The Average Cost for Hair Transplants

For men and women who are balding, hair transplants are a viable option for hair replacement. Getting hair transplants involves a surgical procedure where grafts of hair and hair follicles are taken from the side or back of the head and are implanted into the balding areas. Alternative methods of hair restoration such as shampoos, ointments and pills help slow down hair loss, but hair transplants are the most dependable method of correcting hair loss.

It is important to find a skilled physician. Talk to several doctors before making a decision. Look at clinics that are part of a larger chain and private clinics. Make price comparisons. Your doctor should be sensitive about determining whether you are a good fit for the procedure. Talk to them about the quality of your donor hair, what your expectations are and what will happen if future hair loss is to occur. Make sure their process includes the use of mini-micrografting, which ensures a natural look. With the right choice, a hair transplant will last for life.

The cost of hair transplants varies depending on how much area of the scalp needs to be covered, what type of hair loss you are experiencing, where you live and which clinic you choose. Typically, clinics charge a set price per graft. For some clinics the price drops as the number of grafts needed increases. For those concerned about the expense of hair transplants, ask your clinic about payment plans that will allow you to make monthly payments rather than paying all at once.

The average cost for one hair graft is $4 or $5. In some clinics it can be as high as $10. The cost depends on where you have it done. A clinic charging a higher price per graft will not necessarily do a better job.

Those who have a small area of scalp to cover typically need 1,000 to 2,000 grafts. This will cost from $3,000 to $10,000. For those with more area to cover, 2,000 to 3,000 grafts will be needed. This cost will range from $5,000 to $15,000. Significantly bald people will need 3,000 to 4,000 grafts. This will cost $9,000 to $20,000.

Although hair transplant surgery sounds expensive, it is often cheaper than the overall, long-term expense of alternative methods. Shampoos, ointments and pills have to be used continuously and the costs add up. Finasteride, a pill that helps stunt the effects of DHT (dihydrotestosterone is a hormone that causes certain kinds of hair loss), costs $25 to $50 dollars for a monthly supply. This can cost from $300 to $600 per year. Over the course of 15 years, taking pills for hair loss could cost up to $9,000.

If you are completely bald on the top of your head you can still have hair transplant surgery, but do not expect to obtain a completely full head of hair from the procedure. If you are suffering from overall baldness, rather than balding only in certain areas, you may not be a good candidate as there will be lack of healthy sources for grafts. Women with thinning hair often fall into this category. The best candidates are those who are suffering from patterned baldness. If you have experienced hair loss because of burns or injury, you are also a good candidate.