The price of a hair transplant can vary depending on many different factors. These include the surgeon, the clinic, the number of grafts, the country of choice, the type of hair transplant you would like and whether you will be going for an all inclusive package or not. In this article, the cost of hair transplants, with these various factors taken into consideration, specifically highlighting the hair transplant cost in Turkey will be discussed. Keep reading below to find out more.
Table of Contents
Number of Grafts
The first and most important factor determining the price of a hair transplant is the number of grafts you need. A graft is a section of skin containing a hair follicle which is removed from the area of your scalp containing hair (donor area) and transplanted into where the balding is occurring on your head (recipient area). The more grafts required, the higher the price of the transplant.
Depending on the severity of balding, a doctor will advise you on how many grafts would be required for the hair transplant. It is important to consult with several doctors and clinics to get a good understanding of how many grafts you need. It can happen where a clinic tells you that you require more grafts than necessary to try and charge you a higher price, especially if you’re traveling abroad for this treatment. This is nothing to worry about as long as you choose a clinic with accreditation and consult with a few different doctors to get different opinions.
The number of grafts you require can range from 1000-5000 and maybe even more. A table at the end of this article shows the estimated average cost of hair transplants based on number of grafts, country and method of hair transplant.
Type of Hair Transplant
There are several different methods available for hair transplants. Each one falls into a different price range as it is based on advancements made in the field over the last decades. Even with the advancements that have been made however, the different methods fall under 2 categories which are Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). The advancements made over recent times have been in the FUE method and mainly involve the use of different equipment. Each of these types of hair transplants will be briefly outlined below with an in depth article being linked at the end of this section.
- Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
FUT is the original method of hair transplant and involves cutting a strip of skin generally from the back of the head. This strip of skin becomes the donor area where hair will be harvested and prepared for transplantation. Once ready, the surgeon will make small incisions in the recipient area of the scalp and transplant the hair follicles by forceps.
- Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
FUE, which will be discussed in more detail below refers to the way in which hair grafts are extracted from the scalp. All of the following 3 methods of hair transplants use the FUE method with slightly different tools. The first FUE method discussed below refers to the way this method of hair transplant was first invented and carried out in the early 2000’s.
FUE is different to FUT, as the way hair follicles are extracted from the scalp is different. Rather than removing a strip of skin from the back of the head, FUE involves using a surgical tool to remove individual punches of hair from throughout the scalp. As a result, there is significantly less scarring on the scalp. Once the hair grafts are extracted, incisions will be made on the scalp to implant the removed hair. For the other 2 methods outlined below, while the way hair is extracted remains the same, what changes is the way the hair is implanted.
Sapphire FUE is the same technique outlined above with the difference of the tool used to make incisions. Rather than using a steel blade to make incisions in the recipient area, your surgeon will use blades out of sapphire which are sharper and more precise, allowing healing to happen quicker and leaving less scars as a result. This method is pricier than regular FUE as it involves more expensive equipment through the use of a sapphire blade.
Direct Hair Implantation FUE (DHI) refers to one of the most recent advancements made in how extracted hairs are transplanted. With DHI, no incisions are required to be made with a blade on the scalp and the tool used can prepare the skin and implant the extracted hair simultaneously.
With all of this covered, as previously mentioned different types of hair transplants have different costs. This order is listed below starting from least expensive to most expensive.
- FUT (least expensive)
- FUE
- Sapphire FUE
- DHI FUE (most expensive)
This order holds true regardless of the clinic or country you are interested in having a hair transplant in. If you would like to find out more about the different types of hair transplants, feel free to check out this detailed article. A table at the end of this article shows the estimated average cost of hair transplants based on number of grafts, country and method of hair transplant.
Clinic and Surgeon
When trying to determine the cost of a hair transplant, which clinic and surgeon you choose will massively influence this as the reputability and success history of who you decide to have this procedure with are vital. The more experience a surgeon has, the longer the clinic has been in business and the more accreditations associated with them, the more expensive your hair transplant is likely to be. It is important to remember not to seek only the cheapest option available, as there have been many issues in the past with patients getting unsuccessful hair transplants from black market clinics with people who are not qualified doctors.
Do not let the idea of a particular country not having qualified clinicians influence your decision. Many countries in Europe offer cheaper hair transplants than countries such as the UK, Ireland, U.S., and United Arab Emirates. These countries have doctors who are just as qualified and skilled to carry out this procedure.
Location
The country where you choose to have this procedure will also influence the hair transplant cost. Western developed countries tend to be the most expensive for this procedure with other countries having much more affordable options. For example, the U.S., U.K., UAE, Canada and Singapore will be much more expensive to undergo hair transplant surgery in comparison to countries such Turkey, Czech Republic and Thailand.
This is related to the cost of living and the average salary in the country. As the U.S. is a lot more expensive to live in with the cost of living being a lot higher than other European countries, surgery also costs more. In comparison, Turkey, which uses a local currency that is weaker than the dollar and euro and as a result means that Hair Transplants are cheaper than most western countries. In recent years, Turkey has become the global hub for hair transplants boasting modern clinics, experienced surgeons and affordable prices. You can read our full article on travelling to Turkey for this procedure following this link.
All inclusive vs self booked
Finally, if you decide to go abroad for your hair transplant, one of the other factors which will influence the price is whether you opt for a fully inclusive package or not. A lot of European countries now offer all inclusive hair transplant packages including your hotel, transport and hair transplant. Of course, depending on the clinic and country you choose, this may be more expensive than organising these aspects yourself.
Fully inclusive in this situation has a slightly different definition to what you may be familiar with on an all inclusive holiday. All inclusive holidays will include the food and drinks at your hotel in the price while travelling abroad for a fully inclusive hair transplant will consist of different elements. It’s important to read the details of these packages carefully as some will include flights, transport and hotels while others may only include the hotel and transport.
If you are a person who enjoys more flexibility in things such as where you stay and how much time you have in a particular location, not going for an all inclusive package makes sense. This will give you a lot more freedom to control various elements of the trip and only require you to pay the clinic for the procedure rather than involving an agency which includes additional fees for the services they provide.
In summary, all inclusive is more expensive than self booked due to the additional things included along with the service fee mark up.
Estimated Cost of Hair Transplants
Based on the above information, the below table has been created outlining the estimated hair transplant cost for the different types available. This table specifically focuses on the hair transplant cost in Turkey as this has become the international hub for this procedure in recent years.
It is important to note when looking at the below table, the number of grafts does not equal the number of hair follicles. Generally, each graft on average contains 2 hair follicles so the number of grafts is less than the number of hair follicles that will be transplanted.
| Number of Grafts | FUT Transplant | FUE Transplant | Sapphire FUE | DHI FUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1,000 Grafts |
$750 - $1,500 |
$1,000 - $2,500 |
$1,200 - $3,000 |
$1,500 - $3,500 |
2,000 Grafts |
$1,500 - $4,000 |
$2,000 - $5,000 |
$2,400 - $6,000 |
$3,000 - $7,000 |
3,000 Grafts |
$2,250 - $6,000 |
$3,000 - $7,500 |
$3,600 - $9,000 |
$4,500 - $10,500 |
4,000+ Grafts |
$3,000 - $8,000 |
$4,000 - $10,000 |
$4,800 - $12,000 |
$6,000 - $14,000 |
As discussed at the beginning of the article, the cost of a hair transplants can vary a lot based on factors such as clinic, surgeon, location, number of grafts and type of hair transplant. While the above is an estimate based on research carried out on various different clinic websites in Turkey, one final important consideration to remember is that a lot of clinics in Turkey will have set prices for a hair transplant. This is only true up until a certain point however, in theory, depending on the clinic, you might pay the same price for 2000 and 3000 grafts. For this reason, it is worth consulting with several different clinics to get an understanding of how much the hair transplant would cost based on your needs.
Frequently Asked Question's (FAQ's)
- What are the main factors that determine the cost of a hair transplant?
- Number of grafts needed: More grafts equal higher costs.
- Type of hair transplant: Techniques like DHI FUE are generally the most expensive, while FUT is the most affordable.
- Clinic and surgeon: Experienced surgeons and reputable clinics may charge more.
- Location: Countries like Turkey are known for offering more affordable hair transplant procedures.
- All-inclusive vs. Self-booked All-inclusive packages are usually more expensive but can include flights, hotels, and transport.
- Why is Turkey a popular destination for hair transplants?
- Turkey offers a combination of modern clinics, experienced surgeons, and generally lower costs compared to Western countries. This is due to a lower cost of living and a favorable exchange rate.
- How much does a hair transplant cost in Turkey?
- Prices vary, but this article provides a table as a guideline. It’s important to consult with multiple clinics to get specific quotes based on your individual needs. Remember, some clinics may have set prices up to a certain number of grafts.
- Are there any risks to choosing a cheaper hair transplant option?
- Yes, extremely low prices could indicate unlicensed clinics and unqualified personnel. Always prioritize the reputation of the clinic, the surgeon’s credentials, and prioritize successful results over simply finding the cheapest alternative. It is always recommended to consult with several clinics before making a booking.
- Should I always choose an all-inclusive hair transplant package?
- Not necessarily. If you prefer more control over your travel and accommodation arrangements, self-booking can be cheaper. Compare the costs to see what works best for you.