Hair Transplants

Half the men in the US suffer hair loss by the age of 50. Not surprisingly, hair loss treatments have become the number one cosmetic surgery for men in the US. Hair loss is not exclusive to men, however. Women also suffer from thinning hair or pattern baldness.

Transplants don’t work for everyone but they do offer permanent hair restoration for most patients. The best candidates for hair transplantation can attribute their hair loss to genetics, aging, a traumatic injury, or certain medical conditions. The candidate must have healthy hair to harvest on the back or sides of the head, and be prepared to undergo multiple sessions that can take hours.

The Hair Transplant Procedure

The procedure is usually performed in an outpatient clinic but may be done in a hospital. It can take several hours and may require more than one treatment session. Anesthesia options should be agreed upon with your surgeon and the anesthesiologist.

Segments of the scalp, or grafts, with hair from the donor area, are removed and then attached to the balding or thinning area. Mini-grafts may have up to four hairs. Slit grafts that are inserted into slits in the scalp can have up to ten hairs. Round punch grafts can have up to ten hairs. Strip grafts have up to 40 hairs.

Recovery From Hair Transplants

After hair transplants, follow your doctor’s instructions to reduce the risk of complications. You can’t resume normal activity for a few days. The doctor may give you medications to manage discomfort, bruising, and swelling. The transplanted hair will probably fall out within six weeks, but re-growth tends to occur within three months.

Cost of Hair Transplants

It is difficult to estimate costs because there is so much variation in individual hair transplant goals. Hair transplants usually have three costs: local or general anesthesia fees, facility fees, and physician fees. Average total cost may be from $3,000 to $5,000 per procedure, and you may need three or more procedures.

It is unlikely to be covered by any health insurance plan but payment plans are fairly common.

Risks of Hair Transplants

Possible complications of hair transplants include infection and scarring. There may also be numbness in the donor and recipient sites for up to three months. Scarring might affect the re-growth of transplanted hair, and results could possibly be aesthetically unsatisfying.

Contacting a Plastic Surgeon is the first step in getting your natural looking hairling back.