5 things you should know about hair transplant procedures

According to a 2011 report from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), there were 251,208 surgical hair restoration patients worldwide in 2010. Clearly, hair restoration is big business and for those considering the procedure, it's also a big decision. That means, you should a firm understanding of the process, keeping these five hair transplant basics in mind.

Hair transplant basics: five things to remember

To make it an informed decision, here are five things you might not know about hair transplants.

1. The value of hair. A 2010 ISHRS Hair Transplant Challenge Survey shows that 73.1 percent of those surveyed would trade a "treasured personal possession" for more hair. Fair enough, but it's important to clearly understand the reasons for considering hair transplantation, say the experts.
2. There is a choice. Modern transplantation uses one of the following procedures: Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), which harvests a long, thin strip of follicles with 1-4 hairs on each strip or Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), which harvests individual follicles and takes longer. According to the ISHRS, 77.5 percent of hair transplantation currently uses the FUT method.
3. Time and money. On average, FUT can cost $4 to $6 per follicle strip; FUE from $6 to $10 per follicle. As the number of follicles necessary for the procedure increases, per unit cost usually decreases. According to the ISHRS report, most (91 percent) procedures require 1,000 to 2,999 grafts, with the average number at 1,842. The procedure can take from 5-8 hours; recovery time is 1-2 weeks; and hair growth usually takes 3-4 months with full maturity in about a year.
4. Angle is important. The angle and direction of individual hairs can affect the aesthetic look of the transplant based on individual hair growth patterns and hair type--African, Asian, or Caucasian--which is why there are specialists for each hair type.
5. Who can tell? Even though more transplant candidates are speaking opening about the procedure, the ISHRS 2010 survey reports that 88.3 percent of people polled could not tell whether or not a woman had a hair transplant and 65.6 percent could not tell whether a man had one.

By taking the time to consider all factors, not just costs, you should be better informed to make a decision about undergoing a hair restoration treatment.