Our hairline forms an important element of our beauty. Loss of this hairline can lead to poor self-esteem. A hair transplant treatment is a kind of surgery where hair from one area of our body is moved to another. This minimum invasive procedure is normally used to treat male pattern baldness. Hair transplants are indeed the most effective way to increase the amount or thickness of hair, the treatment cost can be expensive.

Different types of hair transplants
The two most common types of hair transplants are:

Follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS) – In this process, a strip of skin from a non-bald donor area usually the backside of the head is removed. The opening is then hidden by the hair surrounding the area. This strip of scalp is then divided into tiny parts called grafts each of which contains one or few hairs. These grafts are then relocated into the balding areas known as the recipient sites. The process takes around 4 to 8 hours, depending on the size of the transplant.

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) – In this process, the backside of the head is shaved and individual hair follicles are removed instead of an entire strip. In this case, the donor sites get healed faster and only small dots can be noticed which are eventually concealed by the surrounding hair. This process roughly takes up to 8 to12 hours of your time, for transplanting approximately 2000 grafts. Normally, FUE is less invasive than FUSS and the chances of complications like post-operative pain or scarring are also less. The hair follicles in the case of FUE can be gathered from different areas and not necessarily from a single place, hence the thickness of hair in the donor site is also unaffected. The FUE transplant surgery is at times more expensive than FUSS.

Recovery time required
After a hair transplant surgery, your scalp becomes quite sensitive. After the surgery, you need to wear bandages for some days. Your doctor may prescribe medication for pain, antibiotics to prevent infection or an anti-inflammatory to check the swelling. Recovery time varies with the procedure you have undergone. In the case of FUE the recovery is faster. Most people can return to their normal schedule within a week after the procedure. In case of stitches, they are removed within 10 days. As per the basic rules, the transplanted hair should fall off within 6 weeks of the surgery. The new visible hair growth is expected in the recipient areas in a few months and it grows by half-inch every month.

The expected cost of hair transplant
The cost of hair transplant is practically determined by the total number of grafts you would require. The cost per graft in India is around Rs.25–30. But it is not possible to give an accurate estimate unless before your consultation. Post consultation i.e. after the doctors have done a thorough examination, they can let you know the exact cost of the treatment.