Hair Transplant Technology – No Plugs Allowed

25 percent of men in the United States experience genetic hair loss by the age of 30.  By age 60, nearly two-thirds of men show genetic pattern balding.  With such widespread hair loss occuring in men, some of them have taken matters into their own hands, so to speak, by replacing their lost hair via transplant.

Although mostly men seek hair transplants, many women who suffer hair loss wish to receive hair transplants as well.  Many women suffer from pattern baldness, though the pattern of hair loss is not the same as in men.  Women also may suffer from hair thinning due to medical treatments or permanent scarring of the hair follicles.

Hair Transplant Procedure

Before a patient undergoes a hair transplant procedure, he or she will usually have a number of consultations with the physician.  Once a patient has decided to go forward with the procedure, he or she will be given a topical or general anesthesia and will rest in a comfortable chair.  Prodecures can take anywhere from 5 to 10 hours.

The most common hair transplant procedures are as follows:

  • Strip Incisions – Using strip incisions is one of the oldest methods of hair transplant.  Strips of skin containing hair and follicles are surgically removed from the donor area and re-implanted into tiny incisions in the scalp.  Earlier strip incision hair grafts previously used about 15 to 25 hairs per graft, which resulted in a very un-natural ”plug” look.  Modern methods now try to use grafts of no more than 4 hairs per graft.
  • Micrografting – This is an improvement on the strip incision method.  Surgeons do not make any incisions, but rather follicles are extracted and re-implanted without a scalpal.
  • Follicular Unit Extraction – The most effective type of hair transplant is taking a single hair follicle from a donor and transplanting it into the receiver’s hairline.  This surgery is performed with only a local anesthetic, and many men review the procedure as being ”comfortable as getting a haircut.”  Although this is the most successful type of hair transplant procedure, it is also the most costly.

Hair Transplant Costs

The costs for hair transplant procedures can be prohibitive.  Costs can range from $4,000 to over $20,000, depending on the type of transplant, the location, and the institution or doctor performing the procedure.

Costs also depend on how many grafts an individual wishes to make.  Prices for hair transplant are generally set at a cost per graft.  With hundreds, or even thousands, of grafts being performed, $3 to $10 per graft can add up quickly.

It is best to conduct extensive research on the physician or hair institution specializing in hair grafts to find one that performs reliable service for the best price.

Risks of Hair Transplants

With any medical procedure come risks.  Typical risks that may accompany hair transplant include:

  • Scarring
  • Infection or swelling
  • Slow or no hair growth
  • Numbness of scalp
  • Pigment changes in the scalp

Men and women who wish to seek a hair transplant procedure may find a wealth of information on the internet and even with their primary physician.  Again, it is recommended that hair transplant candidates thoroughly research options and choose the best procedure for them.