Ethics of Hair Transplant at an Early Age
Friday, December 7th, 2012Psychological Considerations
There are many things that can adversely affect a person’s self image and consequently their self esteem. Medical science recognizes with certainty that these two factors directly impact our quality of life. Hair loss affects millions of people men and women. Amongst this group of people there is a number of individuals who undergo male pattern baldness at a very early age. The emotional impact on these individuals can be even more devastating.. Today we have more insight to the negative consequences of hair loss and that fact it can be prevented in many cases.
Study on Hair Loss Psychological Affects
“Psychology of hair restoration surgery” is a study that was presented in 15th annual scientific meeting of Internal Society of Hair Restoration Surgery in 2007. In this study we sent questionnaires to 200 men who had only one hair transplant in past and we asked them about the psycho-social aspects of their lives following their procedures. We have compared the responses from the patients with higher classes of hair loss with early stages. We also compared the changes that younger patients experienced in comparison to the older ones. We have found a significant improvement in future outlook in younger patients who received a hair restoration as opposed to the older ones. I am attaching the graph right off the presentation I had back in 2007 that compares the impacts of a hair restoration on younger patients vs. older ones.
Advanced Evaluation
Hair transplant surgeons used to have a strict criteria in past as of strictly not perform a hair transplant on anyone younger than 24. However, today there are more treatment options, as well as, more documentation on the long term effects of hair restoration medications. Hair restoration doctors did not want to do a hair transplant until they can clearly see the pattern of baldness. Modern miniaturization study with microscopic evaluation allows for more accurate predictability along with other evaluating factors. This gives us a reasonably reliable way to predict the activity of hair loss in different areas with some certainty. We can predict the final pattern of male patterned baldness (MPB) utilizing the patient’s miniaturization study in addition to a thorough evaluation of his family hair loss history.
Ethics of Hair Transplant at a young age
I recognize as many people have mentioned that there has been unethical practices in some instances. As medical doctors we must hold to the highest of ethical standards and best practices. Performing a hair transplant when the miniaturization study and the psychological profile does indicate would be a breach of these standards. I appreciate the feedback in this forum and plan to write an article on the indications and specifications of “Early Intervention for Hair Transplant Surgery” soon.
