Can You Get a Hair Transplant for Your Crown?

The crown is the area at the back top of the head, also referred to as the vertex. For many men experiencing male pattern baldness, the crown is often one of the first places to show noticeable thinning and hair loss. If you are concerned about a receding crown, you may be wondering – can I get a hair transplant to restore hair to this area?

The answer is yes, hair transplantation is an effective treatment option to add density back to a balding crown. However, there are important factors to consider regarding crown hair transplants. Keep reading to learn all about having hair transplant surgery on your crown.

What is the Crown?

First, let’s clearly define what the crown refers to. The crown is the central portion at the very back of the scalp, basically the area surrounded by a circle of hair. It may also be called the vertex or swirl.

Some key things to know about the crown:

• Located at the back top of the head, in the center of the scalp
• Typically the first spot affected by male pattern baldness
• Large circular area approximately 2-3 inches wide
• Bordered by parietal lobes on either side

The crown is different from the frontal hairline, as it sits further back on the head and does not frame the face. However, just like the hairline, the crown is a common area of concern for men dealing with hair thinning and loss.

Why Does Hair Shed from the Crown?

What causes the hair on top of the crown to thin out and recede? For most men, the primary culprit is androgenetic alopecia, more commonly called male pattern baldness.

Male pattern baldness leads to a receding hairline and loss of density at the crown and upper scalp. It is driven by Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that causes the hair follicles to shrink over time. As follicles get smaller, the hairs they produce get thinner and weaker until they stop growing entirely.

The crown is often the first area affected by DHT-related follicle damage. That’s why you may notice thinning at the crown or a bald spot long before your hairline starts to visibly recede. The crown has higher levels of DHT compared to other parts of the scalp.

In some cases, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid disorders, or autoimmune diseases can contribute to excessive shedding of hair on the crown. Talk to your doctor about any sudden increased hair loss.

Can You Get a Hair Transplant on the Crown?

So can you have a hair transplant performed specifically on a balding crown? The answer is absolutely yes.

During a hair transplant, follicular units are harvested from the back and sides of the scalp, known as the donor zones. These DHT-resistant hairs are then transplanted into balding areas – including the crown – to restore lost volume and density.

Some key advantages of using hair transplantation to treat a receding crown include:

• Permanent results – The transplanted hairs will continue growing just like the original hair in the crown once fully healed

• Natural look – When performed by an expert surgeon, transplanted hairs blend seamlessly with existing hair for natural fullness

• Versatile styling – Patients can cut or style their new hair just like their regular hair

• Minimal scarring – Small donor sites used in FUE healing leave barely visible dot scars

• High success rates – Over 95% of transplanted hairs successfully regrow permanently

So in short – yes, men can absolutely have hair transplant surgery performed on their crown to restore a full look.

What to Consider About Crown Hair Transplants

While hair transplants can successfully restore lost hair on the crown, there are some important considerations to factor in regarding this delicate area:

Limited Donor Hairs

The donor area only contains a finite number of hairs available for transplantation. This donor supply must be allocated strategically based on the patient’s level of baldness, goals, and priorities.

During your consultation, be realistic about your needs – a full head of dense hair may not be possible if extensive baldness is present. Discuss options for maximizing density in priority areas like the hairline first if donor grafts are limited.

Prioritize the Hairline

It is strategically smarter to focus transplants on the frontal hairline before the crown in most cases. A receding hairline tends to make men look older and is harder to conceal.

The crown is less visible, so adding some density there may be sufficient. Building an age-appropriate hairline provides a frame for the face and often yields the most impactful cosmetic results.

Ongoing Hair Loss

Male pattern baldness is a progressive condition, so patients will likely continue losing hair in the crown and at the hairline over time. Planning current and future hair restoration goals helps guide graft placement.

Adding some coverage to the crown can complement hairline work. But excessive density risks a “halo” effect if further hair loss occurs. Leaving some thinning around restored areas creates a natural look.

Artistic Design Essential

The crown presents unique challenges for visually designing a natural hair pattern. Irregular “pluggy” results should be avoided. Skilled hair artists carefully craft transplant plans around existing hair to maximize a seamless blend.

Redistributing density for subtle fullness, while working with variable hair directions, takes artistic talent and surgical experience. Seek out a surgeon with a proven artistic aesthetic.

When performed properly using an individualized approach, patients are extremely happy with the regrowth enabled by crown hair transplants.

Crown Transplant Procedure Overview

The process for performing a crown hair transplant follows the standard surgical protocol:

Step 1: Hair Follicle Harvesting

Using tiny punches, grafts are removed from the donor area under local anesthesia. This is either the strip method (FUT) or FUE extraction. FUE is preferable for the crown to allow close cropping if desired.

Step 2: Creating Recipient Sites

Tiny recipient sites are made in the crown using a blade or needle based on the transplant design.

Step 3: Graft Insertion

The harvested follicles are meticulously inserted into the recipient sites. Precise placement angles matching surrounding hairs allows the most natural regrowth pattern.

Step 4: Recovery

Some swelling, redness, and scabbing occur post-op. Patients can resume normal activity in about 10 days. Transplanted hair sheds by month 2 before regrowing around months 3-9.

Overall, crown hair transplants involve the same general procedure as other areas, just with some unique design considerations.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Crown Transplant?

The best candidates for crown hair transplantation are men who:

• Have experienced significant hair loss at the crown due to male pattern baldness
• Maintain healthy hair growth in the back/side donor zones
• Have realistic expectations about the extent of restoration possible
• Are committed to an ongoing hair loss treatment regimen
• Accept the progressive nature of genetic hair loss

Healthy men age 30-60 tend to see optimal crown transplant results. Extensive baldness or very curly hair makes procedures more challenging, but an experienced surgeon can provide guidance during a consultation.

Women may also be candidates if extensive hair loss is present. However, donor supply is a greater limitation than in men. Female hair transplants often focus on the frontal hairline for the most cosmetic impact.

How Much Does a Crown Hair Transplant Cost?

The cost of a crown hair transplant depends on the number of grafts required, which corresponds to the size of the area treated. Partial procedures to add some density may be around $3,000-$6,000, while full crown restoration could range from $6,000-$10,000+.

Compared to the hairline, crown transplants are generally more affordable since they involve a relatively smaller area in many cases. But the overall scope depends on an individual’s goals.

During a consultation, your surgeon will examine your level of hair loss and discuss pricing options. Advanced hair loss may require a larger procedure for sufficient crown density.

Financing like CareCredit can help make a crown transplant more budget-friendly through fixed monthly payments if needed.

Are There Non-Surgical Options for the Crown?

While a hair transplant is the most direct solution, non-surgical approaches can help protect and maximize crown hair. Options to maintain hair include:

• Medications – DHT blockers like finasteride and minoxidil slow hair loss progression. Some regrowth may occur.

• Laser devices – Low-level laser light therapy may help improve blood flow and stimulate growth.

• Nutrient supplements – Biotin, saw palmetto, and collagen supplements support healthy hair.

• PRP injections – Platelet-rich plasma therapy applied to the scalp may strengthen follicles.

• Concealers – Topical fibers, thickening sprays, or hair powder products create the appearance of fullness.

A combination approach of medications + concealers + transplantation gives optimal crown hair density. Starting non-surgical treatments can help stabilize crown hair before a transplant.

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