Q: At what level of thinning should the hair transplant be done? — V.K., London, UK

A: A hair transplant should be considered in an area of thinning when:

• The area has not responded to medical therapy (finasteride 1mg a day orally and minoxidil 5% topically for one year).
• The thinning is significant enough that it can’t be disguised with simple grooming (i.e. is a cosmetic problem even when the hair is combed well).

Other factors that are important include:

• the age of the patient
• the donor supply
• whether the thinning is in the front of the scalp or in the crown