Recent statistics show that hair transplantation is not only growing in popularity, but the public perception of the procedure is changing as well. According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons (ISHRS), the hair transplant industry has grown by up to 70% over the last decade in some parts of the world. So what's changed? Keep reading.
Prices Have Dropped!
Surgical hair restoration has come a long way, not only in terms of the results appearing natural, but the prices have also dropped dramatically. Twenty to thirty years ago, hair transplant surgeons would charge up to $25-$35 dollars per graft. Surgeons could only transplant a few hundred grafts in one session. The grafts back then were called micro-grafts, which contained anywhere from 10-15 hairs per unit-this meant that patients would require several surgeries that would cost them a small fortune. The results back then were less refined, and in some cases, downright ugly.
Prices today are relatively cheap when compared to the prices a few decades ago. For example, some surgeons in developing nations charge $2 per graft for Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). That said, you should never let the price of the procedure be the deciding factor. In the United States, you can find surgeons charging anywhere from $5-10 per graft. That's less than half the price twenty years ago.
Results Look Better!
As previously mentioned, hair transplant results look better today than they did twenty to thirty years ago. The surgical instruments used today are more advanced and allow surgeons to transplant ultra-refined grafts with minimal scarring- this means that the surgical procedure is virtually undetectable to the untrained eye.
A procedure of 1,000 grafts used to be considered a mega-session, by today's standards 1,000 grafts, would be viewed as a small procedure. Hair transplant physicians have transplanted up to 6,000 grafts in one surgical session using the Follicular Unit Strip Surgery (FUSS) harvesting technique.
Patients with advanced hair loss patterns were not considered viable surgical candidates twenty years ago. Today those patients can have several hair transplants with excellent results. An utterly bald patient can restore the appearance of a full head of hair with the aid of hair restoration and hair loss concealers such as Toppik and DermMatch.
Celebrities Endorse Their Hair Transplants
Having a hair transplant is socially acceptable today in large part due to stars coming clean about their hair transplant procedures. They no longer hide under a veil of secrecy. Athletes like Wayne Rooney, who had a hair transplant at the age of 25, have helped normalize the procedure and take away the negative stigma.
Conclusion
Hair transplants are growing in popularity, but not every hair transplant surgeon is doing great work. The skill, talent, and experience vary widely, as do their results. Belonging to a community of verified patients is essential for finding a qualified surgeon who has built their reputation on patient results, as opposed to commercial hype and marketing. Hair loss forums have become the most popular sites for researching hair transplant surgeons and treatment options.