Hair fall or sometimes referred to as alopecia, is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system starts attacking the hair follicles and causes hair to fall out in an unpredictable and patchy manner. Alopecia can affect just your scalp or your entire body and can also be temporary or permanent. While hair fall can be caused by a number of factors such as medical conditions, diet, stress or hormonal changes and genetics is usually the reason behind it.
Method of hair fall treatment and its cost
Prior to surgery, your doctor may recommend non-surgical options such as finasteride and minoxidil to treat hair fall. In case of severe and permanent hair loss however, non-surgical options may not be enough and your doctor may suggest surgical alternatives such as hair transplant to treat the condition. There are primarily 2 methods of hair transplant that are often used to treat hair fall:
FUE hair transplant
Follicular Unit Extraction or FUE is a minimally invasive and commonly preferred method to treat hair fall. In an FUE procedure, individual follicular units are harvested from the scalp and implanted at the area with limited or absent hair growth, often referred to as implant site. The extraction and implantation is performed in a random manner to make sure the harvest hair and the implanted hair looks as natural as possible. While there is slight scarring, it almost becomes unnoticeable once the hair follicles start to set and follow a natural hair growth cycle. The average cost of an FUE hair transplant is likely to range from Rs. 25 to Rs. 200 per graft. The exact cost of the treatment however, largely depends on the number of grafts you require to achieve your desired appearance. Generally, the more hair grafts you require, the more the treatment is likely to cost.
FUT hair transplant
Follicular Unit Transplantation or FUT is considered to me a more conventional method of hair transplant that is used to treat hair fall. In an FUT procedure, a long and thin strip of tissue is cut from the back or side of your scalp. Individual follicular units are then extracted from this strip of tissue and prepared into grafts. These grafts are then inserted into tiny incisions made at the transplant area. Similar to FUE, there is slight scarring in FUT procedure as well but it is expected to be well concealed once hair starts to grow. The exact cost of an FUT hair transplant can vary depending on the number of grafts you require but the average cost of this procedure can start from Rs. 20 and go as high as Rs. 180 per graft.
Factors that affect cost of hair fall treatment in India
The exact cost of hair fall treatment in India is likely to vary as it depends on multiple factors. Some of the most common factors that are likely to affect cost of your hair fall treatment are listed below:
City you undergo surgery: The city you are in is one of the most common factors that is likely to affect the exact cost of hall fall treatment. Generally, treatments of any kind are more expensive in metropolitan cities across India as compared to non-metro cities or towns.
Number of grafts required: The number of grafts you require to get your desired appearance after a hair transplant procedure is likely to affect the exact cost of surgery. Typically, the more grafts you require, the more likely it is for the treatment to cost more
Method of treatment: While some cases of hair fall can be treated through medications, you may require surgery in case of severe hair fall. Depending on the method you choose, the cost of treatment is likely to vary. Both FUE and FUT are effective treatments for hair fall but they vary slightly in cost.
Consultation charges: The exact cost of treatment is likely to vary depending on the expertise of your doctor and number of consultations you require prior to surgery. More experienced doctors are likely to charge more for consultations as compared to doctors with less experience. The number of consultations you require may add up.
Preoperative tests and diagnostics: Before a hair transplant procedure, your doctor may perform a series of tests and diagnostics to minimise chances of any unforeseen complications either during or after surgery.