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.
To achieve good results, your surgeon might make some unique recommendations. Knowing what you can expect from this surgery in advance will help you be more prepared.
What Is Crown Hair Transplantation?
A crown hair transplant is a type of hair transplant in which hair is taken from the back or sides of the scalp and transplanted into the crown/highest point of the scalp.
It’s possible for you to only get a hair transplant in this area, however, many patients who have this surgery, also end up getting it in the top and front of the scalp.
But with a crown area hair transplant, the surgeon has to be especially careful about the angle at which the hair follicles are transplanted.
For instance, replicating a crown in hair can mean a circular hair whorl, which would require very precise placement of the grafts.
So, you must find the right surgeon to get the best crown hair transplant results. To get a better idea of this, you should make sure to check out the hair transplant in Turkey before and after photos.
Which Treatment Methods Are Available in Crown Hair Transplantation?
In general, there are two types of techniques that might be used to perform a bald crown hair transplant:
- FUT hair transplant – Follicular unit transplant
- FUE hair transplant – Follicular unit extraction
In FUT, a piece of skin is removed from the scalp, and individual follicles are taken out.
But in the latter, the follicles are taken out directly from the scalp, and there’s no need to cut out a strip of skin.
Usually, FUE is preferred because its recovery is relatively easier (no stitches), and it doesn’t leave a linear scar behind either.
FUE has more variants that use different tools or have slight modifications in the technique. So, you can also have a hair transplant on the crown through direct hair implantation or a DHI hair transplant in Turkey.
It uses Choi pens to make incisions in the recipient (bald) areas and transplant hair grafts in the crown on hair at the same time (usually, they’re done separately). There’s also Sapphire hair transplant, which uses special blades to make incisions.
Which technique you choose to go with can come down to the size of the balding area, desired density, and personal preference, among other factors.
Why Should You Have Crown Hair Transplantation?
You can consider getting a crown hair transplant if your bald spot is affecting your confidence and self-esteem.
Many people feel embarrassed, anxious and even depressed about losing their hair. So, by growing your hair back with this surgery, you might feel more comfortable in your skin again.
Another advantage of getting a hair crown transplant, specifically, is that its results are permanent.
The transplanted grafts won’t be affected by the DHT (dihydrotestosterone) hormone, which is responsible for pattern hair loss in the first place. So, you can enjoy natural-looking crown hair transplant results for a lifetime.
Does Crown Hair Transplantation Work?
Hair transplants for the crown area have a success rate of more than 95% and are pretty common. So, the answer to “Can you get a hair transplant on the crown?” is also yes.
However, keep in mind that the kind of coverage you can achieve depends on the strength or density of your donor area.
If you don’t have enough hair there, there won’t be enough to go around if your balding area is quite large. As a result, the density might be lower than expected.
But if you don’t have enough donor hair at all, you won’t be a suitable candidate for a crown hair transplant. Other situations in which you might not be able to have a crown hair transplant include:
- You have an active autoimmune condition.
- You have diffuse hair loss.
- Your donor hair is miniaturising.
- You have an active skin condition (like lupus).
- You have active cicatricial (scarring) alopecia.
Your surgeon may also have other assessment criteria to determine whether or not you can have a crown hair transplant.
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 transplant too early and your crown hair loss pattern isn’t stable, you’ll need another one soon.
- Have a healthy donor area – As mentioned above, this is especially important if you get a transplant in other regions 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, 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 complete 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. 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. Here are a few before and after crown hair transplant photos for you:
What Is The Aftercare After Crown Hair Transplantation?
Crown hair transplant aftercare can include:
- Staying hydrated and avoiding alcohol and salty and spicy foods.
- Sleeping on the back with the head elevated from the donor area.
- Avoiding sexual activities.
- Massaging scalp to remove scabs.
- Not covering the head with anything tight.
- Avoid bathing under pressurised water.
- Using special shampoo and lotion (given by the clinic) to wash the scalp.
- Taking medications for post-op discomfort.
- Not going to the gym, pool, sauna and getting direct sunlight for a while.
- Staying patient.
Make sure to discuss the exact timeline of different aftercare instructions with your surgeon. You will be provided these but if you still have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask them. These are temporary measures that can help you recover successfully.
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.
Hair transplanted in other areas of your scalp will likely grow faster than hair transplanted in your crown. Consequently, 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 after transplant 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, a hair transplant in the crown area has 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. However, this is only possible if you still have healthy grafts in the “safe” donor area.
If you can’t get another surgery, consider PRP injections and/or scalp micropigmentation to hide the bald spots in the crown. You can also wear crown hair extensions.
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, the experience of the surgeon, and the surgical technique.
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, you can consider coming to Turkey for your crown transplant.
Because of the low cost of living and exchange rates, the hair transplant cost in Turkey will be much cheaper for you. It’s around £1,700 and inclusive of hotels, transfers, medication, and aftercare. And the quality of a hair transplant in Turkey can be excellent provided you find the best crown hair transplant surgeon.
Conclusion
Remember, the crown of hair has naturally lower 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 in the crown area, you need to make sure that you follow the aftercare to get your desired results.
