Key takeaways

• Hair transplants are typically more successful than over-the-counter hair restoration products, with 10% to 80% of transplanted hair fully growing back within 3 to 4 months.

• The cost of hair transplants ranges from $4,000 to $15,000, with final pricing dependent on factors like the extent of the procedure, surgeon availability and experience, and chosen surgical technique.

• Hair transplants involve taking healthy hair follicles from thicker parts of the scalp or body and grafting them to thinning or balding areas, but they may not work for those with widespread thinning, chemotherapy-related loss, or thick scalp scars.

Hair transplants are performed by taking hair from thicker parts of the scalp, or other parts of the body, and grafting it to the thinning or balding section of the scalp. These procedures are usually considered when other treatments like topical ointments don’t work.

The first transplant was performed in 1939 in Japan with single scalp hairs. In the following decades, physicians developed the “plug” technique. This involves transplanting large tufts of hair.

Over time, surgeons began using mini- and micro-grafts to minimize the appearance of transplanted hair on the scalp.

Hair transplants are typically more successful than over-the-counter hair restoration products. But there are some factors to consider:

  • Anywhere from 10% to 80% of transplanted hair will fully grow back in an estimated 3 to 4 months, according to a 2017 study.
  • Like regular hair, transplanted hair will thin over time.
  • People with dormant hair follicles (sacs that usually contain hair beneath the skin but no longer grow hair) may have less effective transplants, but a 2022 review of studies suggests that platelet-rich plasma therapy is effective alongside hair transplantation in helping transplanted hairs to grow back.

Hair transplants don’t work for everyone. They’re mainly used to restore hair if you’re balding or thinning naturally or have lost hair due to an injury.

Most transplants are performed with your existing hair, so they’re not as effective for treating people with:

  • widespread thinning and baldness
  • hair loss due to chemotherapy or other medications
  • thick scalp scars from injuries

Anecdotally, the costs of hair transplants can range from about $4,000 to $15,000, but they vary depending on numerous factors, such as:

  • extent of the transplant procedure
  • availability of surgeons in your area
  • experience of the surgeon
  • surgical technique chosen

Because hair transplants are cosmetic procedures, health insurance usually won’t pay for the procedure.

Aftercare medications may also add to the final cost.

A hair transplant involves taking hair you have and transferring it to an area where you don’t have hair. It’s typically taken from the back of your head, but it can also be taken from other parts of your body.

Before starting a transplant, your surgeon sterilizes the area where the hair will be removed and numbs it with a local anesthetic. You can also request sedation to stay asleep for the procedure.

Your surgeon then performs one of two transplant methods: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or follicular unit extraction (FUE). There are variations of each method, such as NeoGraft, a type of FUE.

Additional methods are being studied. One of them, the stem cell hair transplant, looks promising but is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Follicular unit transplantation (FUT)

FUT is sometimes known as follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS). To perform a FUT procedure, your surgeon follows these steps:

  1. Using a scalpel, the surgeon removes a piece of your scalp, usually from the back of your head. The strip size is typically about 6 to 10 inches long but can stretch from ear to ear.
  2. They close the area where the scalp was removed with stitches.
  3. Your surgeon and their assistants separate the scalp strip into smaller pieces with a scalpel. They may split the piece up into as many as 2,000 smaller fragments, called grafts. Some of these grafts may contain only one hair each.
  4. Using a needle or blade, the surgeon makes small holes in your scalp where hair will be transplanted.
  5. The surgeon inserts hairs from the removed piece of scalp into the puncture holes. This step is called grafting.
  6. They then cover the surgical sites with bandages or gauze.

The specific number of grafts you receive depends on the:

  • type of hair you have
  • size of the transplant site
  • quality (including thickness) of hair
  • hair color

Follicular unit extraction (FUE)

To perform a FUE procedure, your surgeon takes these steps:

  1. They shave off hair on the back of your head.
  2. The surgeon then takes individual follicles out of the scalp skin. You’ll see tiny marks where each follicle was removed.
  3. As with the FUT procedure, the surgeon makes small holes in your scalp and grafts hair follicles into the holes.
  4. They then cover the surgical site with bandages or gauze.

FUT and FUE may each take several hours to several days to complete. In part, this depends on the amount of work performed by the surgeon. You will go home the same day.

Once the surgery is done, your surgeon carefully removes bandages. The area may be swollen, so your surgeon might inject triamcinolone into the area to keep the swelling down.

You’ll likely feel pain or soreness at the transplant site as well as in the area where hair was taken from. For the next few days, your surgeon may prescribe or recommend:

Here are some aftercare tips for hair transplant surgery:

  • Avoid strenuous activities in the days following surgery.
  • Wait a few days after the surgery to wash your hair. Only use mild shampoos for the first few weeks.
  • You should be able to return to work or normal activities in about 3 days.
  • Avoid rubbing the affected area.
  • Do not press a brush or comb down over the new grafts for about 3 weeks.
  • Do not wear any hats or pullover shirts and jackets until your doctor says it’s OK.
  • Do not exercise for about a week.

Don’t worry if some hairs fall out. This is part of the process. Transplanted hair may not grow much or seamlessly match the hair around it for a few months.

A common side effect is scarring, and this cannot be avoided with either procedure.

Other potential side effects include:

  • unusual physical sensations in the affected area or losing sensation around the surgical sites
  • infections
  • crust or pus drainage around the surgical sites
  • scalp pain, itching, and swelling
  • folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles)
  • bleeding
  • visible areas of hair that don’t match the surrounding hair or are noticeably thinner
  • continuing to lose hair if your hair is still balding

Minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia) can also have side effects.

Minoxidil side effects include:

  • irritated scalp
  • nausea and vomiting
  • dizziness
  • irregular heart rate
  • hand, foot, or breast swelling
  • chest pain

Finasteride side effects include:

Visit the American Academy of Plastic Surgeons website to search for medical professionals near you who perform hair transplants. A primary care doctor may also be able to recommend a professional specializing in hair transplants.

Here are some tips to consider when you’re looking for a hair transplant surgeon:

  • Select only a licensed, certified surgeon.
  • Confirm a record of successful transplant procedures by asking to see a portfolio.
  • Read reviews about them.

If you’re considering undergoing a hair transplant procedure, speaking with a doctor or a transplant surgeon is an important first step.

Neither of the hair transplant procedures is guaranteed to be successful, and scarring is a common risk.

Also, keep in mind that you may not be eligible for either procedure based on your hair volume or quality.