You are likely a good candidate for a hair transplant if you are over 25, have stable hair loss in the Norwood 3-6 range, and have adequate donor density on the back and sides of your head. These three factors determine whether a transplant will produce lasting, natural-looking results. Falling outside these criteria does not automatically disqualify you, but it does require a more careful evaluation with an experienced surgeon.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
The Core Candidacy Requirements
Age 25 or Older
Hair loss patterns take time to stabilize. Transplanting at age 20-22 is risky because the pattern may continue progressing into areas that were not anticipated during surgery. A hairline designed for a Norwood 3 patient at age 22 can look unnatural by age 30 if the loss progresses to Norwood 5 and the transplanted island of hair sits forward of thinning zones behind it.
Surgeons who operate on patients under 25 typically require them to be on finasteride for at least 12 months with documented stabilization.
Stable Hair Loss
Your hair loss should be stable for at least 12 months before a transplant. Stable means the rate of shedding has slowed or stopped, and the pattern is not rapidly progressing. A good way to track stability is by taking photos of your hairline every 3 months. If the photos look the same across 12 months, your loss is likely stable enough for surgery.
Rapid, ongoing hair loss is a warning sign. Transplanting into an actively receding zone means the native hair around the grafts will continue to thin, potentially requiring additional surgeries.
Adequate Donor Density
Your donor area is the permanent zone on the back and sides of your scalp. This hair is genetically resistant to the DHT that causes male pattern baldness. A good candidate has at least 60 follicular units per cm2 in the donor zone. Your surgeon evaluates this during consultation using a densitometer.
Both FUE (up to 5,000 grafts per session, 7-10 day recovery, dot scars) and FUT (up to 4,000 grafts per session, 10-14 day recovery, linear scar) depend on having enough healthy donor follicles to redistribute to thinning areas.
Candidacy by Norwood Stage
Understanding your Norwood scale stage helps set expectations.
Norwood 2: Usually Too Early
Norwood 2 involves minor recession at the temples. Most surgeons recommend medication (finasteride, minoxidil) rather than surgery at this stage. A transplant here risks looking unnatural if the pattern progresses, and the number of grafts needed (500-1,000) may not justify the surgical investment.
Norwood 3-4: Ideal Candidates
These stages show clear recession that bothers the patient and can be meaningfully improved with 2,000-3,500 grafts. The donor area is typically robust, and the loss pattern is often stable enough for confident surgical planning.
Norwood 5-6: Strong Candidates with Limitations
Significant coverage is achievable, but full restoration to pre-loss density is not realistic. These patients need 3,500-5,000+ grafts (often across multiple sessions) and must understand that the surgeon will prioritize the hairline and frontal zone for maximum visual impact. The crown may receive lower density.
Norwood 7: Selective Candidates
Advanced loss with limited donor supply. Candidates at this stage need honest conversations about what is achievable. Some Norwood 7 patients are excellent candidates for a natural-looking frame of hair. Others have insufficient donor density for meaningful results.
Factors That Affect Candidacy
Hair Characteristics
Coarse, wavy, or curly hair provides more visual coverage per graft than straight, fine hair. Dark hair on lighter skin shows more scalp contrast. Your hair characteristics affect how many grafts you need and how dense the results will appear.
Medical Conditions
Uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune conditions (especially alopecia areata), blood clotting disorders, and active scalp infections can disqualify candidates or require treatment before surgery. Disclose all medical conditions during consultation.
Medications
Blood thinners need to be paused before surgery. Finasteride and minoxidil can typically continue. Immunosuppressive drugs may interfere with graft survival. Bring a complete medication list to your consultation.
The Quick Candidacy Checklist
Answer these questions to get an initial sense of your candidacy. A surgeon must perform the final evaluation.
- Are you 25 or older? (Younger patients need special consideration)
- Has your hair loss been stable for 12+ months?
- Do you have visible thinning or recession that bothers you?
- Is the hair on the back and sides of your head thick and dense?
- Are you free from active autoimmune scalp conditions?
- Do you understand that results take 12-18 months and may require multiple sessions?
- Are you willing to consider finasteride or minoxidil to protect native hair?
If you answered yes to most of these, you are likely a candidate. The next step is a professional evaluation.
Get an initial assessment now. Upload a photo at myhairline.ai/analyze and our AI will evaluate your hairline, estimate your Norwood stage, and outline your potential treatment options.
FAQ
Who is a good candidate for a hair transplant?
Good candidates are typically age 25 or older with stable hair loss (Norwood 3-6), adequate donor density (60+ follicular units per cm2 in the back and sides), realistic expectations, and no medical conditions that impair wound healing. Both FUE (up to 5,000 grafts, 7-10 day recovery) and FUT (up to 4,000 grafts, 10-14 day recovery) require healthy donor hair.
Am I too young for a hair transplant?
Most surgeons recommend waiting until age 25 before getting a hair transplant. Hair loss patterns are not fully established before this age, and transplanting too early can create an unnatural result as surrounding native hair continues to thin. Patients under 25 should stabilize their hair loss with medication first.
Can women get hair transplants?
Yes, women can be candidates for hair transplants, but fewer qualify compared to men. Female hair loss (Ludwig pattern) tends to be diffuse thinning rather than defined recession, which makes transplant results less predictable. Women with stable frontal recession or temple thinning with good donor density are the best female candidates.
What Norwood stage is best for a hair transplant?
Norwood 3-5 is the ideal range for hair transplants. These stages have clear areas of loss that can be addressed with 2,000-4,000 grafts while the donor area remains robust. Norwood 2 patients may benefit from medication instead. Norwood 6-7 patients can still be candidates but need to understand that full coverage of the entire scalp is rarely achievable.
What disqualifies you from getting a hair transplant?
Disqualifying factors include insufficient donor density (thin or miniaturized donor hair), active autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata, uncontrolled medical conditions that impair healing, unrealistic expectations about density or coverage, and very early-stage hair loss that has not stabilized. Certain medications that affect blood clotting may also need to be discontinued.
Do I need to be on finasteride before a hair transplant?
Finasteride is not required before a hair transplant, but most surgeons strongly recommend it. Finasteride stabilizes existing hair loss and protects native hair that was not transplanted. Without it, surrounding hair may continue to thin, creating an unnatural contrast between transplanted and native hair over time.