I get calls every day from people who want a quote on our graft price. “What does a hair transplant cost?” “How much do you charge per graft?” What they don’t understand is that it is impossible to use graft price for an apple to apple comparison.
Some people might experience a doctor who gives them mostly one hair grafts. So if you get 3,000 grafts it could equal 3,000 hairs. Another doctor can give you 2 hairs per graft for a total of 6,000 hairs. Which did you get? Most people have no idea. That is why asking how many grafts do I need, or what is the cost per graft, are ridiculous questions.
The better question to ask is how many hairs will I get and how will you divide them? Are you giving me mostly one and two hair grafts to fill a large area? Unfortunately, that is what will happen. Dr. Bolton uses specific measurements that are clear and cannot be altered or manipulated like a graft. For example, Dr. Bolton will want to take at least 35 cm x 1.5 cm for the average patient. With average density this should yield 7,000 hairs.
This is the best method to measure hair transplant cost. You don’t want one and two hair grafts to try and cover the large area behind the hair line. This is where Dr. Bolton will combine grafts together to achieve maximum density. This technique could lower the chance of repeated surgeries thus saving even more money.
See how the grafts are divided? You can divide the bigger grafts into smaller grafts. Most doctors will take a multiple follicular unit graft that has 6 hairs, and divide it into three separate grafts of two hairs each or even six grafts of one hair each. Taking a six hair graft and cutting it down repeatedly increases the damage (transection) rate and takes away from the ability to get density.
Once the hairs are separated you can never put them back as close as they were originally. This is why most people who have this procedure from other doctors get sparse results. They are always chasing density but the doctors inhibit that by giving you one and two hair grafts. Hair transplant cost shouldn’t be determined by using a graft as a measurement.
This is Dr. Bolton’s typical amount of hair he removes for his procedure. Sorry if it is too graphic, but if you are going to spend anywhere from $5,000-$40,000 for a hair transplant shouldn’t you know what you are getting?
Hair transplant cost varies from doctor to doctor and is very difficult to get an apple to apple comparison. The only way is by knowing the measurement of the donor strip taken and the total amount of hair.
Do you realize that people are getting half the length of that tissue(half the hair) and the doctor can easily make 3,000 grafts out of that tissue. You need to know how much tissue is taken and how many hairs you are getting. I’ve been in the hair restoration field for 12 years and nobody has ever asked me how much tissue is taken. It is the only way to ensure you get what you pay for. For a true comparison that is accurate and fair you need to ask length x width and total hair.
This is a very simple and straightforward tool to utilize if you want to know true hair transplant cost. You have to wonder why it is not the universal standard. Could it be that doctors don’t want you to know how to compare properly and actually know what you are paying for. My mom always told me “If you don’t know what you are paying for you will always get less.” Be careful, educate yourself and you will get what you pay for and will do well when it comes to determining hair transplant cost.
