How does skull expansion explain successful hair transplants?
The hair transplantation process involves implantation of occipital hair follicles (i.e., follicles removed from the lower back region of the scalp) deep into the dermis within the balding area. And it’s due to the stronger circulation found at such an increased depth that allows transplanted hair to grow. However, even this transplanted hair can still fall out should this procedure be undertaken in someone very young (i.e., before advanced hair loss is apparent). That’s why patients are advised to wait until they’re older before having such an operation. Skull expansion can account for the loss of transplanted hair in such circumstances: the skull expansion process will continue in someone very young. It is only after many years (when severe hair loss has developed) that the skull no longer grows to any significant extent, and a transplant will be more likely to keep growing hair. However, the problem with waiting many years before having a transplant is that, by such time, there may
At the time of a transplant, the patient will already be experiencing severe hair loss. This indicates that, in the area which is to receive the transplant, skull expansion has most probably fully developed and no further bone growth following the procedure is likely. So, if either existing MPB region follicles can be rejuvenated or healthy donor follicles/follicular units are transplanted to this area, normal healthy hair can be produced. For some, skull expansion and hair loss can start as early as puberty. So, by the time they reach their 20’s or 30’s, their skull shape could have fully developed (as stated before). This explains why those men who get hair transplanted quite young can still grow hair successfully. But it should also be mentioned that when you’re very young it’s difficult to know what the degree of eventual hair loss will be. For this reason, patients are usually advised to wait until they’re older before having surgery, i.e., when the full extent of their hair loss
