Hair Transplants 101

The hair care industry is big business; making 69 billion dollars in 2019 alone, hair is one of the greatest contributors to our global economy today. Everywhere you go, there are advertisements, videos, or business promoting hair care products and services. Despite length or texture, everyone wants to maintain healthy hair.

Unfortunately, having strong, vibrant hair isn’t always possible. Numerous factors, from illnesses, aging, and heredity, cause many today to experience balding. Luckily, there are many solutions, including one called hair transplant procedures.

While once a taboo topic, hair transplant procedures are growing in popularity. With the opportunity to obtain your own healthy hair compared to artificial options such as wigs, companies like Bosley and Hair Club offers surgeries that take existing hair and move it to balding areas. Introduced in the 1950s, the hair transplant procedure industry has greatly evolved. 



What to Expect When You Get Hair Transplants

For weary customers who don’t know what to expect, the process begins with your surgeon cleaning your scalp, followed by a numbing medicine. After using one of two transplant methods, slits using a scalpel are applied to the cleaned area and grafts are delicately placed. The procedure can take up to eight hours and if desired thickness isn’t achieved or hair loss continues, another procedure may be necessary. The recovery process varies quite a bit. However, you should be able to go back to work between 2 to 5 days. While wearing a protective bandage for a few days is mandatory, if scalp tenderness pain persists, your doctor can prescribe pain medications. You will lose the transplanted hair after a couple weeks, however, normal hair regrowth is expected within months. Mainstream companies like Bosley offer Minoxidil-based products to assist hair growth in their Healthy Hair Complex Kits.


Average Costs of Hair Transplants

Considering the cost prior to your hair transplant procedure is a good idea; most insurance policies do not include these surgeries. The average costs of hair transplant procedures range from $4,000 to $15,000 dollars. At such a steep price, it is wise to consider the potential risks; infections and bleeding are possible, as well as scarring after the procedure is completed and new growth begins coming in. If these complications occur, there are antibiotics available. Even with those risks, these procedures have up to an 80% regrowth success rates. Whether you are a cancer survivor, want to achieve thicker hair, or even have baldness or chronic hair loss in your family, it is wise to consider a hair transplant procedure. Even with possible complications, the majority of people have success and can remedy any side effects.

Like with any major operation, consult with your healthcare provider prior to getting your operation to expose potential risks and which options best fit your hair condition. There are many other solutions to conceal hair loss, such as wigs, braids, or extensions, however it feels even better to be able to grow and maintain your own hair. Doing proper research will drastically help with the results you want and restoring your confidence on your hair regrowth journey. For more information about hair transplant costs or to find a center near you, check out this helpful resource.