How much does a hair transplant cost abroad?
Getting a hair transplant is a life-changing decision that needs careful consideration because it comes at a considerable amount of money. Granted that not everyone has the money to go through it, potential patients need to know exactly how much it would cost them. However, a lot of patients miss to consider that the cost of the procedure includes the consultation, the procedure itself, post operation, and maintenance cost. Forgetting these can sometimes leave the patient in a vulnerable and frustrating position. At this point, the patient should exhaust all information about the procedure to know exactly how to prepare for it and the figures below would give one specific ideas on what the patient should save up for.
Cost in the US
As soon as the patient comes in for a consultation, it would be good to bear in mind that aside from knowing what to expect from the procedure, it is important to know the financial implications that every step of the procedure would take to avoid paying more, or worse, unable to achieve your surgery goals.
After the consultation, the surgeon would be able to determine the following:
- The cost based on the actual hair loss
- The quality of the donor area and its flexibility in providing the needed hair for the procedure
- The length of the donor grafts and of course the follicular units.
All the factors mentioned above allows the surgeon to come up with a surgical plan, which is what the surgeon should use as the basis for the price to be given to the patient.
Then comes the technique that the patient prefers for the procedure since there two available options – the FUE and the FUT technique. Between the two, the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is the more traditional and cheaper one. The cost is determined by the number of individual hair grafts. The running rate is $6 – $8 per graft.
Since the cost depends on the number of grafts required for the procedure, the general price can anywhere from $5 – $14 per piece. And that brings the running total to anywhere between $4,000 to $15,000. It is quite a prohibitive amount and because most insurance plans do not cover it, less patients are enabled to have this procedure.
Aside from the aforementioned cost, it would be wise to know the possibilities that can happen after surgery and the financial implications that the patient might have to pay for. Some complications include scarring and hair follicle infections. There are also instances when the donor area sheds some of its original hair in what is referred to as shock loss. These and many others could happen so better ask your surgeon about these concerns to have a complete picture of the treatment.
Cost in the UK
Over in the United Kingdom, the cost of the procedure completely depends on the number of follicles needed for the transplant with follicle having an average of 1.6 hairs. The chosen procedure would also dictate the overall price. To illustrate further, if you decide to go for FUE, it would require several hair grafts. At this point, the cost could range from £2500 – £7,000, which is not a bad price to pay for the return of the patient’s self-confidence. It is also good to note that the hair transplant promises a new life after years of suffering and anguish. Normally, the patient just needs one treatment. But if the condition is severe, or when the hair loss is at an advanced stage already, additional treatment sessions may be required.
Other Cost Factors to Consider
The extent of the hair loss ultimately decides how much the transplant would cost. Therefore, the greater the area that needs to be covered, the bigger the cost would get. At this point, the cost if on a per graft basis and this averages £2 and £5 per graft.
For the early receding hairline, prepare to shell out for 500-800 grafts with an estimate of £1,000 to £4000. Receding hairlines would need anywhere between 800 – 1,000 grafts and that would be from £1,600 – £5,000 while male pattern baldness may use 1,000 to 1,500 grafts, which means £2,000 – £7500. For severe cases, you need up to 7,500 grafts and at £30,000 is the most expensive procedure for hair transplantation. Add to the said factors would be the quality and reputation of your chosen surgeon, which effectively increases the cost of the procedure, specially when the doctor is well known and revered by his industry.
Cost Per Hair Transplant Type
If you are interested in the FUE method, you must bear in mind that it uses a more advanced technique than FUT. Because of the mentioned reasons, the average cost of the transplant would be £2,000 to £7,000 and there might be a need to have more than just one session.
But if you prefer the strip harvesting technique, it is less complicated, therefore it can be expected that you pay a lower amount for it. What is complicated to factor in is the number of follicles that will be used so the clinics would count the cost by session rather than by follicle.
Avoid Low Cost Hair Transplants
Because of the very stiff competition in the industry, the patient must be wary of those who offer their services at very low prices. Most of the time, the quality and expertise are not as desired compared to the higher-priced counterparts.
Cost in Australia
In Australia, the costing of hair transplants are done by most clinics on a per graft basis. Such a method would allow them to offer the right price to the patient. This means that a patient who needs 1,000 grafts would be charged the same as one who needs 2,000 grafts. Since Australia is known to be a stickler for quality and equality, it created a fair pricing mechanism called HTA (Hair Transplant Australia) that offers their prices on a per graft basis. Please take note that the cost for initial grafts would be relatively higher.
To get an affordable hair transplant, opt for surgeons who are dependable and are willing to make their prices fit your budget. Some would offer special discounts that would effectively lower down the cost of the procedure.
At this point, the patient must not rely on the rough estimates given by the surgeon. Be firm with your desire to get the exact figures from your surgeon. Professional surgeons would welcome this because it shows how invested the patient is in the procedure.
Cost for FUT
The cost is determined according to the number of grafts per batch. The first one with 500 grafts would be priced at $7.70 per graft, the second batch of 500 grafts is priced at $6.60 and the next 500 grafts are charged at $4.40. Everything beyond would be $3.30 per graft.
Cost for FUE
For this method, the first 1000 grafts are priced at $9.90 per graft, the next 500 grafts at $8.80 per graft, the next 500 grafts at $7.70 per graft, the next 500 grafts at $6.60 per graft and everything beyond that would be at $5.50 per graft.
Take note that the prices are fully inclusive of GST and that regardless of the method, the procedures are considered as cosmetic surgery and that makes them subjected to GST.
To learn more about hair transplant in Australia, our team of doctors at the Australian Institute for Hair Restoration will be provide you with an in-depth information during your consultation. This will cover the details of your personalized treatment and detailed cost. Call us now or simply fill-out our inquiry form to schedule your consultation today!












