Why Crown Hair Restoration Requires A Highly Skilled Surgeon

Men often experience hair loss differently. While some may experience a receding hairline, others may lose hair on the top, back part of the scalp commonly referred to as the crown. Just as one might expect, experienced surgeons must take a different approach when restoring hair in the crown than they do when re-creating a hairline. In this article, we address some of the common misconceptions related to crown hair restoration and why a highly skilled hair transplant surgeon is required to create a truly natural and dense looking result.

The Natural Whorl Pattern in the Crown

Unlike the rest of the scalp, hair grows in a circular pattern in the crown, commonly referred to as the whorl or swirl.   Many average doctors can transplant hair. But strategically creating incisions in order for hair to appear both dense and natural is an art form that only a handful of outstanding surgeons possess.   The hair transplant surgeon must create tiny incisions placed closely together at varying angles that mimic the natural swirl.  Simply creating random incisions, even if they are placed closely together might grow hair, but it simply may not look natural, can result in styling restrictions and it may be obvious to the public that something just isn’t right.  Moreover, implanting the actual follicular units into the incisions correctly can be challenging. It is important that the technicians don’t inadvertently damage the grafts or harm the surrounding ones in the implantation process.

Crown Hair Transplant Timeline

No matter where on the scalp the hair is placed, the hair transplant timeline is essentially the same with slight variations. It is said that hair placed in crown might take a little longer to grow, it typically takes a full year and, in some cases, up to 18 months for the hair to fully mature.

After a crown procedure, the recipient area will take about a week or two to appear fairly well healed.  Four to six weeks later, most if not all of the transplanted hair in the crown will shed in most cases. After about 3 to 4 months, tiny hairs lacking full pigment will begin to sprout although they won’t all grow at the same time. Over the next couple of months, these hairs will darken and grow as they mature and begin to look more like normal hair. After about six months, typically the transplanted hair will be approximately 60 to 70% mature.   Finally, after one year, most of the transplanted hair will have fully matured although sometimes it may take up to 18 months as previously mentioned. Some “slow growers “may experience delayed growth.

How Much Does a Crown Hair Transplant Cost? 

The cost of a hair transplant to address the crown is essentially the same as a procedure to address other areas such as the hairline/front or mid-scalp. But the cost does depend on a number of factors. For starters, the type of procedure will affect the price. For example, follicular unit extraction also called FUE is typically more expensive than follicular unit strip surgery or FUT. Secondly, clinic location can affect the price.  But even in the same location, one clinic might charge one price while the price will be different at another. In addition to the other factors, the total cost of the procedure often revolves around the number of follicular units being transplanted. That said, cost per graft for FUT typically ranges from $4 to $6 per graft (please confirm pricing with a representative as these prices are subject to change). While cost per graft for FUE can range from $6 to $8 per graft (please confirm pricing with a representative as these prices are subject to change).   For large procedures performed at our clinic where any grafts over 2,000 are priced lower than the first 2,000, the average cost per graft will be reduced. For this reason, one can argue that the more grafts necessary or possible, the greater the value. One must also be aware that not all clinics are not created equal and the quality of a clinic’s result is not necessarily related to their pricing. You may underpay or overpay for the same substandard result.

Does the Crown Area Grow Slower Than Other Areas?  

Some hair transplant patients have reported slower growth in the crown than the hairline and mid-scalp areas. But is this actually true or is it just an illusion?  While all hair can grow at different rates, there is no real evidence that transplanting hair in the crown will cause it to grow slower than the rest of the scalp. Because hair takes on a different pattern in the crown, it may appear that hair in the crown is growing slower because the area may be thinner than the rest of the scalp.  This may be due in part to the whorl pattern, as hair fans out from a central location, it may not appear as dense as hair in the front that will have the benefit of a more hair heading in the same direction. But because the donor hair supply is limited and the cosmetic impact is greatest with reconstruction of the hairline and frontal zone versus the crown, surgeons may limit the number of grafts they use in the crown to create an illusion of density. Committing too may grafts to the crown may mean sacrificing some density in the hairline and mid scalp areas which may compromise the quality and naturalness of the result. Patients with above average donor hair and potential future needs that will not exhaust the donor supply can have greater densities safely placed in the crown. The patient referred here would be one of those cases.

The Importance of Selecting a Stellar Crown Hair Transplant Surgeon

Not all hair transplant surgeons are equal in their talent, skill and ability. As a result, it is vital for those considering a hair transplant procedure in any areas of the scalp to research all surgeons they are considering. Location and price should be the last factors when considering a hair transplant. It is far better to travel to a surgeon with a stellar online reputation known for producing excellent results than taking a risk with an unknown doctor just because they are charging you less and/or are local.  Sure, you might receive a discount, but if there is a problem, the hair doesn’t grow, or it looks unnatural, it will cost far more in the end to have the previous work repaired by a surgeon who can do the job correctly.  It is far more cost effective and cosmetically appealing to get it done right the first time by researching and selecting a surgeon who is capable of performing state of the art crown restoration procedures.

Stephen Mason was just 22 years old when he first began to lose his hair. By the age of 28 his hairline had receded noticeably, and by age 30 he was starting to experience thinning throughout his frontal region, mid-scalp and crown. As is the case with many young men in his situation, Stephen’s hair loss dealt a significant blow to his confidence, prompting him to look for ways to address – and hopefully even reverse – the situation.

It wasn’t long before the concept of hair restoration surgery caught his attention. Looking to gain more information on the subject, Stephen approached Hasson & Wong for an initial consultation in December of 2016. During the consultation, Dr. Hasson confirmed what Stephen already suspected: that he was indeed experiencing male pattern hair loss, and that the sooner he sought treatment for it the better. He recommended a 3500-graft FUE surgery to the frontal zone of his scalp, as well as Proscar to prevent further hair loss in his mid-scalp and crown.

Unfortunately, Stephen found the cost of the hair transplant at Hasson & Wong to be somewhat prohibitive and decided instead to pursue his options abroad. He travelled to Istanbul, Turkey in March of 2017, where he underwent a 3500-graft FUE procedure at what he considered a much more reasonable price. Having failed to conduct proper research before selecting a clinic, however, he fell victim to the idea that all hair transplant surgeries are created equal. While there are a select few capable surgeons in Turkey, Stephen had unluckily found himself at a less reputable establishment – with the results to prove it.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of his procedure in Turkey, Stephen approached Hasson & Wong for advice. Upon evaluation of the work done in Istanbul, Dr. Hasson noted that the hairline and tissue exhibited ridging, cobblestoning, misdirected hairs, multi-hair grafts and low overall density. In addition, his temporal angles had been blunted – resulting in the unnaturally-shaped and ‘pluggy’ hairline characteristic of a poorly performed procedure. A well-executed modern hair transplant should never present any of these characteristics, as they are unnatural and thus prone to drawing the wrong type of attention.

Thankfully, Dr. Hasson agreed to perform a second procedure on Stephen in order to repair the damage incurred in Turkey. Shortly after his consultation, he returned to the clinic to have 95 misdirected grafts in the temporal angles removed – a sacrifice necessary for the creation of the masculine, natural-looking hairline he has today. Dr. Hasson and his team then went on to rebuild his hairline and frontal zone by means of a 2000-graft FUE procedure. Of these grafts, 343 were single-hair grafts, 1329 were doubles and 328 were 3-4 – hair grafts. A year later, he now boasts a full, dense and entirely natural-looking head of hair.

In the final video of this three part series, Stephen shares his final results one year after his surgery. You can clearly see the difference in density when you compare Dr Hasson’s work with the work of the clinic in Turkey, where Stephen had his first surgery.

Summary

Sadly, Stephen’s story is not an uncommon one, and it should serve as a warning to all: when it comes to cosmetic procedures of this nature, you truly do get what you pay for. As Stephen himself remarked, ‘if you’re trying to get a hair transplant for the best price, then you shouldn’t get a hair transplant at all’. Fortunately for Stephen, we were able to salvage his result – but this is not always the case. So whether you elect to have surgery at Hasson & Wong or a reputable clinic abroad, it’s best to do your research and get it right the first-time round.

Listen to what Dr. Hasson has to say about Stephen’s case!