Weighing cost, pain and permanence

Hair transplant surgery is also called hair loss surgery or hair restoration surgery. People also refer to hair transplant as “hair implants” or “having a hair transplant”. Deciding to have one of these elective surgeries is a personal decision.

This article explains how hair transplants work, the financial cost of hair restoration surgery, its side effects, permanence, possible pain associated with a hair transplant, and other information to help you in your decision-making process.

Background information you need to know

Male or female pattern baldness is known as androgenetic alopecia. The degree of thinning or baldness is measured using different scales for men and women. Male pattern baldness and male pattern baldness are recorded with its use Norwood (1–7) scale. Hair loss and hair thinning in women is indexed using it Ludwig (types 1–3) classification system.

The number of hair grafts required for a transplant depends on how much hair loss has occurred, as indicated by Norwood or Ludwig numbers. For example, a man with receding hairline with a Norwood index of 2 on the scale who wants to fill in the bald spots around a widow’s peak would typically need about 1,000-1,500 grafts to be harvested from the back of the scalp and transplanted in front.

How does hair transplantation work?

During a hair transplant, local anesthesia is used to numb the pain that occurs as the hair grafts are removed and implanted. Each transplant uses one to four viable follicles of hair taken from an area of ​​the donor’s scalp with denser hair (usually the back) and implanted into bald spots. On average, each transplanted hair graft contains two strands of hair.

Hair transplants work by taking hair follicles from an area considered a donor where hair tends to be the thickest (usually at the back of the scalp) and moving these hairs – which have staying power and grow throughout life – in an area of ​​the scalp with less robust hair and where hair has stopped growing.

The current state-of-the-art method of hair transplant surgery is follicular extraction (FUE), a harvesting technique that extracts each follicular unit one at a time with extreme precision and transplants it to an area of ​​the scalp that is balding. Each unit contains one to four follicles.

The term “hair plugs for men” is still used colloquially, but the hair transplant procedure with drill grafts is outdated. The old hair plug method used the equivalent of a surgical cookie cutter (3–4mm wide) to harvest and reimplant dozens of hair follicles at a time. The new FUE method creates less scarring than old-fashioned hair plugs because the surface area to extract and transplant each follicular unit into the scalp is much smaller.

Economics: Hair transplant cost and affordable price

The cost of hair implants for men or women varies by location and each surgeon’s charge. Usually, hair transplant cost is based on the number of grafts. In the United States, each transplant typically costs about $2 to $10, with a full price tag of about $12,000.

People traveling abroad to save money on hair restoration surgery is a popular example of medical tourism. When traveling internationally for elective cosmetic surgery, make sure the destination is safe and your surgeon is well-accredited.

Side Effects: Pain after Hair Transplantation

Hair transplant surgery is generally safe, but there are some side effects, such as post-operative pain or itchy scalp. During the procedure, local anesthesia is administered to minimize pain. Other postoperative surgical complications may include infection, wound dehiscence (wound edges open and no longer meet), skin necrosis (tissue death).

When do you see the results of a hair transplant?

Because hair transplant surgery usually involves taking very short or shaved hair from the back of the scalp and moving it to a bald spot, you won’t start to see results until the transplanted hair has had time to regrow. The follicles begin to grow again in about three to four months. Most people see results in six to nine months after surgery as the transplanted hair fills in and grows. Some surgeons perform FUE on longer hair, giving faster visible results.

Permanent Hair Transplantation

Hair transplants are permanent. They may require surgical procedures as native hair continues to thin in areas of the scalp that are prone to hair loss. As people get older, male or female pattern baldness can develop. It is always wise to store some viable hair grafts in the donor zone at the back of your scalp if you decide to have another hair restoration surgery later in life.

Where to get a hair transplant

The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons and International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery are non-profit organizations with worldwide directories of qualified surgeons.

Hair transplant alternatives

Medical treatment with a topical solution such as Rogaine (minoxidil) or oral pills Propecia (finasteride) are alternative hair loss treatments for people who cannot afford a hair transplant or want to slow hair loss without going under the knife .

In 2020, a study found that a low dose of oral minoxidil once a day effectively increased hair growth in study participants with androgenetic alopecia male pattern baldness. However, this off-label treatment still needs FDA approval as a prescription for hair loss.

Summary

Deciding to get a hair transplant is a very personal decision. Hair restoration surgery is expensive and out of reach for many. Follicular extraction (FUE) is a newer transplant method that leaves smaller scars than hair plugs of the past and tends to have the best results with minimal pain. There may be some minor side effects such as irritation and soreness of the scalp, but watch for signs of infection.