What’s the Best Age for a Hair Transplant? Everything You Need To Consider

For some men experiencing male pattern baldness or a receding hairline, it’s not a question of if they’ll get hair transplant surgery but of when. If you’re one of the many men who has made up his mind to have the procedure and have questions about the best time to get a hair transplant, you’ve come to the right place.

Here, we’ll cover the ideal age for a hair transplant, if it’s a good idea to get one at a young age, and any special considerations for older or younger patients.

There isn’t one age that’s definitively optimal for hair restoration surgery, but it’s best to wait to get a hair transplant until your hair loss has stabilized. “Hair loss stabilization” means that the rate of hair shedding has slowed or stopped. This can happen at different rates, but for men, it’s usually not until age 30 or later, which is why many hair transplant surgeons do not recommend hair restoration in your twenties.

According to 2022 census data from the ISHRS (which was based on responses from 197 physicians), nearly 60 percent of male patients were between 30 and 49 years old at the time of their transplant — more specifically, 29.3 percent of men were between 30 and 39, and 27.9 percent were between 40 and 49 percent. 18.1 percent got a hair transplant between the ages of 20 and 29, 16 percent were between 50 and 59, and 7 percent were over 60. Just 1.7 percent were under 20.

Cost may be another factor in deciding when to get hair transplant surgery. The average hair transplant cost in America (as of 2023) was $13610.

Research shows that older patients may be willing to pay more for hair transplant procedures. It could take time to save money for the procedure, as hair transplants are unlikely to be covered by insurance. 

Technically, you can get a hair transplant in your twenties, but many hair transplant specialists advise waiting until at least your young thirties. To get the most out of a hair transplant, it’s generally recommended that you meet the following criteria:

• You’ve been balding for five or more years

• You’re over the age of 35, and/or your hair loss has stabilized

• You have thinning or balding areas at the crown and temples

So what happens if you get a hair transplant too young? 

If your hair loss pattern is not fully established, your hair could continue to fall out in the area surrounding the transplant. If this happens, you may need an additional procedure — not only is this expensive but the donor area may be depleted, meaning you do not have enough hair to do a second transplant. 

In the early stages of balding, it can also be hard to predict the pattern your hair loss will follow, making it impossible to know where to place grafts for long-term, naturally looking results. 

Plus, when you’re still in the early stages of balding, it’s the perfect time to try non-surgical options that are less invasive and more affordable than a hair transplant, like FDA-approved hair loss treatments, finasteride and minoxidil.

This can help to stabilize hair loss (and many surgeons recommend that their patients continue to use hair loss medication after a transplant, regardless of age). You also may even find these medications effective enough that you no longer feel the need for a transplant.

You can’t be too old for a hair transplant exactly, but your hair loss can be too advanced for a hair transplant to be effective. 

A hair transplant requires the removal of healthy hair from the donor area — these are hair follicles in areas where hair grows normally, like the sides and back of the head. Regardless of the type of hair transplant, follicles from the donor area are moved and implanted in areas where you’re experiencing hair loss.

If you’ve lost a significant amount of hair and are at level 7 on the Norwood Scale (you can reference our Norwood Scale chart here to see where you’re at), you may not have enough hair to transplant.

Yep, your hair color doesn’t matter for a hair transplant — and color will not significantly affect the outcome. Transplanted hair can also turn gray over time, so you don’t have to worry about part of your hair turning silver while the rest stays its original color.

There’s not one right age for a hair transplant — though between 30 and 50 seems to be the sweet spot — so it can be hard to know when a hair transplant is the right move for you. 

Your best option is to visit a hair transplant clinic to consult with a surgeon. They’ll assess the extent of your hair loss, assess your donor hair and what future hair loss may look like, and make recommendations on the correct timeline and procedure for you.

Post-puberty, all age groups experience hair loss and thinning hair to some extent. Here’s what to know about the best age for getting a hair transplant.

• While there’s no single "best" age for a hair transplant, waiting until hair loss has stabilized (typically around 30 or later) can lead to better long-term results. Most hair transplant patients are between 30 and 50.

• Getting a transplant too early can result in unnatural-looking results and the need for additional procedures, while older patients may not have enough viable donor hair for a successful transplant

• The best way to determine if you're the right age for a hair transplant is to consult with a professional who can assess the extent of hair loss and determine whether you’re a good candidate for hair restoration. They’ll look at your hair loss pattern, donor area, and long-term goals. They also may suggest you start a hair loss treatment to stabilize your hair loss.

You can learn more about hair transplants in our guide to FUE hair transplants vs FUT hair transplants.