Search for hair transplants over 60 years old grows; learn about techniques

Loss of hair and consequently baldness is a concern for many people. If until a few years ago, it was considered charming by many, today this reality seems to be changing.

Data from the Practice Census 2022, a survey carried out by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, shows that in 2021 more than 703 thousand hair restoration surgeries were performed worldwide, an increase of more than 250% compared to 2010, when this number was about 279 thousand.

Experts consulted by CNN state that many of these people who seek the hair transplant procedure are over 60 years old, a population that has been increasingly frequent in these clinics.

“Transplantation is a treatment that has been closely related to youthfulness, the possibility of improving self-esteem, which influences both psychological and social aspects. We are living longer, worrying more about our health and also the aesthetic aspect. It is very interesting to note that men, especially, are increasingly adapting to this care movement”, explains José Carlos Maruoka, from Pineapple Hair Brasil.

The low risk of the procedure is also a factor that contributes to the demand for the procedure by people over 60 years of age.

Júlio Pierezan, a trichologist specialized in Hair Transplant surgery, explains that people who reach old age with a healthy history and good hair donor areas can undergo the procedure known as FUE (follicular unit extraction).

“Hair transplantation can be recommended for people with hair loss, thinning hair and to fill in empty spaces. It is also recommended for correcting scars and in areas of baldness where clinical treatment has no effect. The demand is increasing among older people, given the safety of the procedure and increasingly natural results”, explains the doctor.

Furthermore, this technique has helped to popularize hair transplantation as it is more affordable and poses less risk of complications.

However, like any surgery, it is necessary to keep your health exams up to date and the post-operative period requires some care.

“At first, it is important to protect the area that received the follicles as much as possible; This includes avoiding hats, exposure to the sun and being careful not to hit your head. Moisturizing the region is also essential, as is not dyeing your hair for 12 months following surgery. After all, full recovery takes, on average, a year to occur”, adds Maruoka.

Most common hair transplant techniques

According to experts, there are two hair transplant techniques: FUT (follicular unit transplantation) and FUE (follicular unit extraction).

The first is an older technique and involves removing a strip of the patient's scalp, from where the strands are removed and implanted in the bald area.

It leaves a noticeable scar in most patients and ends up being more painful and uncomfortable post-operatively.

FUE removes individual hair follicles from the back of the head and implants them in the area where there is no hair.

The technique is considered more modern and microsurgical, which leaves the patient with a more natural appearance. Furthermore, scars are imperceptible and recovery is less painful.