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Men with hair transplants perceived as younger, more attractive

Men with hair transplants were perceived as younger, more attractive, successful and approachable, when compared with pretransplant images of the same men, according to study results recently published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

Researchers conducted an online survey of 122 participants (47.5% men; mean age, 27.1 years) between Nov. 10 and Dec. 6, 2015. There were 13 pairs of side-by-side images in the survey, including seven men who had undergone hair transplant, who had pretransplant and postransplant pictures displayed, and six men who did not have hair restoration (controls).

Age, attractiveness, successfulness and approachability were rated. The order of the photos was randomized for each survey participant.

There was a statistically significant multivariate effect for transplant, according to the initial multivariate analysis of variance (P < .001).

The men who underwent hair transplant were perceived to be a mean of 3.6 years (95% CI, 3.4-3.8 years) younger after hair transplant and 1.1 years (95% CI, 0.8-1.3) years younger than the control cohort.

Positive effect of hair transplant on perceptions of attractiveness (mean score, 58.5 out of 100), successfulness (mean score, 57.1) and approachability (mean score, 59.2) were significant, according to t tests.

“Individuals with [androgenetic alopecia] treated with hair transplant were rated as more attractive, successful, and approachable following surgery,” the researchers concluded. “These findings are relevant in building an evidence-based body of literature surrounding the efficacy of hair transplant in the treatment of [adrogenetic alopecia].”   – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.