Not all hair loss looks the same, in fact thinning or balding heads can look very different between individuals. While many people have a small amount of hair loss a good number of people have more advanced degrees of baldness, which basically means a significant amount of hair loss. The degree of hair loss is of such importance that it even has its own chart, the Hamilton Norwood scale, with seven different levels of hair loss. But luckily, even the most advanced degrees can usually consider a hair transplant.
A hair transplant can add hair to areas of the scalp where there is none, but most doctors will only work with the clients own scalp hair, so if there is little hair that can be transplanted to begin with, the client might need to accept that full coverage may never be possible. However, a nice improvement can usually be made even if the client only has a small amount of hair that can be transplanted.
As all other individuals who consider a hair transplant, someone with an advanced degree of baldness should first go on a consultation, more than one if possible. The doctor will examine the availability of donor hair, meaning the hair that can be transplanted to areas of the scalp that need it. The doctor might try to use the maximum number of grafts possible, but clients should be aware that using all of the donor hair in one procedure will not leave room for future hair transplant surgeries. If the client has complete trust in the doctor they can go ahead and use as many grafts as possible in one procedure, which can save time and money, but scheduling a second procedure is very common.
While a hair transplant is certainly a technically demanding procedure, it is also an artistic one. Someone with an advanced degree of baldness will need their doctor to create the illusion of a “full head of hair”. Hair grafts needs to be strategically placed in a way that will provide for the most coverage. But when donor hair is limited, framing the face becomes the most important aspect of the hair transplant, because this area will be seen first by others. After that, the frontal and mid scalp areas can be addressed, and if there is any hair left, the crown can also receive some. But with limited availability of donor hair excluding the crown is not uncommon and this area can be treated with hair loss products instead.
Regardless of exact degree of baldness, an experienced and talented hair transplant doctor will work to create the best results possible. Even a small amount of coverage can make a big difference to someone who has been suffering from baldness for a long period of time. The first step is always to schedule a consultation, preferably with a hair transplant doctor who has plenty of experience in treating clients with advanced degrees of baldness.
