Hair Transplant Cost and Recovery

Written by Vito Quatela, MD on December 27, 2007

I have been struggling with my hair loss for most of my life. I just turned forty and I am tired of being bald. It’s affected my life in a very profound way. I wear a baseball cap whenever I can and even my kids ask me why I always wear a hat. My wife suggested that I get a hair transplant if it will make me happier. So here I am. I’d like to know the average hair transplant cost and how long I will be out of commission for?

The cost of a hair transplant varies greatly from city to city throughout the United States. Prices range from as little as $3.00 to as high as $8.00 with the standard being around $5 to $6 per follicular unit graft. If and when you speak to a hair restoration specialist, be sure to ask about additional fees including anesthetics, surgical facility costs and follow-up care as they may not be included in the procedure fee. Although hair transplantation is a substantial investment, the results are permanent and may be less expensive than other hair loss treatments when factored over a lifetime. The improvement in self-image and confidence is well worth the cost for most people.

In terms of downtime from a hair transplant procedure, you can return to work the following day and resume full activity within a few days. However, you will have tiny red spots where grafts are planted for about a week after the procedure. If work is physically strenuous, you should plan to take 1 week off. Patients are asked to avoid any heavy lifting, bending and straining for one week following surgery. For several days after the procedure, many patients wear a cap to cover the new transplants.

Vito Quatela, MD
Member, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons