Most of us take our health, age, and appearance for granted until we realize they are gone. A presentable appearance is always enhanced with good voluminous hair.
Those suffering from hair loss or baldness problems can go for a hair transplant to help bring back a fuller head of hair.
Hair transplant not only can eradicate the problems of hair thinning and baldness but also restore your confidence level.
However, you must always consult a doctor before you undergo the procedure of hair transplant.
Most hair products promise you good hair volume and quality, but they are not sufficient. In severe hair loss cases, it is always better to solve the problem with a hair transplant.
And once you have decided to go for the hair transplant treatment, you should also consider the hair transplant cost as it is an expensive affair.
Hair Transplant Surgery
In a hair transplant surgery, a dermatological surgeon moves hair to the bald area on the head. The surgeon generally moves hair from the side or back of the head to the top or front of the head.
Hair transplants take place in a medical office under the effect of local anaesthesia.
Mayo Clinic has established that the baldness pattern on the head happens mostly due to genetic issues. The other causes responsible for hair loss problems are:
- Poor diet
- Stress level and fatigue
- Illness
- Hormonal imbalances
- Certain medications
Cost of Hair Transplant Treatment
The cost of a hair transplant varies depending upon some factors. It usually ranges from $4,000 to $15,000. You have to pay the entire amount from your pocket as the insurance companies consider hair transplant cosmetic surgery. The hair transplant surgery cost depends on factors like:
- Place where you stay: The comparative value of living in the area where you visit and the number of surgeons offering the treatment in the specific area will determine the price the surgeon charges.
- Which procedure you choose: There are two types of hair transplants: slit grafts and micro-grafts. Each kind of method comes with a different price.
- The skill and experience of the surgeon: Higher rates are always not equivalent to more skill or expertise. So it is better to do research. But the best surgeon in your city or area will obviously charge more.
- Area of hair transplant: If you wish to get your entire scalp covered and not just a few patches, it will definitely be costlier.
- Travel costs: Your doctor will not charge you this, but it is a cost that will be spent on the purpose of your hair transplant. Therefore, you should consider this too. Sometimes you might have to travel far to get the surgery done by the best specialist.
Hair Transplant Procedure
As mentioned earlier, a hair transplant is a type of surgery that helps move the excess hair you already have in some parts to the areas that require filling with hair. Hair transplant has been in use since the 1950s. However, now much-advanced procedures have come up.
During the surgery, the surgeon will first clean your scalp and inject medicine to numb the area at the back of your head. Your surgeon will choose either of the two methods: follicular unit extraction (FUE) or follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS).
The first procedure requires your back scalp to be shaved. The surgeon will then slowly remove each hair follicle. The area will then heal with small dots. Your existing hair will cover that particular area.
For the latter treatment procedure, the surgeon will remove a 6 to 10 inches strip of skin from the back part of your head. The surgeon will keep aside the scalp-skin area and sew the skinned portion of the scalp closed. The hair around it then covers the stitched part.
After this, the team who will work on you will divide the strip of the kept-aside piece of skin into 500 to 2000 small grafts. Each division will have few hairs.
The type and the number of grafts depending on hair type, colour, and quality. The size of the head portion where you will get the surgery done will also affect the cost.
Both the hair transplant procedures are almost the same. After the grafts are done, the surgeon will clean and numbs the area where the hair will go. The surgeon will create holes or slits with a needle or scalpel and gently places each graft in each hole.
Depending on the size of the transplant, the process will take almost 4 to 8 hours to complete. You might require another procedure later on if you continue to lose hair even after the surgery.
The cost involved in recovering from a hair transplant
Apart from the hair transplant treatment cost, there are several other possibilities for recovery costs that you should note. These are:
- Medication for pain and immediate recovery
- Anti-inflammatory drugs to lessen the soreness and swelling of the areas that underwent the surgery
- Also, antibiotics to reduce the chances of infection
Otherwise, if you experience any of the above three possible problems post-surgery, you will need to go for treatment to eliminate the issues. You can count them as additional expenses of hair transplant surgery.
Hair transplant alternatives
There are several other nonsurgical alternatives that you can go for if you cannot afford the high expenses of a hair transplant. Obviously, these remedies are not as effective as surgery, but they can help one. These are:
- Minoxidil (Rogaine) – You can purchase this over-the-counter without the need for a prescription. It can be used both by men and women.
- Finasteride (Propecia) tablets – After continuous use of this medication for three to six months, you will find a good result for your baldness patterns.
- Low-level laser therapy – This can treat hair loss in both men and women by stimulating cellular activity. This therapy helps to promote hair retention and can also strengthen weak hair.
Hair transplants cannot happen at a small cost. Guaranteed and proper surgery will always be a costly investment.
Always go for thorough researches before you invest your funds in hair transplant surgery. With consultation from various sources, you will learn about the cost involved and finding the best surgeon.
Hiring the best surgeon despite the high expenses will always ensure good results. Also, keep in mind that many clinics offer financial plans and payment assistance to people for their initial treatments of hair transplant surgery.
