A crown hair transplant is often sought by people experiencing hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia.
However, unlike hair transplants in other parts of the scalp, crown hair transplants have some notable differences. And it is mainly because the skin is thicker there.
In order to achieve good results, your surgeon might make some special recommendations. Knowing what you can expect from this surgery in advance will help you be more prepared.
Can You Have A Hair Transplant On Your Crown?
Hair transplants for the crown area are quite common and have a success rate of more than 95%.
Usually, the FUE or DHI techniques are used for extracting grafts from the back and sides of the scalp. These are then implanted into the crown region.
It’s worth noting that the skill of a surgeon can play a significant role in the final aesthetics of the crown hair transplant. That’s because, in men, the vertex of the head (another name for the crown area) has a circular hair whorl.
And to make sure that your transplant results are natural-looking, your surgeon has to angle the follicles in a way that replicates the original pattern of hair whorl. Therefore, it’s even more important to find an experienced surgeon.
Who’s A Suitable Candidate For Crown Hair Transplants?
You’re a suitable candidate for crown hair transplant if you:
- Are above 25 – Crown area is particularly vulnerable to going bald because of hair loss progression (even after surgery). If you get your crown transplant too early and your hair loss pattern isn’t stable, you’ll need another one soon.
- Have a healthy donor area – This is especially important if you’re getting a transplant in other areas of the scalp. A surgeon might recommend skipping the crown area entirely if you don’t have enough donor hair and prefer frontal coverage.
- Have realistic expectations – Naturally, the crown area appears to be thin and more transparent because of the hair whorl. You shouldn’t expect high-density packing there, especially with a weak donor area.
Other than that, your surgeon will also require you to be in good health before you have the surgery.
How Many Grafts Do You Need For Crown Hair Transplants?
For full coverage, a crown hair transplant can require as many as 2,300 grafts. However, this number can vary depending on the size of your balding area.
Usually, the crown area is divided into 3 zones. And according to the graft calculator, each zone might require the following number of grafts:
- Zone 5 – 880 Grafts
- Zone 6 – 720 Grafts
- Zone 7 – 680 Grafts
Of course, the number of grafts you need will depend on how far the crown bald spot extends.
Does A Crown Hair Transplant Take Longer To Grow?
Because the skin in the crown area is thicker, hair growth usually starts 6 months after the transplant surgery. This occurs because the blood flow to the area is reduced compared to other areas of the scalp.
It’s likely that hair transplanted in other areas of your scalp will grow faster than hair transplanted in your crown. As a result, the results may appear patchy, but only temporarily.
Although to promote hair growth, surgeons usually recommend massaging the crown area 4-5 months after the surgery. This can help stimulate blood flow, which can get much-needed nutrients to the hair grafts.
Additionally, the growth factors in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections can help quicken the pace of recovery.
Still, keep in mind that full hair growth in the crown area usually takes place after 18 months (it’s around 12 months for other areas).
Why Do Crown Hair Transplants Fail?
In general, crown hair transplants have a very high success rate. However, because of the reduced blood flow to the area, you might have low hair density in the crown.
It doesn’t mean that the hair transplant has failed. Transplanted hair doesn’t fall as it’s resistant to the effects of the hormone (dihydrotestosterone) that causes hair loss.
However, to further improve density and coverage in the area, surgeons can recommend a second hair transplant surgery. Although this is only possible if you still have healthy grafts in the “safe” donor area.
In case you can’t get another surgery, you can consider PRP injections and/or scalp micropigmentation to hide the bald spots in the crown.
How Much Does A Crown Hair Transplant Cost?
In the UK, a crown hair transplant can cost you anywhere from £3,500 to £9,000. This is assuming you’re being charged per graft, which is usually around £4.
On the other hand, if you’re not being charged by the number of grafts, a crown transplant will cost you around £3,000 in the UK. Of course, prices can vary depending on the location of the clinic, experience of the surgeon, and the surgical technique.
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, you can consider going to Turkey for your crown transplant.
Because of the low cost of living and exchange rates, the surgery will be much cheaper for you, costing around £1,700. This is inclusive of hotels, transfers, medication, and aftercare.
Conclusion
Remember, the crown area of the head has naturally lower hair density than the other areas. You might not necessarily be suffering from hair loss.
However, if you are experiencing significant thinning of the crown area, you should consult with your dermatologist to get a diagnosis.
Once you do get the crown hair transplant, you need to make sure that you follow the aftercare to get your desired results.
