Hair Transplant Cost: Everything You Need to Know

The surgical restoration of hair, more commonly referred to as a hair transplant, is a frequent treatment option for both men and women experiencing hair loss or thinning.

Even though there are many different types of hair transplant operations, they all involve extracting hair from one part of the scalp and then transplanting it to another part of the scalp where additional hair growth is required. This is done despite many different types of hair transplant operations.

The cost of a hair transplant can range widely depending on several factors. These factors include the type of therapy being carried out, the amount of hair being transplanted, and the provider’s location.

This blog post will cover all you need to know about hair transplant surgery, including the price range and the factors that can affect the final cost of the procedure.

What Is a Hair Transplant?

Hair transplants are surgical procedures that relocate healthy hair to balding areas. This procedure can treat permanent hair loss caused by aging, genetics, medical conditions, radiation, and injuries.

The magic of hair transplants is that they can be done on anyone, regardless of gender. You may be a candidate if you have healthy hair growth on other areas of your head, such as the sides or back, which can be used as donor hair for balding areas.

Donor hair can also be used to restore facial hair, such as eyelashes, eyebrows, and full beards. Hair transplants can be used on any part of the body as long as there is healthy donor hair to match.

Types of Hair Transplant Procedures

Follicular unit transplantation, abbreviated as FUT, and follicular unit extraction, abbreviated as FUE, are the two primary types of hair transplant operations (FUE).

• Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

  The Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) surgical treatment includes taking a strip of hair-bearing scalp from the back of the head, separating it into smaller units, and then transplanting those smaller units to the area of the head that is balding. The incision made in the scalp to remove the strip of tissue is subsequently repaired with sutures. The FUT procedure is usually carried out under local anesthetic, and its completion can take several hours.

• Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

  A Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplant is a minimally invasive treatment that involves collecting individual hair follicles from the donor area and transplanting them to the balding area. FUE stands for follicular unit harvesting and excision. The donor area is often the back or sides of the scalp, and a little instrument is used to remove the hair follicles from the scalp. The surgery is usually carried out under local anesthesia, and its completion may take several hours.

The Factors That Influence the Cost of a Hair Transplant

The cost of a hair transplant can vary widely based on several factors, including:

Procedure Type

FUT or FUE hair transplant procedures carry different costs, as the techniques can impact time, labor, and intensity.

Number of Grafts or Amount of Hair Needed

Typically, 800 to 1,500 grafts are needed for hair restoration, but this number can change depending on the degree of hair loss and baldness.

Number of Sessions

If you need two sessions or more, this can increase the cost. The average hair graft happens in 1-2 sessions.

Where You Have Treatment

There are many esteemed men’s hair transplant clinics and surgeons in the United States, but some people prefer to travel abroad for treatment, which can change the cost.

Surgeon’s Expertise and Skill

A more experienced surgeon might charge more for the procedure, but with expertise and skill comes the assurance of fewer sessions and a higher rate of success.

Whether the Treatment Has an All-Inclusive Price

Prices vary depending on the clinic, packages, and services. Some clinics offer all-inclusive packages with reduced rates.

Surgeon’s Consultation Fee

Depending on the clinic, some hair transplant surgeons may have additional consultation fees that go beyond the scope of the initial consultation.

Facility Fees

Patients may have to pay additional fees depending on the clinic and how extensive their hair loss is. Facility fees can include additional sessions, aftercare, and additional treatments.

Medications Prescribed

Hair transplant aftercare can include prescribed medications. The surgeon may prescribe finasteride and dutasteride, or other medications to help with healing.

Travel, Lodging, and Transportation

If you are traveling abroad for your hair transplant, you may have to consider paying out of pocket for transportation and lodging, which can rack up costs.

Hair Transplant Cost Range

According to HairScience.org, the average cost of a FUT procedure starts around $12,000, with FUE procedures ranging from $6,000 to $15,000. FUT is generally less expensive than FUE, although FUE has shorter recovery times.

Average hair transplants in the United States can range from $4,000 to $13,000, and this wide price range is due to extraction techniques, the number of grafts needed, and the technology used. Some surgeons harvest hair using robotic surgical machines, while others prefer using traditional methods.

Other factors, including anesthesia fees, geographical location, medication, supplies, post-op appointments, and a surgeon’s experience, may impact cost.

Hair Transplant Cost by Type

The average national cost of Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) ranges from $4,500 to $11,500, averaging $6,000. The average national FUE hair transplant cost is $5,000 to $12,500, averaging $6,600.

The actual costs may vary based on geography, provider, and clinic. Average costs based on CareCredit.

Average Price of a Hair Transplant in the U.S.

The average price of hair transplant costs in the US is largely based on location. In Alabama, the average cost of FUT and FUE ranges around $5,500, plus or minus a few hundred dollars per procedure. In Alaska and California, these same procedures can cost upwards of $8,000.

Location is an important factor to consider when it comes to hair transplant procedures. The more populated, metropolitan areas are likely to charge more than states like Arkansas or Delaware.

What Are Alternatives to a Hair Transplant?

Hair transplants carry a cost and intensity that disinterests some looking for alternatives. There are less invasive hair treatment options that are affordable ways to treat hair loss. For those for whom the cost of hair transplant procedures might be a roadblock, there are other options.

Minoxidil: Also known as Rogaine, this over-the-counter topical solution doesn’t require a prescription. Generic Rogaine solutions can be very affordable, costing $20 or less a month.

Finasteride: This is a prescription-only option, known by the brand name Propecia. While Finasteride is not FDA-approved for women, it’s used as an off-label treatment. Insurance doesn’t typically cover Finasteride, and a month’s supply of tablets can be $30 or less.

Dutasteride: A prescription oral medication that isn’t approved by the FDA, but it can be used to treat hair loss. Studies suggest that it’s more effective than its alternatives.

Laser Therapy: Hair thinning and early signs of baldness can be treated with laser therapy, and there are even devices on the market for home use, though these are not proven to work.

Platelet-Rich Plasma: PRP treatments can help with hair regrowth by using blood sample components for injections. This treatment can be painful, and isn’t covered by insurance.

Microneedling: This procedure promotes hair regrowth by stimulating stem cells in hair follicles through small needle injections. It’s a cosmetic treatment, and not covered by insurance.

The Takeaway

You must talk with your healthcare physician about the various payment alternatives accessible to you before proceeding with the treatment. You will have a better understanding of the costs involved from reading this. Before going through with the transplant operation, conducting adequate research and choosing a supplier that can cater to your requirements is critical.

When carried out by a trained medical professional, hair transplant surgery has the potential to produce results that are permanent and appear natural. It would help if you located the appropriate specialist to guarantee that you reap these benefits, which have the potential to boost both your sense of self-confidence and your quality of life in general.

The Houston Hair Restoration Treatment center offers treatments for hair restoration. These treatments are carried out by hair transplant surgeons who are exceptionally skilled. They use the most up-to-date techniques and technical breakthroughs to obtain results that appear entirely natural and can last a lifetime.

They will give you extra information about their therapies and a free consultation during which you can discuss your requirements for a hair transplant. Please make an appointment for a free consultation by contacting them on the website.

FAQs

Does Insurance Cover Hair Transplants?

In most cases, no. Hair transplants are considered cosmetic surgeries, and these procedures aren’t covered by insurance. In rare cases, hair transplants may be covered as a result of health conditions.

Who Is a Candidate for a Hair Transplant?

Baldness can affect anyone, especially those aged 30 or older. Surgical hair transplants can be very successful, with the best candidates having healthy hair growth in other areas that can be used for the transplant.

Surgeons recommend FUT procedures over FUE for women because they tend to lose hair from the center of their scalps, and the FUT procedure is better for restoring overall volume.

How Long Does a Hair Transplant Last?

Hair transplant surgery is permanent. It should last the rest of your life, with less than 10% of patients experiencing a reduction in hair transplant density years after surgery. Results may vary from person to person.

What Are Alternatives to a Hair Transplant?

Topical treatments, over-the-counter medications, and doctor-prescribed treatments may be used as alternatives to hair transplant procedures. Speak with your doctor about what options are right for you.

Is There an Age Restriction for Getting a Hair Transplant?

There isn’t a strict upper age limit, but hair transplants are more successful after hair loss has stabilized, typically in individuals 25 or older, with some clinics preferring you be at least age 30.

Are There Specific Treatments for Female-Pattern Hair Loss?

Women’s hair transplant treatments, such as FUT, are recommended for female-pattern hair loss as they can create volume and treat the specific areas at the front and top of the head where it occurs.