In commercials, a lot of products promise to increase hair growth and volume. But most of these products are not effective when it comes to such claims. A National Library of Medicine survey found that 70% of men aged 18 to 45 believe hair loss affects their image. 62% said it can hurt their self-esteem.
If you have a receding hairline or a bald spot, the best option is a hair transplant. It is both effective and trustworthy. But, we often think of the costs, surgery, and risks of hair transplants. This post clarifies everything you need to know. It has details on the hair loss pattern, transplant costs, and success of the procedure. But first, before we get started, let us understand what male pattern baldness is and why it happens.
What is Male Pattern Baldness?
Male pattern baldness is very common among men worldwide. The American Hair Loss Association says 2 out of 3 men will lose some hair. By age 50, 85% will have noticeable thinning.
To understand male pattern baldness, we must know its cause. To find the best treatment, we must first identify your hair loss problem.
There are mainly three ways to categorize the causes of male pattern baldness.
- Androgenic Alopecia: Alopecia is by far the most common type of hair loss problem under the sun. About 98% of men experience it throughout their lifetime. It begins with a hairline that shrinks back and leads to baldness.
- Non-pattern hair loss: Certain diets, medications, thyroid issues, and stress cause non-pattern hair loss.
- Telogen Effluvium: This type of hair loss is a rare, random loss of hair. It can be due to compulsive hair pulling. This is also known as trichotillomania and scarring alopecia.
Hair loss can affect more than your scalp. It can harm your self-esteem and confidence.
The Other Reason for Hair Fall in Men
Sudden hair loss does not result from male pattern baldness. It is due to some chronic factors. The other causes include:
- If you have been under chemotherapy or any other sort of radiation treatment,
- If you have thyroid or any anemia problems, or even scalp infections,
- Diet imbalances in your daily lifestyle, such as too little iron or too much vitamin A in your food.
- You are under tremendous stress every day and have anxiety issues.
- Certain medications, such as steroids, are being consumed.
What is a Hair Transplant?
It is usually cosmetic surgery. It moves hair from a filled area to a thin one. At first, your surgeon will clean your scalp and numb you with local anesthesia. The doctor will then choose a method suitable for you for the surgery and apply the grafts to the bald area.
How Much Does the Treatment Cost?
The average cost of a hair transplant varies from $3,000 to $15,000, depending on various factors. Most insurance companies do not cover hair transplants. They consider it cosmetic surgery.
If your hair loss is due to an illness or any kind of injury, the coverage might be possible. You should contact your insurance company to know all your options for coverage. Besides the treatment costs, there are other post-surgery costs. Those include:
- Medications during the immediate recovery period.
- The doctor prescribes all the antibiotics to prevent infections, scabs, and bleeding.
- All the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor to reduce the risk of any potential health problems such as infections, scabs, or bleeding.
The Cost Factors for a Hair Transplant
The cost of hair transplant surgery depends on many factors. Discussed below are the factors:
1. The Place You Live:
Hair transplant costs depend on your location and the number of doctors providing the procedure.
2. The Amount of Hair You Want to Transplant:
The cost of a hair transplant depends on how much hair you want to transplant. If you want to cover a few small patches, then it might cost you less. Wanting to move increased hair throughout the scalp will increase the price.
3. The Types of the Procedure:
There are particularly two types of procedures in hair transplantation:
- Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and
- Follicular unit extraction (FUE).
Each of them has a different price range.
4. The Skill of the Surgeon:
This is a common connection. If the doctor or surgeon you consulted is the best, he will charge more. Less famous doctors may not charge as much. Also, a doctor’s skill is not always indicated by high rates and fame. Conduct an in-depth investigation of hair transplant surgeons before selection.
5. Travel Cost:
Though not always, sometimes you have to travel far to consult a specialist. Also, consider these costs when you weigh the procedure’s total cost.
How Does a Hair Transplant Work?
The 2019-2025 Global Hair Transplant Market Report says the market will reach $30 billion by 2025. To write in simple words, it is now very popular. It is a go-to solution for anyone with hair loss. A transplant takes your hair and moves it to a bald area of your scalp. Hair is typically gathered from the back of the head.
Types of Hair Transplants
There are mainly two types of hair transplant methods, as mentioned above. They are FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant) and FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction). Your best option depends on your needs and your doctor’s advice.
Let us understand the two methods used for hair transplantation:
1. Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT):
This hair transplant method requires taking a small strip of your skin, 6 to 10 inches long. The surgeon removes hair follicles from the donor site. It’s mainly the back of your head, where the hair is thick and less prone to balding. The surgeon takes a small strip of skin. Then, he separates small groups of tissue with hair follicles. He keeps them for transplantation. This procedure makes tiny holes in the thinning or balding area for the transplant. The prepared hair follicles, called grafts, are then placed into the recipient site, one by one.
This is the first developed method and has been around for more than two decades. This is a revolutionary technique for regaining a natural-looking hairline for many years. Though it has shown some unreal results, some doctors say this method has its cons.
This type of procedure can take many hours. It depends on how many hair follicles are to be placed. You will also get a narrow scar at the back of your head as the small strip of skin is to be taken from there. The incision will be prominent while recovering. The person must care for both the linear incision and the back of the head.
The number of grafts you receive depends on the following factors:
- The type of hair you have on your scalp.
- The size of the transplant site.
- The quality of your hair, which includes the thickness as well.
- And lastly, the color of your hair.
2. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE):
This is a new procedure. It aims to match the results of FUT but without its drawbacks. Like FUT, FUE requires reaping hair follicles from the back of the head (donor site). They are then moved to the recipient site to create a fuller, natural-looking hairline. This is much different from FUT. In this procedure, the surgeon does not remove a strip of tissue from the back of the head. Instead, he collects each hair follicle from the scalp. Then, he puts them into small incisions on the recipient site. The FUE method needs more time in surgery and removes the linear scar. The cost of hair transplant surgery depends on the number of grafts implanted in the scalp.
Recovery Time and Post-Surgical Care
In addition to the hair transplant costs, there are physical costs to any surgery. A professional caregiver needs to take care of the bandaged wound. Otherwise, you need to be very cautious when removing the dressings at home as they might hurt you. It is important to note that you will have some swelling at the back of the head and the transplanted area. You won’t be able to wash your hair 2-3 days after the procedure, but that has to be prescribed by your physician. Your doctor might suggest certain medicines after surgery. You must follow the instructions very carefully. Any irritation could have an adverse effect.
Usually, recovery time varies from person to person. But on average, you can heal in one to two weeks and return to your routine. The transplanted hair will finally fall out, and you might notice the new growth within a few months. Most people will come to see 70% of their new hair growth after 6 to 9 months.
Hair Transplant Complications
There is a chance of post-surgery complications. But it does not happen to everyone. Talk to your doctor about the risks of hair transplant surgery.
Some of the complications may include:
- Mild heart problems during surgery
- Pain and swelling in the head
- Infection of the scalp
- Scarring on the scalp
- Cyst development at the transplanted site
- A lot of bleeding
- Anesthesia complications after surgery
Some Must-Know Facts About Hair Transplantation
- The transplanted hair gives an all-natural-looking hairline. The roots that sprout natural hair after the surgery last a lifetime.
- It is to let you know that local anesthesia is always applied before surgery. There is nothing to be afraid of, as the anesthesia makes it painless during the procedure. The person is taken care of properly during hair transplantation.
- It is easy to get confused. But hair transplantation is very different from non-surgical hair restoration. Hair restoration is a procedure that involves skilfully attaching fake hair to the scalp. A hair transplant is a surgical method. It uses your own hair.
- A patient after hair transplantation does not need to stay in the clinic for several days. He can go home after the procedure. However, they must arrive at the clinic early, as the procedure is time-consuming.
- Hair transplantation does not guarantee a full head of hair. Results differ significantly between individuals based on hair quality and thickness. So, a person with less density of hair should not expect voluminous hair after the procedure. They will have the same pattern of hair as before.
- Hair transplant surgery costs depend upon the number of grafts you need. The bigger the bald part, the higher the number of grafts required.
Bottom Line
It is natural for you and all of us to feel concerned about hair loss. It is very understandable to want to do something about it. There are alternative options as well for you to try. But most serious cases need hair transplantation. It is a very good option to go for if you want good and natural results. The best thing is to weigh all the factors. This includes the hair transplant cost and your budget. Then, choose the best option.