How to calculate the cost for Hair Transplant Surgery?

The success of hair transplant treatments is gaining wide popularity. Men and women with signs of balding and others who suffer from hereditary hair loss conditions have found great results in hair transplant surgery. The procedure is performed by extracting hair from the donor area (area where there is regular hair growth) and transplanting it to the region where there is baldness. It is proven that 85 to 95 percent of the transplanted hair grows well, mimicking the same pattern of hair growth as in the other regions of the scalp. It gives a natural appearance and fullness, giving back the self-confidence and happiness to almost all patients. India is one of the top 10 countries in the globe for hair transplant procedures. The success rate and affordable treatment costs make the country renowned for medical tourism associated with hair transplant treatments.

Patients who suffer from hair loss conditions can confidently consider getting a hair transplant procedure in India. Before we understand more about the cost of the treatment, let us take a look at the types of hair transplant surgery.

 

Hair transplant surgery typically takes 4 to 8 hours depending on the number of grafts required and the area where the hair needs to be transplanted. The surgery is done under local anasthesia to make the donor area numb.

Hair Transplant Surgeries 

• FUE or Follicular Unit Extraction – In this technique, the head is shaven completely and individual hair follicles are extracted from the donor area, hair grafts are prepared and transplanted in the recipient site through holes or slits.
• FUT or Follicular Unit Transplantation - A single strip of skin is removed from the back of the head and individual hair follicles are then extracted as hair grafts and transplanted in the recipient site.
• DHI or Direct Hair Implantation - In this method, the extraction of each hair follicle is done with the help of a pen-like device and the hair is immediately transplanted into the donor site. The extraction and implantation is done simultaneously

It is a delicate procedure and hence the experience and skill of the surgeon greatly determines the results of the hair transplant surgery. As with surgery, the risk of infection and bleeding also exist and hence the infrastructure at the clinic, back up facciloties in the case of a complication, etc should also be considered.

It is important to understand the types of hair transplants in depth and choose the best technique based on the balding conditions of the individual.

Hair Transplant Cost

India is one of the top 3 countries which provides hair transplant procedures at an affordable price. The cost of a single hair graft is 4 times higher in the United states when compared to India. A single hair graft in the United States costs USD 5.4 and about USD 1.34 in India.

The exact cost of a hair transplant surgery depends on various factors, mainly

• The extent of hair loss or balding i.e bald spots, thinning hair or complete baldness
• The area where the hair transplant is required i.e. hairline, crown, beard, or eyebrow
• The total number of hair grafts required
• The type of hair transplant procedure chosen
• The experience of the cosmetic surgeon and the infrastructure in the hospital

Apart from the cost of graft, the other elements in the cost would include the tests, biopsy and room rentals incse of hospital admission.

FUT and FUE Hair Transplant Cost

The cost of hair transplant surgery in India starts at about INR 50k for about 1000 grafts. Patients would ideally require anywhere between 2000 to 3500 hair grafts for a successful hair transplant procedure. The cost of a FUE transplantation is generally higher than a FUT transplantation.

The FUT hair transplantation is preferred for individuals who have a higher degree of baldness. This is because a large number of hair grafts can be implanted in a single session. On the other hand, the FUE session is preferred for individuals who have smaller areas of baldness. Due to the extraction of single hair follicles and implantation in the recipient site, this technique takes more time and effort than a FUT procedure. A single session could take up to 7 hours or it is required to be broken down into smaller sessions of fewer hours. Due to these, the cost for a FUE procedure is higher than FUT. The FUE hair transplant for 2000 hair grafts would cost between INR 110000 to 130000 and for about 3000 hair grafts, it would cost between INR 170000 to 185000.

The cost of hair transplant for women is higher and would be in the range of INR 80-100 per graft. However, the number of hair follicles required would be far lower than a regular hair transplant for men.

Hair Transplant Cost in Chennai, India

Hair transplants in Chennai can cost between INR 45000 to 60000 for transplanting around 1000 hair grafts. A single graft of hair can cost between INR 50 to 70 in the city. In the case of hair transplant for beard, moustache or eyebrow, the cost per graft can go upto INR 110 per graft. There will be two to three hair follicles in a hair graft and patients would need between 1000 to 4000 hair grafts depending on the extent of baldness. This will be the primary determinant for the cost of hair transplant surgery in Chennai. Apart from this, the facilities of the clinic and the expertise of the doctor also play an important role. In Chennai, there are renowned clinics that specialize in hair transplant procedures. The overall costs of the treatment can be between INR 90000 to INR 250000 depending on the above said factors.

Although Follicular Unit Transplantation or FUT is the conventional method of hair transplantation, FUE or Follicular Unit Extraction is the most renowned procedure in Chennai.

FUE hair transplantation would cost as shown in the table below.

Number of hair grafts required	Cost of FUE (lower side)	Cost of FUE (higher side)
1000 to 1500	INR 50k to 75k	INR 70k to 85k
2000 to 2500	INR 100k to 125k	INR 140k to 175k
3000 to 3500	INR 150k to 175k	INR 210k to 245k
4000 to 4500	INR 200k and above	INR 280k and above

Platelet Rich Plasma or the PRP technique is also commonly performed in Chennai for hair transplant. In this method, the patient’s own blood is sent through a centrifuge and blood concentrated with platelets is injected into the scalp. This is believed to increase the growth of hair and helps in reducing hair thinning. Being a non-surgical procedure, it has gained wide popularity. The cost of a PRP treatment can be between INR 10000 to INR 15000.

Facial Hair Transplant Treatments in Chennai

Apart from hair transplant, there are also procedures to give the appearance of a fuller beard or a thicker eyebrow. These facial hair transplant procedures are today used by many men who suffer from a lack of facial hair. Men who have patches on the moustache and beard regions can rely on this procedure for the best results. Hair from donor sites are transplanted to the facial region giving a fuller appearance of the beard and better masculinity. Chennai has cosmetic surgeons and facilities that offer the treatment.

The cost of a beard hair transplant in Chennai can cost INR 80 – 100 per graft. Patients might require 300 to 700 hair grafts for this procedure begins from INR 40K onwards. The cost of moustache transplant or eyebrow transplant are also in the same range.

It is very important to get hair transplant procedures done by a cosmetic surgeon who specialises in the procedure.

• Patients must choose doctors who are board-certified. This will ensure that they have the required training and skills for the procedure and to ensure the best results
• The clinic must be capable of managing any medical emergencies
• The doctor and hospital must have good reviews from patients who have undergone the same procedure
• It is important for patients to feel the trust and confidence in the care provider
• Patients must also ensure that they get the required post procedural care and follow-up sessions
• The safety policies and protocols of the hospital and the technological / human skills available must be up to the standards

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does having not enough hair in the donor site increase the cost of hair transplant procedures?

The availability of hair in the donor site determines the number of hair grafts that can be transplanted to the recipient site. If there is not enough hair, then hair from the chest, arms and legs or other parts of the body might be used. This can increase the cost of the treatment.

2. Do all patients get the same hair transplant results?

Most patients get the expected results from the procedure. However, the patient would have factors such as the strength of the hair, growth patterns and others that will determine the final results. The expertise of the doctor will also play an important role in the results obtained.

3. Are hair transplants the permanent solution?

Yes, a successful hair transplant treatment can guarantee results that can stay for 10 to 15 years.