If you’ve gotten to the point where you’re reading an article like this, we’re willing to bet that you’ve tried a lot of hair loss treatments—and that you’re still looking for a permanent solution for hair regrowth.

The best (and sometimes, most obvious) way to jumpstart your hair growth is with a hair transplant. But hair transplants tend to come at a steep cost, and the cost of a hair transplant can vary from clinic to clinic. And even when one seems like the only solution, many folks tend to throw in the towel while they’re trying to determine whether or not they can afford the procedure.

While hair transplants can be hard on your wallet, they are often more attainable than you’d imagine. Let’s talk about the typical costs associated with a hair transplant.

Is a hair transplant expensive?

The short answer? Yes, of course, a hair transplant can be costly. But before we talk about the cost of a hair transplant, let’s talk about why these procedures can be expensive. More importantly, let’s take this as an opportunity to discuss why you should see a licensed professional for your hair transplant.

If you do enough digging, you’ll come across several options for hair transplants that offer discounted rates and guaranteed results. This is great, right? Who doesn’t want to get what they want at a discount?

While you might save a few dollars, there are several issues with opting for a low-cost hair restoration clinic. The biggest problem? Most, if not all of them, are operating outside the ethical standards of hair transplant surgery.

The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) adds that in addition to the illegality of these lower-cost clinics, people who opt for them face a variety of challenges after the procedure. Because these clinics often perform as many procedures as they can each day, experiencing adverse events (such as poor hair growth, improper graft preparation, and unnatural hairlines) could be more common just to name a few - and, perhaps worst of all, you may have to face all of this on your own, without any support from the clinic post-procedure.

We’ll get into some rough estimates for hair transplant costs, but don’t let some of these numbers scare you off. As the ISHRS also points out, the cost of your transplant should be evaluated based on factors such as long-term satisfaction and results over several years.

How much does a hair transplant cost?

The rough estimates we’ll share here will vary wildly based on the type of procedure you opt for, as well as the amount of hair you’re looking to transplant. This range also doesn’t take into account your specific needs. Some procedures might cost much less, while others could cost even more than the range we’ve established below.

Typical hair transplants will cost between $8,000 and $20,000. It’s important to keep in mind that there are two types of hair transplants, which is just one of many factors that will influence your final costs. Here’s a quick breakdown of both:

  1. Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). FUT is a technique that involves removing a strip of tissue containing hair follicles from the donor site. The main challenge is that recovery periods tend to be lengthy and it leaves a fairly visible scar.
  2. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). While this is a fairly similar procedure to FUT, follicular unit extraction involves the implantation of individual healthy hair follicles into areas of the scalp that are thinning. The biggest benefit? No linear scars. Just higher quality grafts.

Regardless of the procedure you determine is best for you, it’s important to reinforce (again) that the costs of either will depend on the amount of hair (or tissue) harvested and transplanted. It’s never a bad thing to know the average price of a procedure like a hair transplant, but we’d advise you to avoid jumping to conclusions about men’s hair transplant costs before speaking to an advisor to evaluate your next steps.

Follicular Unit Excision

A more minimally-invasive hair restoration procedure is known as Follicular Unit Excision (FUE). They can be completed by hand to restore hair growth using your existing hair follicles. Additionally, FUE hair transplants offer the most natural-looking results out of any hair transplant option on the market.

Now back to those costs:

  • The cost of the procedure depends largely on the number of unique grafts you need
  • Any discounts offered
  • Financing to make your investment more affordable over time

Typical FUE procedures can take anywhere from 6-8 hours. After the initial procedure, men typically start to see hair regrow within 6-9 months.

There’s no getting around it: Hair transplants are a serious investment. As you prepare for the physical experience of a hair transplant, we hope this guide gives you peace of mind about the potential expenses you might incur.

Photo by Gursimrat Ganda on Unsplash

The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely upon the content provided in this article for specific medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor.

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