October 26, 2005

What Will A Hair Transplant Cost?

Filed under: Hair Transplant — normanh @ 3:14 pm

Once you’ve decided that a hair transplant is what you want, there are several things to consider. One of the main ones, of course, is HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

The initial answer to that question is , ” It depends. ” Let’s look at some of the factors that could impact the final cost of your transplant surgery.

1- Your overall health;

First and foremost, is to always remember, that surgery, any kind of surgery, always carries with it a certain amount of risk. As a result, no reputable surgeon will operate on you unless he understands your complete medical history.

You can expect to fill out a lengthly form telling the doctor of any pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, skin conditions,etc. ; This is for both of your protection. Neither one of you want any surprises while the operation is being performed. Complications cost more.

2- The size of the area to be treated.

a- Most surgeons charge by the number of graphs they have to make.

b- The number of graphs required run from 300 to 2500, generally speaking.

c- The graphs’ prices range from around $3.00 to $10.00 a graph.

d- Naturally, the larger the area, the larger the price.

3- The amount of times you’ll need to be treated.

a- Large areas, or multiple areas, will require several operations to complete the procedure.

b- This will require post-operative office visits, each time, so added costs will be necessary. Medication is also likely.

4- The expertise your doctor brings to the operation?

a- Just because a doctor is more expensive, does not mean he is necessarily a better surgeon. He may be at a location that has a very high overhead, and thus the price, is a reflection of his business acumen, and not his surgical skills.

b- Seek a surgeon who has performed several thousand hair transplant operations. Make sure he/she is Board Certified.

5- What State of the Art equipment is being used, and what other professionals will be assisting in the procedure? Are their fees separate, or are they included in the package price? Make sure you find out BEFORE HAND.

6- What are your expectations? Make sure you communicate you desires to the doctor, BEFORE, the transplant. Most people are happy with 50% hair restoration; However, if you want more, that will cost you.

7- Will you need Post-Operative treatment? If so, what kind, and for how long? Whatever it is, that will be added expenses. Plan ahead. You don’t want any unessary surprises.

Note;

Most surgeons have interest free, or very low interest payment plans for those who need financing. Payments can be adjusted to meet your financial needs.

Another option, if you don’t want to go into debt, is to get your surgery done in stages. You don’t have to have it done all at once.

However, there is a word of Caution: If you have too many procedures, over different time frames, the hair may not blend as well. This will defeat you purpose. You want to look as natural as possible.

Generally speaking, your looking at between $5000.00 and $15,000.00 for a hair transplant operation. Sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but why look older if you don’t have to?

By all means, be realistic. Set your priorities, correctly. If you find that you cannot afford the transplant just now, postpone it; You can have it done another time; However, if it’s within your means, GO FOR IT!

October 12, 2005

What To Look For In Your Hair Transplant Surgeon

Filed under: Hair Transplant — normanh @ 3:27 pm

You have thinning hair. That is a fact you have acknowledged, no matter how depressing. Take heart in knowing that there are viable treatments available for men and women.

Among the proven therapies for male and female pattern baldness is hair transplantation which is sometimes called hair restoration. Basically, this surgery artistically rearranges the hair on your head to cover the thinning areas or bald spots.

If you are a woman, however, bear in mind that the issue is much more complex because knowing the reason for your hair loss is crucial. While heredity is the major factor in a majority of cases of hair loss in men; in women there is often an underlying medical condition which may be treatable.

It is of vital importance for a woman to have a complete medical evaluation including bloodwork before determining that surgery is the answer.

Once hair transplant surgery is chosen as a treatment method, locating a competent surgeon to perform the procedure is necessary. Skill and technique vary greatly as do results. A skillful surgeon must be chosen carefully. There are several key factors to analyze which are crucial to the success of the treatment. Some of the items for consideration are as follows:

–Is the surgeon willing to discuss all available treatments, not just surgical options?

–Does the surgeon perform hair transplantation fulltime or as a sideline? (Satisfactory results stem from regular skill practice)

–How many patients have been treated successfully?

–Does the surgeon keep abreast of the latest research and advancements in technique?

–Are there at least a dozen examples of “before/after” pictures from recent patients that you may access?

–Are any of these patients willing to speak with you?

–What is the overall reputation of the surgeon?

Making a decision regarding undergoing any type of surgery is challenging; educating yourself thoroughly is your best preparation.

October 3, 2005

Hair Transplants - Things To Be Careful About

Filed under: Hair Transplant — normanh @ 10:29 am

Many women find bald men attractive and sexually alluring. And indeed there are men who actually live happily with their baldness.

However, the fact remains that a good number of men are seriously preoccupied with their thinning and subsequent loss of their hair. They are eager to stop the unhappy process and would readily consider any means to keep their crop of hair on their head.

A bold way to keep away from a bald head is that of hair transplanting which entails a surgical method. This consists in transplanting a strip of skin filled with follicular units from the back of the scalp and placing this to the area of the scalp where it is balding by means of stitching up the strip into the new area.

Wherever such a strip of hair is planted the follicular units of hair on it will keep growing just as it did at the back of the scalp. Hair from this transplanting method lasts a lifetime and will not be affected by male pattern baldness.

Here are ten factors to be wary of before considering hair transplanting.

  1. Do avoid hair transplant salesmen, consultants or representatives of hair transplant clinics as these are more interested in their commission rather than in your best interest.

  2. Clinics who are not straight forward about their charges should be avoided.

  3. Also avoided should be those clinics that do not have a consistent flow of patients who will ensure the maintenance of the skill required in performing hair transplants.

  4. Do eliminate any fantasy that hair transplants can equip you with a full head of hair. The true significance of transplants is to rearrange hair around your scalp - not create new hair.

  5. Beware of inadequately trained surgeons of hair transplants. If these are not dermatologists they should at least be well acquainted with the science of hair growth and disorders.

  6. Watch out for suggestions to quick fixes that give you results in a year rather than a good hair transplant that will look natural as you age, 20 or 30 years on.

  7. Though a hair transplant certainly gives you more confidence it does not, however, change your life in such a way that you expect to gain friendships or relationships, for example, just because of that.

  8. Other than hair transplants with follicular units, you need to be wary of other methods of hair transplants such as minigrafts, punch grafts, square grafts, linear grafts and slot grafts. These transplants can never appear completely natural as they all tend to look Œjutting‚ out.

  9. Don’t be seduced by the idea that to achieve the illusion of more hair and less scalp you are talked into scalp reductions and flaps. You will be risking that your scalp would not look normal. Just find a hairstyle that hides the hair transplant scarring.

  10. During a hair transplant ensure that your hair follicular units are dissected under a microscope to avoid unnecessary damage to the root follicular system.

Keeping these pointers in mind is a good guide to you if and when you are considering a hair transplant.