HAIR LOSS
Hair loss can happen for an abundance of reasons, some as simple as malnourishment—to which the answer would be a better diet and a daily multivitamin. On the road to more severe causes, one may come across anemia, hormonal changes, thyroid problems, diabetes, lupus, traction alopecia, alopecia areata, and pattern baldness. Pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia, afflicts somewhere around 40 million U.S. men and 21 million U.S. women.
It is caused by the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which damages genetically vulnerable hair follicles (made such because of weak androgen receptors inherited through the maternal/paternal X chromosomes) by miniaturizing them to nothing. This leads to varying degrees of hair loss at the hairline and crown in men, or diffuse thinning in women. And with more severity comes more intensive treatment, which affects the cost of the procedure.
HAIR TRANSPLANT COST INFO BASED ON TECHNIQUE
Surgical hair restoration at current day typically takes place through one of three methods:
- Follicular unit transplant/FUT/strip surgery
- Follicular unit extraction / FUE
- Body hair transplant / BHT
FUT is normally the least expensive of these, as it requires the least surgical skill and time in surgery. By cutting a linear strip of flesh from the back of the patient’s head, the surgeon harvests all the follicular units needed in one swift excision. The strip is then dissected and prepared for implantation. While it is quicker and cheaper, the results reflect these qualities. The inevitable strip scar confines patients to indefinitely wearing a longer hairstyle and the limited donor supply confines the surgeon to the hair of thickest caliber on the entire scalp, unavoidably creating a more-abrasive-than-natural hairline.
Most hair transplant cost info will reveal that FUE is a slightly more expensive procedure because of the detail, precision, and time that goes into it. However, this is reflected in its superior aesthetic outcomes. Follicular unit extraction laboriously removes each follicular unit one at a time from the scalp, leaving no strip scar, and only nominal scarring in general. It also widens the donor hair selection, allowing the surgeon to source the hairline with finer hairs from the nape of the neck, producing a soft, natural appearance.
Body hair transplant is possible only through FUE. The microsurgical punching tool is so minimally invasive that it can harvest hair from the legs, arms, beard, shoulders, chest, and stomach without leaving a noticeable trace of surgery at any of these donor sites. Thus, those who are severely bald from advanced pattern baldness or who suffer a depleted donor source from botched pervious surgeries are restorable through BHT.
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
By scrutinizing this visual evidence of prior outcomes, a prospective patient can decide whether a certain technique or surgeon is worth the price. Being deterred from a technique that frequently causes botched outcomes or a surgeon whose work is consistently subpar, you will save yourself both emotionally and financially in the long run. Look for quality photos and videos that were taken in a well-lit space, in clear focus, and show the result from many angles. Avoid surgeons and clinics whose images appear retouched.
FAQ: PAYING AND SAVING
How much does FUE hair transplant usually cost?
FUE usually costs $5 to $12 per graft. You can calculate this price by multiplying the per-graft cost by the number of grafts you will need. Thus, the more hair loss you have the more expensive it will be.
How can I save on FUE hair transplant?
One way to save is to offer the clinic consent to use your before-and-after photos and videos for promotional purposes. Publicly revealing your face/voice and results on behalf of the clinic will often get you a discount. Another way to save for those with severe hair loss is to ask if the clinic will charge you on a sliding scale. That way, the per-graft cost goes down, the more grafts you decide you want.
How do I pay for hair transplant?
Treat this as a worthy investment in yourself and pay for it like you would a car or university tuition. You can save up, take out a loan, or use credit cards.
For more hair transplant cost info and how to reduce cost, click here.
To find out more about Dr U hair transplant cost info and how to get the best cost plan for you and how to finance your surgery, click here: