Hair Transplant Cost

Like youth and good health, many people take a thick head of hair easily for granted- that is, until it’s gone. Many people are looking into hair transplant procedures to help them bring back the appearance of fuller head of hair. But how much does hair transplant cost?

Hair Transplant Cost: Learn the Basics

Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a narrow strip of hair bearing scalp from the back of head and using it to fill the area with thin or no hair growth. Hair transplants are usually performed in a doctor’s clinic under local anesthesia. The surgeon initially cleans the scalp and injects anesthetic to help numb the area where three to four inch strip of hair will be removed. After removing the hair strip with scalpel, the surgeon sets it aside and then closes the scalp. This area can be immediately hidden by the hair surrounding it.

The surgeon divides the strip of hair into 500 to 2,000 grafts containing an individual hair or few hairs each. This will depend on hair type, color, quality and the size of the area where it will be transplanted. After preparing the grafts, the surgeon slits or creates holes on the affected area and then places each graft in one of the holes.

Hair Transplant Cost: Doing the Math

Hair normally grows by follicular units of one to four hairs grouped together. As soon as they are harvested, they are called grafts. Surgeons assess fees by multiplying the per graft price by the total number of grafts that were transplanted. The price for every graft will significantly impact overall cost, with an average range of $3 to $8 per unit.

Hair transplant cost will depend significantly on the amount of hair that will be transplanted. The average hair transplant cost ranges from $8,000 to $15,000. The procedure is rarely covered by insurance companies.

Hair Transplant Cost: Discounts and Financing

Many hair transplant practices offer a discount program that can reduce cost to $2/graft or something less, provided that you are flexible and can come on short notice to fill cancelled appointments. There are also financing options available in most offices that will allow you to amortize hair transplant cost over time.