The age-old question that everyone asks is hair transplant worth it or not. Yes, it is proven that hair transplants can improve a patient’s life.
Leaping might not be easy for every patient as several considerations factor into the decision such as financial costs, emotional effects, success rate, and more.
In this article, we will assist you in evaluating the pros and cons of hair transplant surgery. You’ll find that the procedure has a long history of providing life-affirming results for countless patients. Most of the misconceptions people have about hair transplants will be cleared in our article.
To give you a quick look into what we are going to talk about in this article, here are the key points:
- THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH A HAIR TRANSPLANT SUCH AS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS, RISKS, MONETARY CONCERNS, AND SUCCESS RATES.
- MOST RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS POSED BY HAIR RESTORATION SURGERY CAN BE ELIMINATED BY AN EXPERIENCED CLINIC.
- EVEN THOUGH A HAIR TRANSPLANT IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN HAIR LOSS MEDICATION, THE PAYOFF IS MORE SATISFYING AND THE RESULTS ARE PERMANENT.
- HAIR TRANSPLANT IS PROVEN TO IMPROVE THE PATIENTS’ LIVES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL OUTLOOK.
- IT IS VITAL TO BROWSE THROUGH PATIENT ANECDOTES AND CLINIC REVIEWS TO FIND THE PERFECT MATCH FOR YOU.
Read on to discover if getting a hair transplant is worthwhile.
Factors To Consider If Hair Transplant Is Worth It
The main factors to consider when deciding if a hair transplant is worth it are:
- SUCCESS RATES
- RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS
- FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
- EMOTIONAL BENEFITS
- CHANGE IN APPEARANCE
- OTHER PATIENTS’ EXPERIENCES
Let’s inspect each factor one by one.
Success Rates
The modern methods used in hair transplant procedures are proven to provide permanent solutions to hair loss. 91% of the patients reported that their hair loss reduced after undergoing restoration surgery.
The success rate of hair transplants depends on several factors:
- THE EXTENT OF HAIR LOSS
- THE PATTERN OF HAIR LOSS
- THE TYPE OF HAIR TRANSPLANT
- THE CONDITION OF THE DONOR AREA
- GENETIC MAKE-UP
- HAVING REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Hair transplantation cannot put a stop to progressive hair loss. Still, hair restoration surgery is a $4.5 billion dollar industry with millions of satisfied patients. Consult a hair restoration clinic to find out the expected success rate of your own hair loss condition.
Risks And Complications
The risks and complications can be divided into two categories: post-operation inconveniences and long-term complications.
There’s no need to worry about post-operation issues as nearly all of them, like bleeding, scalp swelling, shock loss (telogen effluvium), and temporary hair thinning usually subside entirely after 2 months.
There are cases who’ve experienced long-term complications such as donor site necrosis, hematoma, visible scarring, or hairline design errors. The key to avoiding these issues is working with an experienced hair transplant surgeon. The cons of hair transplant are eliminated if you work with the right clinic and follow the instructions for care after hair transplant diligently.
Financial Considerations
Most insurance plans don’t cover hair transplants but don’t fret! There are several budgeting and payment plans to bridge the gap between you and your dream appearance.
Nowadays, most clinics prepare all-inclusive hair transplant packages for their clients so that clients can focus on the operation without worrying about accommodation, transportation, and other travel variables. And the best part is, there are no hidden fees.
Hair transplant cost changes from patient to patient depending on the technique that will be used (FUE, DHI, or FUT), the extent of pattern baldness, the amount of transplanted hair, and more. Candidates for hair transplantation should consult a hair surgeon to determine the exact cost.
Here’s a table to make a cost-benefit analysis of over-the-counter hair loss medications and hair transplantation.
| Price Range | Time Until Results | Satisfaction Rate |
OTC Medications | $50-$4,000 | +1 year | 27% |
Hair Transplantation | $2,000-50,000 | 6 months – 1 year | 91% |
For more information on hair transplant prices, you can always contact us, and we will get back to you in no time!
Emotional Benefits
It is no secret that extensive balding affects the sufferers’ psyche. In a survey involving 604 men, only 3.6% of men didn’t take any action (such as consulting a doctor, a hairdresser, the internet, or using OTC treatments) regarding their concerns.
Moreover, more than 60% of people with hair loss felt having more hair would help them be more successful in getting a job or advancing in their career.
In another study, conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, all patients with pattern baldness have experienced significant increases in their happiness, energy levels, youthfulness, self-confidence, future outlook, sex life, and career after surgery regardless of age.
Even the patients with less balding experienced improvements in their outlook after hair transplant.
Additionally, people reported that post-transplant faces seemed 40% more successful and 41.1% more approachable.
Change In Appearance
If you’ve been asking ‘Do hair transplants look good?’ to yourself, the answer is a resounding ‘Yes’. Hair transplantation is proven to improve the lives of androgenic alopecia patients. Men were perceived by casual observers as being younger and more attractive by 41% after undergoing a hair transplant.
Here are some facts from a 3-year-long study conducted at Nan Fang Hospital and Kefayuan Hair Transplantation Hospital in Beijing where 875 male androgenetic alopecia patients attended:
- MEN WHO WENT UNDER HAIR TRANSPLANT WERE PERCEIVED AS 41% YOUNGER AND MORE ATTRACTIVE BY CASUAL OBSERVERS.
- MORE THAN 65% OF OBSERVERS WERE NOT ABLE TO CORRECTLY DISTINGUISH THE MALE HAIR TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT AMONG 3 PEOPLE WITH NATURAL HAIR. IN FEMALE HAIR TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS, THIS NUMBER ROSE TO 85%.
- SATISFACTION WITH APPEARANCE IMPROVED BY 30% JUST 9 MONTHS AFTER HAIR RESTORATION.
- HAIR TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS APPEARED 6 YEARS YOUNGER ON AVERAGE.
Other Patients’ Experiences
You can find numerous anecdotes of hair restoration patients on the internet. It is essential to browse these reviews, see the success rate of operations done on similar hair types as you, compare the achievements of varying hair restoration clinics, and find out how the lives of millions of patients around the globe changed. This way, you can identify the clinics that suit your expectations.
You may come across people who’ve been subject to hair transplant disadvantages, but take into account that these situations are usually caused by unqualified surgeons or clinics that are cutting corners.
Weighing the Benefits and Drawbacks
To determine if hair transplantation is worth your time and money, you can summarize the benefits and drawbacks of hair transplant surgery more visually, such as the table we provided here.
Let’s look at pros and cons of hair transplant procedure!
If you’re worried about the hair transplant disadvantages, don’t worry. They can easily be avoided or get rid of. An expert surgeon and their team can design the optimal hairline and complete the surgery with minimal scalp scarring for the right price.
Remember that even celebrities prefer hair transplants to transform their look!
As you’ve read, the pros of hair transplant overpower the cons of hair transplant. The influence of an expertly done operation is life-changing. Regardless, it is strongly advised that you consult an experienced hair restoration clinic to make the final decision.
References:
[1] Kumaresan, Muthuvel, and Deepa M Subburathinam. “Longevity of Hair Follicles after Follicular Unit Transplant Surgery.” Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery vol. 13,4 (2020): 292-297. doi:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_44_20
[2] Li, Kai-Tao et al. “Clinical experience on follicular unit extraction megasession for severe androgenetic alopecia.” Journal of cosmetic dermatology vol. 19,6 (2020): 1481-1486. doi:10.1111/jocd.13156
[3] Konior, R. J. (2013). Complications in Hair-Restoration Surgery. Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America, 21(3), 505–520. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2013.05.012
[4] Cash, T. F. (2009). Attitudes, behaviors, and expectations of men seeking medical treatment for male pattern hair loss: results of a multinational survey. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 25(7), 1811–1820. doi:10.1185/03007990903005201
[5] Psychology of hair transplants, Parsa Mohebi, William R. Rassman, Hair Transplant Forum International Mar 2008, 18 (2) 41-47; DOI: 10.33589/18.2.0041
[6] Bater, Kristin L et al. “Perception of Hair Transplant for Androgenetic Alopecia.” JAMA facial plastic surgery vol. 18,6 (2016): 413-418. doi:10.1001/jamafacial.2016.0546
[7] Liu, F, Miao, Y, Li, X, et al. The relationship between self-esteem and hair transplantation satisfaction in male androgenetic alopecia patients. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2018; 18: 1441–1447. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12839
[8] International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery 2010 Hair Transplant Challenge Survey.
[9] Wikipedia.org
ptimal hairline and complete the surgery with minimal scalp scarring for the right price. As long as candidates for hair transplantation don’t have unrealistic expectations, the outlook after hair transplant is overwhelmingly positive for most patients. Remember that even celebrities prefer hair transplants to transform their look!
As you’ve read, the pros of hair transplant overpower the cons of hair transplant. The influence of an expertly done operation is life-changing. Regardless, it is strongly advised that you consult an experienced hair restoration clinic to make the final decision.
