Are Hair Transplants Worth the Time and Money?
The Costs of Getting a Hair Transplant Procedure
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Fans devoted to the US version of The Office since the beginning would have noticed a follically-focussed change in bossman Michael Scott’s appearance from Season 1 to Season 2. While some former cast members say the change was a conscious decision by the show’s producers to adjust the lead character’s appearance, onlookers and internet speculators everywhere have assumed Steve Carrell underwent a hair transplant procedure.
Whatever the case may be, there does seem to be a link between the actor’s rise in fame and a thicker head of hair. Non-celebrity men may not strive for the same results enjoyed by Steve Carrell, but the temptation to address male-pattern baldness by FUE or FUT procedures is high for the millions of Canadian men losing their hair as a result of male-pattern baldness.
Like any surgical procedure, there are costs associated with hair transplants, such as recovery time, side effects and of course, the financial costs. But are hair transplants worth the costs and risks at the end of the day?
Two Common Types of Hair Transplants
The days when the main option for cosmetic hair procedure was referred to as “hair plugs” are long gone. This procedure usually involved taking a patch of hair from the back of the head and “plugging” it on the balding spot. The results were often unnatural looking and left noticeable scarring.
Over the past few decades, more advanced methods of cosmetic hair transplant procedures have come into being — the two most common of which are Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).
FUT involves taking a strip of hair from a spot on the head that isn’t experiencing hair loss (usually the back of the head, called the donor area) and reallocating it to where hair is thinning. Though this procedure takes less time than the FUE method, it is also more likely to leave a fine scar that is noticeable in men with shorter hair.
FUE, on the other hand, involves extracting hairs from the donor area of the head one at a time — the main reason why it is a lengthier procedure than FUT. On the plus side, the scars left by FUE are smaller and white in colour, making them less noticeable even when hair is cut short.
How Long Do FUT/FUE Procedures Take?
Much like the overall cost, how long each procedure takes will depend on a variety of factors, including how many hairs you’re having transplanted, the thickness of your hair, the method you opt for, and your surgeon. Generally speaking, one hair transplant session — some people may require more than one session — will last between 4–8 hours.
How Much Does it Cost?
The total cost of the procedure will vary depending on some of the factors listed above, as well as the particular clinic where you decide to have the hair transplant. One well-known hair clinic in Canada lists prices for FUT procedures at $5 per graft for up to 2000 grafts. For FUE, the generally lengthier and more discreet procedure, it will cost $8 per graft for the first 2000 grafts. No matter where you go to get your hair transplant, you can expect to pay anywhere between $5,000 and $16,000.
How Long Does it Take to Recover?
For at least the first two weeks post-surgery, patients can expect some redness, swelling and discomfort in and around both the donor area and the area where the new hairs have been transplanted. Other potential lingering effects include localized numbness, skin blemishes like pimples, and bleeding. Though these are mainly temporary — lasting upwards of one-two months. New hairs will begin to regrow in this period of time, with more noticeable and thicker hair growth taking around 5–6 months to materialize.
Are There Other Options?
Surgery is not the only option when it comes to slowing male-pattern baldness and encouraging hair regrowth. Topical solutions (foams or sprays) like minoxidil and oral tables like finasteride are less invasive than hair transplant procedures and have been shown to increase hair growth and/or slow the natural hair-loss process.
Depending on your budget, degree of hair loss, tolerance for recovery and personal preference, hair transplant procedures can be a viable option to treat male pattern-baldness. However, they aren’t the only options. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your concerns with respect to hair loss to come up with a plan that suits you.
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