minoxidil. You can hear from one of our patients below who followed that exact treatment regimen.

Understanding Hair Loss in Your 20s

Hair loss is a normal part of ageing. When we begin to notice hair loss, it is determined by our genetics, hormone levels, and lifestyle. Genetics play the biggest role – if male members of your family experience hair loss in their mid-20s or earlier, it is more likely that you will follow a similar pattern¹.

That being said, your genetic disposition is influenced by hormonal factors, such as the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and external factors like stress, poor nutrition, and smoking.

Early-onset hair loss is quite common. In one study of male pattern baldness, 16% of men aged 18 to 29 had moderate to extensive hair loss². These men were otherwise healthy. Such individuals can alter their lifestyle factors to slow the decline of hair loss, but ultimately, baldness may become an inevitability.

Causes of Male Hair Loss at 20

Even in younger men, male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) is the most common cause of hair loss. Usually, this type of hair loss follows a characteristic pattern. It begins with thinning hair around the temples causing a widow’s peak, followed by the hairline, which resembles an “M” shape. Gradually, the crown begins to thin as the hairline continues to recede.

Androgenic alopecia only affects the scalp. You should not lose hair elsewhere on your body or in big clumps. It is a gradual, progressive problem.

Other potential causes of male hair loss at 20 include³:

• Diet. Nutrient deficiencies are a common cause of hair loss. Iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamin D are all essential for healthy hair growth.
• Stress. High levels of stress release cortisol, which impedes the hair growth cycle. This leads to shedding and a slower hair replacement rate.
• Smoking and Alcohol. Smoking and alcohol affect your overall health, slowing normal hair growth. Smoking, in particular, constricts blood vessels, reducing the flow of blood to the scalp.
• Hormonal Imbalances: Conditions like thyroid disorders or changes in testosterone levels can disrupt the hair growth cycle.
• Scalp Conditions: Issues such as seborrheic dermatitis, fungal infections, or psoriasis can damage hair follicles and hinder growth.

Remember, these other factors may work alongside male pattern baldness to accelerate hair growth. If you’re noticing hair loss at 20, it could be due to a collection of factors.

Can You Get a Hair Transplant at 20 Years Old?

Yes, it is possible to have an FUE or FUT hair transplant at 20 years old. If you have noticeable hair loss, this can be corrected with a hair transplantation procedure. The problem is the early stage of hair loss. Even if you’ve experienced hair loss for a year or so, it’s highly unlikely that you’ve seen significant progression. Furthermore, it is highly likely that you will suffer from further hair loss making your hair transplant redundant or requiring you to undergo further surgery to fill in areas of hair loss.

Hair loss is graded using the Norwood scale⁴:

Stage 1: Hairline remains intact with no visible hair loss.

Stage 2: Minimal recession begins at the temples, forming a slightly mature hairline.

Stage 3: Hairline recedes further at the temples, creating a noticeable M, U, or V shape.

Stage 4: Recession deepens with visible thinning at the crown area.

Stage 5: Hair loss expands, leaving a narrow band of hair separating the crown and temples.

Stage 6: The band of hair disappears, fully connecting the crown and temple bald areas.

Stage 7: The most severe stage, with only a thin ring of hair remaining on the sides and back of the scalp.

Most men in their 20s will have experienced stages 1-3. Further hair loss is inevitable, and the scalp has yet to stabilise. This means that even if you undergo a hair transplant, it will not prevent future hair loss. That increases the likelihood that you’ll need further hair transplant surgeries in the future to correct later hair loss.

Your surgeon will advise you to wait until the hair loss has stabilised. Usually, this occurs between the ages of 27 to 40. Men in this age group have stabilised hair loss but are still fit and healthy enough to recover easily from the surgery.

Young Age for Hair Transplant Considerations

What happens if you choose to undergo a hair transplant at an early age? Well, there’s a few important considerations:

• Premature Zone Depletion. Each hair transplant extracts hair follicles from another part of your body – usually the back of the head. Continually extracting these hair follicles over multiple, repeated surgeries can deplete your future options⁵.
• Long-Term Use of Medications. To ensure the survival of your hair transplantation, it’s advised that men use Minoxidil and/or finasteride. Minoxidil is a highly effective treatment for preventing hair loss; finasteride alters levels of DHT in men with hair loss. However, it can also cause erection dysfunction, low libido, and ejaculation problems⁶.

• Poor Self-Esteem. It’s extremely disheartening to see further hair loss after undergoing a hair transplant at 20 years old. It can feel like it was a waste of time and money. Plus, it can create an unnatural appearance over time due to the unusual progression of baldness.
• Unpredictable Hair Loss Progression. Part of what a surgeon does is predict your future hair loss. When the hair loss stabilises, the surgeon can assess which areas require the most new hair follicles. Without this clear plan, a young-age hair transplant can appear patchy and strange.

Alternatives to a Young Age Hair Transplant

Hair transplants aren’t the only option available to people in their 20s. Several other treatments exist to slow hair loss or prevent it completely. These include:

• Minoxidil (Rogaine) is a well-known medication to stimulate hair growth by vasodilating the blood vessels in the scalp. It’s highly effective at slowing or preventing hair loss. A 2014 study found that it may prevent hair loss at the front of the scalp in men⁷.
• Finasteride counteracts the DHT-induced hair loss characteristic of male pattern baldness. While the side effects can be disconcerting, they’re only experienced by around 1% of men.
• Diet and nutritional supplements ensure a balanced diet rich in vitamins like biotin, zinc, and vitamin D, or using supplements tailored for hair health can support growth and reduce thinning.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy involves injecting a concentration of your own platelets into the scalp to stimulate hair follicle activity and promote natural regrowth⁸.

Book an Initial Hair Transplant Consultation

Experiencing male hair loss at 20? It can be extremely damaging to your self-esteem and confidence. It is worth speaking to your Doctor to understand your options. They can evaluate your hair loss, advise on the best strategies to mitigate the situation, and let you know when it’s best to undergo a hair transplant.

Having a clear understanding your options and treatment roadmap puts you back in control. You can then take the necessary steps to safeguard your hairline.

At The Treatment Rooms London, we won hair restoration clinic of the year in 2023. Our commitment to excellence is unrivalled. Book your initial consultation to learn more.

References

1. The Treatment Rooms London. Hair Loss in Your 20s – What You Need to Know. Available at: https://www.treatmentroomslondon.com/hair-loss/hair-loss-in-your-20s-what-you-need-to-know/
2. Rhodes T, Girman CJ, Savin RC, Kaufman KD, Guo S, Lilly FR, Siervogel RM, Chumlea WC. Prevalence of male pattern hair loss in 18–49 year old men. Dermatologic surgery. 1998 Dec;24(12):1330-2. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1524-4725.1998.tb00009.x
3. Lin RL, Garibyan L, Kimball AB, Drake LA. Systemic causes of hair loss. Annals of medicine. 2016 Aug 17;48(6):393-402. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07853890.2016.1180426#d1e709
4. Gupta M, Mysore V. Classifications of patterned hair loss: a review. Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery. 2016 Jan 1;9(1):3-12. Available at: https://journals.lww.com/JCAS/fulltext/2016/09010/Classifications_of_Patterned_Hair_Loss__A_Review.2.aspx
5. Avram MR, Finney R, Rogers N. Hair transplantation controversies. Dermatologic Surgery. 2017 Nov 1;43:S158-62. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29064980/
6. Drugs.com. Finasteride. Available at: https://www.drugs.com/finasteride.html
7. Mirmirani P, Consolo M, Oyetakin‐White P, Baron E, Leahy P, Karnik P. Similar response patterns to topical minoxidil foam 5% in frontal and vertex scalp of men with androgenetic alopecia: a microarray analysis. British Journal of Dermatology. 2015 Jun 1;172(6):1555-61. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/bjd/article-abstract/172/6/1555/6615840
8. Cervelli V, Garcovich S, Bielli A, Cervelli G, Curcio BC, Scioli MG, Orlandi A, Gentile P. The effect of autologous activated platelet rich plasma (AA‐PRP) injection on pattern hair loss: clinical and histomorphometric evaluation. BioMed research international. 2014;2014(1):760709. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1155/2014/760709