What’s the best age to get a beard transplant?

Beards are becoming more popular. A YouGov survey found that almost two-thirds of 18-39 men now have facial hair, up from 43% ten years ago [1]. As a result, many men with patchy or uneven facial fuzz are turning to beard transplants to give them a rich, full beard.

Your beard says a lot about you as a person — so beard transplants are popular with men of all ages. But, like FUT & FUE hair transplants, there are benefits to finding the right time for a beard transplant. Just like choosing the right age for a scalp hair transplant, how old you are isn’t always the most important factor when it comes to deciding when you should get a beard transplant.

So is there a best beard transplant age — and if not, when is the best time to get one?

Can you be too young for a beard transplant?

Some men can begin to notice balding or thinning of the beard as soon as their late teens or early twenties. Many then look to beard restoration treatments to preserve or restore their facial hair. But is this too young for surgical intervention?

From a safety standpoint, there’s no reason for younger men to avoid beard transplants. When performed by an experienced beard transplant surgeon, beard transplant surgery is very safe. Your age won’t increase the risk of negative health effects or serious infection.

However, if the procedure is done too early, there are cosmetic issues that may arise. If you’re still losing hair — which many people in their teens and 20s are — a beard transplant won’t stop this hair from falling out. As a result, having a transplant too early can lead to bald patches in areas where you’re experiencing continuing beard hair loss.

Balding or thinning of the beard can happen over a course of years, so it’s not uncommon for additional bald patches to appear around the existing transplants. The only way to correct this is by undergoing an additional beard transplant surgery.

Learn more about beard transplant costs. 

What to do if you’re still losing beard hair

If your beard looks patchy, but you’re still losing hair, it’s still worth speaking to a trichologist. Addressing hair loss early can prevent you from losing more of your natural hair, which may minimise the need for beard transplant surgery.

There are a variety of non-surgical beard restoration therapies that the surgeon can recommend as an effective alternative.

Can medications prevent beard hair loss?

There’s little evidence to suggest that medications like Minoxidil and Finasteride — both of which are successfully used to treat scalp hair loss — can stimulate beard and facial hair growth [2]. However, other alternative treatments like laser therapy may be used to minimise further hair loss in these areas [3].

Is your beard still growing?

Not all men grow a beard at the same rate. Some men don’t see a full face of hair until they hit 30 [4]. That means sometimes the key to a great looking beard requires nothing more than a little patience. Your surgeon shouldn’t recommend a beard transplant if your beard is still growing; instead, they should suggest that you wait a year or two to allow your beard to grow naturally.

However, some men are unable to grow a full beard without surgical intervention. This is not always easy to identify in younger men. An experienced hair transplant surgeon may be able to perform a microscopic evaluation of your face to help determine whether or not your beard is likely to grow.

Causes of beard hair loss

As well as your current rate of hair loss, the cause of your hair loss needs to be established to determine the best treatment course. Common causes of beard bald patches include:

• Genetics
• Age
• Autoimmune conditions like alopecia barbae [3]
• Mental health conditions including depression and eating disorders
• Lifestyle factors such as diet and stress

Some causes, such as stress or eating disorders, result in temporary hair loss that can be reversed if the underlying cause is addressed [5]. In these instances, your hair loss consultant can refer you to the appropriate physician to help you address this.

Your surgeon will take all these factors into account. If they decide that a beard transplant is the best treatment for your beard loss, then it is perfectly safe to go ahead with the procedure at any age.

What is the best beard transplant age?

The truth is that there’s no ideal age to get a beard transplant. It depends more on your current rate of hair loss; the underlying cause; and the success of other non-surgical treatments.

Want to know your options for beard restoration? Book a free consultation with a facial hair specialist and find out how to get the full beard you’re looking for.

Sources:

1. Beards Are Growing On The British Public
2. Can Minoxidil (Rogaine) Help Me Grow Facial Hair?
3. Incipient Diabetes Mellitus and Nascent Thyroid Disease Presenting as Beard Alopecia Areata: Case Report and Treatment Review of Alopecia Areata of the Beard
4. How to Grow a Beard (and How Long to Wait)
5. Anorexia nervosa: What you need to know