Are You Concerned about Cost when considering Hair Transplant Surgery? Many men and women suffering from hair loss may consider surgery, yet before committing, they are concerned about the costs involved with these procedures. Choose the best Hair transplant.
Hair transplants are considered cosmetic surgery and do not fall under insurance coverage, even when caused by medical conditions or medications. The cost will depend on various factors.
Costs
Hair transplant costs vary considerably and typically include surgery fees and any medications prescribed by your surgeon, plus travel costs that must also be factored in.
Fees will depend on a surgeon’s level of experience and the type of hair restoration procedure chosen, with FUT (strip surgery) typically costing less per graft but leaving an unsightly scar on your scalp; while FUE, on the other hand, is more delicate yet also more costly.
However, expanding an entire area’s hair volume requires additional expense, thus driving up the cost of surgery. There are various payment methods for hair transplants, including credit cards and loans; you could also try driving for Uber or doing TaskRabbit jobs to cover costs; remember that these procedures fall outside of standard insurance coverage.
Procedures
Hair transplants are a viable solution to restore lost locks, yet they can be expensive. Many factors impacting their cost include location, surgeon experience/qualifications/cost, and what type of procedure will be performed. On average, however, most hair transplants cost between $4,500-15,000, with more extensive treatments incurring higher prices than less intensive procedures.
Hair restoration surgery is considered cosmetic, so it typically is not covered by insurance policies. There may be instances in which you could receive partial or complete coverage to make sure before going forward with any procedure. Check with your health insurer on what they cover to determine what policies may offer coverage options before proceeding with surgery.
There are two primary methods of hair transplant surgery — FUE (follicle extraction unit) and FUT (entire strip extraction). Most surgeons charge per graft; thus, the more follicles you need to cover thinning or balding areas, the higher your costs will be.
Surgeons
Skill and experience are critical components to keeping costs under control when considering hair transplantation surgery. An experienced surgeon is more likely to complete procedures efficiently and quickly, which could reduce overall expenses.
Your surgeon will remove healthy follicles from the back of your head and relocate them to areas that require more coverage. They will sterilize and numb the area before creating slits or holes with a scalpel or needle to place each graft carefully into one of these holes or slits.
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) are the two methods of hair transplantation available today, which vary based on how donor areas are harvested. FUT utilizes strip surgery, while FUE relies on handheld punches to extract individual hair follicles from your scalp, taking less time per treatment session than FUT does.
Cosmetic procedures like hair transplants typically aren’t covered by health insurance plans; however, if your hair loss was due to injury or another medical condition, your insurance might cover this procedure.
Insurance
Assuming you have health insurance, many who are considering hair transplants may wonder whether it will cover their procedure. Unfortunately, health plans typically do not provide coverage for elective or cosmetic surgeries.
Surgery may sometimes be medically necessary. This determination depends on several factors, including whether the procedure addresses an existing health issue; however, this exception is only ever rare.
Most dental insurance policies do not cover hair transplants; fortunately, there are financing solutions that may make the procedure more affordable.
Save up for treatment with a credit card offering no-introduce interest and make regular payments over time. Also, be sure to budget for travel expenses if visiting a surgeon outside your city – these costs can quickly add up and make your total bill higher than anticipated. Finally, ensure your budget includes medications or aftercare treatments necessary.
Financing
Hair transplant financing options vary, from traditional banks and standalone providers to medical loan companies and medical loan aggregators. Before making your choice, weigh the pros and cons of each option carefully, taking special note of minimum loan amounts; overborrowing could create financial strain down the line. Also, decide between secured or unsecured loans when considering what best fits you.
Finally, always get your quote in writing. Some doctors may charge by the follicular unit, while others provide the total cost of surgery in their initial price quote. If your initial quote doesn’t cover everything that needs to be covered by surgery, consider seeking another opinion before making your decision.
Though hair transplant surgery can be expensive, its results make it worthwhile. Furthermore, its benefits will last long-term; confidence and relief from hair loss cannot be priced. To help make the procedure affordable for everyone involved in Peachtree City, Newnan, and Atlanta, hair transplant surgeons offer financing through third-party providers like HCS (now Ally Lending). They provide interest-free loans with 12-60 month terms available through HCS (now Ally Lending).