Consultation Fees & Hair Transplant Cost
Gone Today. Hair Tomorrow
Graft Numbers
This page is designed to help determine the approximate number of grafts needed for a hair transplant depending on the patient’s Norwood Class pattern of hair loss. The below chart shows the different classes in the Norwood Classification system of hair loss, and we will use these to provide a general guideline for the number of follicular unit grafts needed in a first hair transplant procedure.
Number of Grafts in FIRST Hair Transplant Session*
| Norwood Class | Follicular Unit Grafts | With Crown** |
|---|---|---|
| IIa | 800-1400 | – |
| III | 1000-1600 | – |
| III Vertex | 1200-1600 | 1600-2200 |
| IIIa | 1400-1800 | – |
| IV | 1600-2200 | 2200-2600 |
| IVa | 1800-2400 | – |
| V | 2000-2500 | 2500-2800 |
| Va | 2200-2800 | – |
| VI | 2400-3000 | 2800-3400 |
| VII | 2500-3200 | 3000-3600 |
* The first session is usually designed as a stand-alone procedure. A second session would be considered for additional density, or if your hair loss progresses. Hair graft numbers in the upper part of the range are considered when the donor supply is adequate. For very large sessions, it is preferable to cut the existing hair in the transplanted area (if there is any) very short.
** Crown (or partial crown) coverage should be a goal in the first follicular hair transplant procedure only if the patient has an above-average donor supply and if limited hair loss is anticipated. If crown restoration is attempted prematurely, the person’s future options will be more limited and the chances for a cosmetically balanced hair transplant may be reduced.
The first hair transplant session serves multiple crucial purposes, such as creating or strengthening the frontal hairline to establish a long-lasting frame for the face and providing coverage to thinning or bald areas of the scalp. Adequate density should be achieved in the initial procedure to produce natural-looking results that do not require subsequent touch-ups. It is also recommended to transplant the entire affected area in one session to complete the surgical hair restoration process as soon as possible.
A second hair transplant session should only be considered after allowing sufficient time for the hair from the first session to grow, which can take up to a year. It is also important to note that the hair’s diameter, texture, and length can significantly impact the final results, and waiting for the hair to reach styling length is recommended to make the best aesthetic judgments. Waiting also allows for the donor area’s scalp laxity to improve, making it easier to harvest donor hair.
Goals for the second hair transplant session may include increasing density in previously transplanted areas, further refining the hairline, accounting for additional hair loss, and providing crown coverage when appropriate.
Second Hair Transplant Session
It generally takes from 10 to 12 months to see the full results of a follicular unit hair transplantation procedure. If a second hair transplant session is desired, it should be considered only after the hair from the first session has grown in. Over the course of the first year, the progressive increase in the hair’s diameter, texture and length can markedly change the look of the hair restoration and may influence the way the patient wants to groom his/her hair. Only after the hair has reached styling length can the patient and physician make the best aesthetic judgments regarding the placement of additional hair grafts.
Another reason to delay a second hair transplant session is that scalp laxity will continue to improve after the hair restoration for a period of up to 6-12 months making the donor hair easier to harvest.
Goals for the second hair transplant include:
- Increase density in the previously transplanted areas
- Further refine the hairline
- Account for additional hair loss
- Crown coverage when appropriate (see Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation)
Subsequent Follicular Hair Transplant Sessions
The total number of grafts needed for a complete surgical hair restoration can vary widely because of great variability between patients with respect to their hair characteristics, density, scalp laxity, head size and shape, facial characteristics and general aesthetic needs. The following table, therefore, serves only as a general guideline for the total number of hair grafts needed for each Norwood class.
| Norwood Class | Follicular Unit Grafts | With Crown** |
|---|---|---|
| IIa | 1400-2200 | – |
| III | 1600-2400 | – |
| III Vertex | 1800-2600 | 2600-3200 |
| IIIa | 2000-3000 | – |
| IV | 2200-3400 | 2200-3400 |
| IVa | 2400-3600 | – |
| V | 2600-3800 | 3800-4500 |
| Va | 2800-4200 | – |
| VI | 3000-4600 | 4600-5600 |
| VII | 3200-5000 | 5000-6400 |
* The total number of follicular unit hair grafts, transplanted over one or more sessions, that is generally needed to accomplish a complete restoration.
Advantages of Large Hair Transplant Sessions
Performing a large, initial hair transplant procedure on a virgin scalp offers several surgical advantages. The skin elasticity and blood supply of a virgin scalp are intact, allowing for easier and more secure placement of hair grafts. Additionally, the density and scalp laxity in the donor area are at their maximum, making it possible to harvest a relatively large amount of hair and allowing for the finest possible scar to form after healing.
Repeated hair transplant procedures can cause damage to the surrounding hair, scarring in the donor area, and a decrease in scalp laxity, resulting in a loss of potential donor hair. To maximize the yield of hair, it is important to minimize the total number of hair transplant sessions. In addition to technical considerations, there are social reasons for completing the restoration quickly so that the patient can focus on other aspects of their life.
There is also a risk of shedding in the recipient area after a hair transplant, particularly in areas with miniaturized hair that is at the end of its lifespan. Shedding may be cosmetically significant in areas with a high degree of miniaturization, so it is important to transplant a substantial amount of hair in these situations to achieve
Limits to Large Hair Transplant Sessions
Hair restoration surgery can only transplant a certain number of grafts in one session. If the density of hair grafts in a specific area increases, the risk of vascular compromise (reduced blood flow caused by scalp injury) and graft elevation (popping) also increase, which can lead to suboptimal graft growth. To ensure successful graft growth, the surgeon must identify factors that may compromise the blood flow to the scalp, such as sun damage and smoking.
Although the scalp has a rich blood supply that can support a large number of transplanted grafts, excessively high graft densities may cause complications. These complications are related to the number of grafts placed in a specific area rather than the absolute number of grafts. As such, transplanting a large number of follicular unit grafts over a large area is less likely to create problems than extremely high densities in one specific area.
Performing a large hair transplant in a “mega-session” presents its own challenges, including increased graft outside time, requiring more staff, contributing to patient and staff fatigue, and creating organizational issues. Therefore, large hair transplant sessions should be reserved for experienced surgical teams.
The size of the hair grafts and the recipient sites are also important factors affecting blood flow. Larger recipient sites cause more damage to the blood supply than smaller ones, limiting the number of grafts that can be placed at one time. However, hair transplantation performed exclusively with follicular units allows the placement of the most hair in the smallest possible recipient sites.
Commentary: How large should hair transplant sessions be?
In Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation, the goal should be to achieve the best possible cosmetic result in the context of the patient’s total donor reserves, rather than trying to place as many grafts as possible in one hair transplant session. Read more about Large Hair Transplant Sessions.
Consultation for Patterned Hair Loss(Androgenetic Alopecia)
The physician will conduct a specialized examination to diagnose male and female patterned hair loss, and suggest medical treatments and/or surgical hair restoration options. This assessment will involve determining density and miniaturization using densitometry and explaining the Norwood Class (in men) or Ludwig Class (in women), as well as discussing the various therapeutic options available.
In the case of unexplained hair loss in women, a comprehensive hair loss evaluation is necessary. If you have already undergone this evaluation at another facility and have been ruled out for other causes of hair loss, then a focused consultation for patterned hair loss, which may include discussions on hair transplant, can be arranged. You are advised to bring relevant information from your previous consultation.
Additional fees may apply for biopsy or injections. Payment is required at the time of your appointment. If laboratory tests are required, you will receive a separate bill from the laboratory. We do not accept medical insurance, but our staff will provide you with a form that you can submit to your insurance provider. This initial consultation will be complimentary.
Comprehensive Hair Loss Evaluation
The doctor performs a complete diagnostic evaluation for patients with diffuse hair loss or generalized thinning (a condition most often seen in women) or hair loss of unknown cause. This comprehensive diagnostic evaluation may include a detailed history, densitometry for hair miniaturization, microscopic hair analysis, a discussion of telogen/anagen ratios, lab tests (blood count, iron levels, ferritin, thyroid functions, testosterone levels, serum chemistries, DHEA-sulfate, prolactin) and a scalp biopsy when appropriate.
Payment is expected at the time of your visit. You will receive a separate bill for lab tests that will be sent to you directly from the lab. We do not accept medical insurance; however, our staff will provide you with a form that you can submit to your insurance carrier. If a biopsy or injections are needed, there will be an additional charge.
The price for this physician evaluation is $350.
Eyebrow/Eyelash Consultation
The doctor performs evaluations for patients regarding thinning eyebrows or eyelashes. The evaluation includes an assessment and evaluation of candidacy for surgical eyebrow restoration (including assessment of the stability of the donor area), as well as non-surgical treatments such as Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution).
The price for an eyelash/eyebrow transplant consultation is $100.
Surgical Hair Transplant Cost
The cost of a hair transplant depends on the number of grafts you need to be transplanted. This applies to Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), Robotic Follicular Unit Extraction (Robotic FUE) and graft excision repairs. The specific numbers will be determined during your consultation for patterned hair loss. To get a general sense of the number of grafts that you might need, please refer to the Graft Numbers information listed above.
Financing Options
There are flexible financing options available through our partners to help cover the cost of a procedure. Visit Prosper Healthcare Lending or CareCredit to fill out a personalized application and see what options are available to you.
Book Your First Free Consultation!
or Book old way, call 858-524-7000
