Older Men Hair Transplant

Article written by Dr. Blake Bloxham 

Aren’t hair transplants just for younger people? Am I not too old for a hair transplant? Why should I even care about my hair at this age? These are all common questions running through the minds of older individuals as they search for “older men hair transplant before and after” or “older men hair transplant reviews.”

But the reality is hair transplants have become an increasingly popular solution for men of all ages looking to combat hair loss. And the operative phrase there is “all ages.”

According to the International Society for Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), even men 70 and older can still achieve “excellent” results. Hair transplant surgery is so common in older age demographics the ISHRS created a “Guide to Hair Transplantation after 50.” Despite this reassurance older patients may still have reservations, such as: Do hair transplants work as effectively for
them? Is there an age limit to consider? Is health a concern and are there more risks? And what about the natural aging process— will transplanted hair eventually turn grey or even fall out?

Read on to obtain the answers to these questions and even see some examples of older men hair transplant “before and after” results and read some older men hair transplant reviews.

Yes, hair transplants can be successful for older men, provided they are in reasonably good health and have sufficient donor hair. Success in hair transplant surgery is very much dependent on blood supply. A good vascular supply is needed for both sufficient healing and graft growth — without a good blood supply, the new grafts cannot reconnect to the body and won’t survive.

Vascular supply decreases with age. So this must be taken into account
with older men hair transplants. Doctors must be cautious not to over-harvest and cause excessive trauma or create a wound which might not heal in the back; doctors must also be cautious with the recipient site incisions. Small tools and reasonable density must be used.

The skin also should be closely monitored during surgery to ensure it is not showing signs of low blood supply. However, with advancements in hair restoration techniques, age alone is not a limiting factor. Modern hair transplant procedures are minimally invasive and only require local anesthesia (“numbing” medication). This creates a very low risk profile, even
in older patients who may have a reduced vascular supply or compounding health issues. If a considered, safe approach is taken by an ethical doctor, older patients can successfully undergo hair transplant procedures.

Older men with baldness often have stable hair loss patterns, which can make it easier for surgeons to plan a successful transplant. Doctors don’t need to necessarily worry about progressive loss affecting hair transplant results like in younger patients.

Since the safe donor area is permanent as well, older men still have a healthy supply of donor follicles. Sometimes older hair is also more textured and lighter colored, which provides good coverage and a low contrast with the skin color — which creates the illusion of greater density.

Factors like the quality of donor hair, the density of hair follicles in the donor area, and the contrast between hair color and skin tone always play a role in outcome. This is true in both younger and older patients. However, older patients with good characteristics can expect as good of a result as their younger counterparts!

No, 60 is not necessarily too old for a hair transplant. Many men in their 60s and beyond undergo hair transplants with positive outcomes. Age is just one of many factors that determine a person’s suitability for the procedure. There is no reason a 60 year old patient with stable hair loss and good characteristic cannot achieve as good of a result as any other patient!

60 year old patients also understand the value of creating a natural, age-appropriate result; this will likely look the most natural and age the best as well. However, it is often harder to impress this upon younger patients who want more aggressive plans — which may not age as well. Thus, a 60 year old patient may end up with a better long-term result due to appropriate planning and a dedication to a more natural approach.
Optimizing health status, creating a smart, safe surgical plan, working with good characteristics, and creating realistic expectations should set any 60 year old patient up for a positive outcome.

It seems older patients can absolutely undergo successful hair transplant procedures. However, is there a limit to how “old” a patient can be?

There is no strict maximum age limit for hair transplants; suitability varies based on individual circumstances. The primary concerns for older candidates include the health of the scalp, the presence of a stable hair loss pattern, and overall physical health. Medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or other age-related ailments must be managed to ensure safe surgery.

In many cases, surgeons have performed successful transplants for men in their late 60s, 70s, or even older as long as these factors are favorable. Consulting with trusted hair transplant doctors with experiencing working with older patients can help determine if an older individual is a suitable candidate and if specific steps should be taken to improve outcomes.

Yes, transplanted hair can go grey, just like natural hair. The transplanted hair follicles retain the characteristics of the donor site, meaning that if the hair in the donor area is prone to greying, the transplanted hair will likely follow the same pattern.

Since most men in their 50s or 60s have begun to see greying hair, transplanted hair is expected to match the greying pattern of the rest of the scalp over time. However, the greying process does not affect the quality or viability of the transplanted hair. It simply reflects the natural aging of hair, just as it would if it were growing in its original location.

Some men embrace the grey as a part of aging gracefully, while others may choose to color their hair to achieve a more youthful appearance post-transplant. And while the hair may go grey, it should not “fall out.” Hair taken from the safe donor area is immune to dihydrotestosterone or “DHT,” the hormone that causes hair loss in patients with androgenic alopecia (genetic male hair loss).

This means when the hair is moved from the donor area to the bald and thinning areas, it retains this same immunity. In other words, it is permanent in perpetuity. This should not change as patients age. So even an older man who undergoes surgery at say 60 years old will still have permanent donor hair which will stay permanent in his 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and beyond — even if it starts to turn grey!

Special thank you to Hasson and Wong for allowing us to use the images below of their older men hair transplant before and after results! 

Hair transplants are a viable option for older men who meet certain health and hair stability criteria. With no definitive upper age limit, men in their 60s and even 70s can achieve satisfactory results, provided they have realistic expectations and adequate donor hair.

While transplanted hair will go grey in line with the natural aging process, this does not diminish the overall effectiveness of the transplant. For older men seeking a renewed hairline and confidence boost, a hair transplant can be a life- changing decision, offering a natural and lasting solution to hairloss.

References:
International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. A Guide to Hair

Transplantation After 50. Posted at: https://ishrs.org/hair-
transplantation-after-age-50-excellent-results-are-the-rule-in-
older-patients/