Shopping for the Cheapest Hair Transplant Surgeon: Can it Lead to Poor Results?

This question comes from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums: 

I’m interested in follicular unit extraction (FUE), but don’t have enough money at the moment to visit a recommended hair transplant surgeon. I’ve found some physicians with much cheaper prices, but I’m wondering if this could lead to poor results. Is it okay to “price shop” hair transplant surgery? Will shopping for the cheapest hair transplant surgeon lead to a less than ideal outcome?

While price isn’t necessarily an indication of quality, it’s vital to select a hair transplant surgeon based on their proven ability to produce excellent results and not make a decision solely on price.

Look at it this way:

Say a state of the art follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure with an excellent physician costs around $10,000 (this is simply for example sake). One shot, $10,000, and you are satisfied.

Now, say you bargain shop and end up paying $5,000 for a FUE procedure with a different clinic. If the clinic has less experience with FUE or makes up cost by cutting corners, your result COULD be less than ideal and within 12 months, you could find yourself seeking a second (or possibly even repair) procedure. Because you don’t want to undergo the same experience again, you now see a hair transplant surgeon with more experience and end up paying somewhere around $8,000 (remember, these numbers are completely theoretical). Now, you’ve paid $13,000, spent 2 years undergoing hair restoration, and may be left with the results of a repair instead of the results of work on a virgin scalp.

Obviously, this is a “worst case” hypothetical and visiting a trusted surgeon doesn’t guarantee “dynamite” results. What’s more, some doctors who operate in foreign countries or with cheaper “overhead” costs may possess the ability to offer quality at lower prices. However, because of the potential pitfalls associated with bargain shopping for hair restoration, you are encouraged to consider price last and quality first. It’s likely a much better decision to start on preventive methods, consult with a quality physician, wait a bit, and undergo a “safer” procedure.

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Blake Bloxham – formerly “Future_HT_Doc”

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

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