Hair Transplant Cost & Procedure FAQs
How much does a hair transplant cost? We hear this question often! Patients either ask it at their initial consultation appointment or call to inquire about hair transplant cost over the phone. Unfortunately, we don’t have a specific answer we can give you online.
The cost of a hair transplant for women may be different than the cost of a hair transplant for men. The price goes up when additional procedures are added on. Various patients have a range of unique needs that must be met. Not everyone wants the same techniques to be used.
The bottom line is that the best hair transplant in USA for you isn’t necessarily the best hair transplant for someone else. Therefore, the best we can do is to give you some broad information about the cost of hair transplant surgery and about the procedure itself. Below are the most commonly asked questions we receive on these topics.
Once you book your consultation with Dr. Sieber, you’ll be able to learn more about the cost details of your specific surgery.
Hair Transplant Cost & Procedure FAQs
How much does a hair transplant cost on average?
As stated above, every hair transplant procedure is unique. Therefore, we don’t offer one-size-fits-all quotes for hair restoration online.
You’ll need to book a consultation appointment so that you can describe in detail your goals for surgery and learn about the various hair restoration techniques available to you. At that point, Dr. Sieber should be able to give you an accurate quote for your hair transplant procedure.
Does insurance cover hair transplants?
No, health insurance only covers plastic surgeries that are “medically necessary”. This means a procedure or surgery that needs to be performed in order to preserve the patient’s health.
While you may feel that your hair transplant procedure is medically necessary, if your health insurance provider does not, they will not cover the surgery. You are always welcome to discuss coverage with your health insurance provider, but just know that most hair transplant surgeries are not covered by health insurance.
Will I have financing options for hair transplant surgery?
Many patients will qualify for financing options if they are unable to pay for the cost of their surgery in full without assistance. We, of course, accept major credit cards. But you might also be eligible for medical credit — which comes with low-interest-rate payment plans and numerous options — from companies like CareCredit.
What’s the difference between FUE and FUT?
FUE stands for follicular unit excision (or follicular unit extraction), and FUT stands for follicular unit transplantation. These are two different ways that donor hair can be extracted for your procedure.
FUE tends to be more commonly used. This technique removes individual follicular units of hair using punch incisions. FUT removes hair in long strips of the patient’s hair, hair follicles, skin, and a small amount of fat.
There are benefits and drawbacks to both follicular unit extraction FUE hair transplants and follicular unit transplantation FUT hair transplants. Dr. Sieber will assess your hair loss and help you make the best decision for your unique situation.
Is a hair transplant painful?
Hair grafts do cause some discomfort following surgery, but it is typically minimal. Pain medication can be prescribed to improve comfort.
Will it be obvious that I’ve had a hair transplant?
Right after surgery, there will be areas without hair where the donor hair was removed, and the transplantation area hair follicles in front or on top of the head may be red and swollen.
For this reason, many patients choose to shave their heads, stay home from work and outings during the initial recovery phase, and wear a hat or wig thereafter (if possible). Over time as the hair fills in, it will not be noticeable.
Will hair transplant surgery leave scars on my head?
Surgical hair transplants may leave small scars in the donor hair areas or where the transplanted hair is placed. However, very noticeable scars are rare, especially over time, as the scars fade naturally and hair grows to cover the skin.
Will my hair transplant results last for 10 years?
While some patients may decide to get a revision procedure after some time has passed, it’s not uncommon to continue benefiting from this procedure for many years. Many patients still maintain their results from a hair transplant after 10 years.
Always Choose a Qualified Surgeon
Hair transplant surgery is a delicate procedure that requires extensive experience and expertise from your surgeon. If you receive a very low price quote for hair transplant costs from an individual or hair transplant clinic, be sure to check the individuals credentials, experience, testimonials, and hair transplant before and after photos. If it sounds too good to be true, it very well may be.
Get in Touch to Book a Consultation Appointment
Hair loss can cause major personal disruptions in your life. Whether you have just started noticing hair loss or you’ve been struggling with poor hair growth for some time, hair transplantation can be a wonderful, long-lasting solution. When hair transplant procedures are performed by experienced surgeons, you get natural-looking results and an instant boost in self-confidence.
Double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Sieber performs hair restoration procedures at his San Francisco practice. If you would like to learn more about hair restoration surgery, the cost of hair transplants, and whether you would be a good candidate for this procedure, please contact our office today to schedule your initial consultation appointment.