Losing one’s hair is probably one of the biggest nightmares that we have to face these days. It has a lot to do with the hair being called the “crowning glory.”
The problem with hair transplants is that you want it to look and grow as naturally and permanently as possible. Achieving this kind of perfection requires a few coins.
Hair restoration can be costly. However, making the right decisions in the following aspects will guarantee that your hair transplant will be of good quality at a relatively lower price.
The Right Hospital
Not all hospitals offer hair transplant as a mainstream surgical procedure. If your hospital doesn’t offer the procedure, or is not confident with delivering good results, do not push for it. No matter how cheap over-all expenses will show.
Try scouring for the right hospital online. Some hospitals, when they find out that you’re outside the city/ state, they offer free airfare for the patient and free online consultation. This consultation often includes the quotation for the whole surgery. Coordinate well with the representative of the hospital. If your budget is tight, inform the representative. Usually, they suggest ways for you to save more. With the convenience of the Internet, looking for the perfect hospital is just a click away.
The Right Package
The whole hair transplant surgery—only available in specialized hospitals– is usually sold per package. This is true especially if you have a large budget. A full package will (normally) include transportation costs (if you live far from the hospital), the actual surgery, maintenance medicine and accommodations for post-surgical close monitoring.
How it is Priced
The normal measure for hair transplant surgery cost is the cost per graft. A graft is one group of hairs mimicked from the donor tissue in order to create the most natural and permanent effect as possible. The bracket for graft cost is $4-$7. Just multiply the per-graft price to the price that you need and that’s the amount of hair that you have to “purchase”.
For Follicular Unit Transplants, it may cost you $2-$6 per unit. The FUT transplants are different from grafting as they are finer and look more natural. Many surgeons say it is the best form of hair restoration procedures.
Sometimes the hair transplant is also priced according to the doctor or the surgeon who is handling the procedure. In a certain locality, there are doctors (connected to their respective hospitals) who have a good reputation in hair transplant surgeries. This is because of their previous successful surgeries that dominate the buzz marketing for such procedures. Also, the surgery is not the be-all end-all. There is also another relevant charge and that is the consultation. As there are many ways to approach hair restoration, you have to consult with a good doctor about what kind of procedure will work best for you. However, with intensive research, you can find a cheaper alternative with good results.
There is also a difference in location. In more urban areas, things are generally more expensive than less developed areas. This is due to the advancement of technology and metropolitan convenience. With that said, hair transplants in more urbanized areas cost more than other areas.
The last factor that makes up the aggregate price of the whole hair transplant procedure is the goal that you want to have with the surgery. The more sophisticated or difficult the procedure is, the higher the costs will be. This is because the main goal in these kinds of procedures is to have natural looking hair. Ask about the implications of multiple surgeries (and if you need them) and most of all, be realistic in your goals.
Is Financing Available?
Yes, financing is available for those who want hair restoration. In fact, if you try looking on the Internet, you will immediately find financing institutions for hair transplant surgeries.
Hair Transplant Procedure financing occurs in two ways. First, the hospital may be willing to give you the whole package of the hair restoration treatment and spread the costs over a longer period of time. This works under the principle of installments—where burden to pay is lessened because it is spread out. There’s less time pressure in this case.
Second, the hospital may refer you to third-party lending institutions that lend money for a cheaper interest rate. However, these financing options are only available to the patients who have good credit standing and perhaps, a good-paying salary.