Hair Transplant Patient Selection Criteria

The Hair Transplant Patient Selection Criteria at California Hair and Skin Institute apply to all hair restoration procedures including Follicular Unit Extraction, Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy, medical hair loss therapy, and adjunctive treatments.

Inclusion Criteria

Candidates are considered for hair restoration procedures based on the following: diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia, stable traction alopecia, stable cicatricial alopecia, hair loss secondary to trauma, burns or surgery, eyebrow or beard restoration candidacy, or hairline lowering and cosmetic density enhancement. Patients are generally age 25 or older, though younger patients may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Additional requirements include adequate donor density and healthy follicular units suitable for harvesting, a stable pattern of hair loss without rapidly progressive shedding, general medical stability and ability to tolerate outpatient procedures under local anesthesia, realistic expectations regarding timeline, limitations, and the possibility of future procedures, and willingness to follow pre- and post-operative instructions and attend follow-up visits.

Relative Contraindications

Poorly controlled diabetes, significant cardiovascular disease, bleeding disorders, autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammatory scalp conditions, anticoagulant use, immunosuppressive therapy, diffuse unpatterned alopecia, active alopecia areata, heavy smoking, substance abuse, or inability to follow instructions.

Exclusion Criteria

Active inflammatory or scarring alopecias, insufficient donor area, body dysmorphic disorder, unrealistic expectations, uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, active infection, uncontrolled bleeding disorders, recent myocardial infarction or stroke, significant anesthetic risk, or inability to comply with follow-up care.

Required Preoperative Evaluation

Comprehensive medical history and physical examination, medication and allergy review, hair loss assessment including Norwood-Hamilton or Ludwig classification, donor density and scalp evaluation, standardized clinical photography, and laboratory studies as indicated including CBC, CMP, TSH, Ferritin, Iron Studies, Vitamin D, and Testosterone Profile.

Patient Acknowledgment

The patient acknowledges that hair transplantation is an elective cosmetic procedure, results vary among individuals, future hair loss may occur, additional procedures may be necessary, medical therapy may be recommended, and no guarantee of specific cosmetic outcomes can be made.