As Michigan’s leader in surgical hair restoration, we often get patients who have heard myths and rumors about the treatment. Some of these myths, concerns, and rumors we hear from patients are a result of deceptive advertising while others simply arise from a lack of industry knowledge and common marketing methods.
Today, we want to clear up common rumors and misconceptions about hair restoration surgery so our patients can make informed and unbiased decisions about their health. If you have any questions that are not covered in this article, give us a call at (248)-254-7882.
Myth #1: Hair restoration is ridiculously expensive in the US
Many patients are under the impression that hair transplant surgery costs anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 in the United States and this is FALSE. This myth has so much influence in the states that patients risk their health and travel to countries like Canada, Mexico, and Turkey in order to have the surgery. While it is true that these countries offer hair transplants for a lower price than clinics in the United States, the difference is not as dramatic as one might think.
Hair transplantation has come a long way in the United States and as a result, prices have become very reasonable. Although many clinics in the US still charge five figures, our average patient spends $7,000 for a hair transplant, right here in Michigan! According to a recent survey, the average price for a hair transplant procedure in Canada is about $5,800. Patients who choose to save $1,200 by going to Canada for a procedure are losing certain benefits in exchange for a lower price. This goes for any surgery outside of the US.
Medical procedures have a higher price tag in the United States because healthcare providers must comply with stricter regulations in regards to patient safety, medical equipment sterilization, and physician training. All of these factors drive up the costs of a hair transplant in Michigan. It is for this reason that complications, infections, and overall patient dissatisfaction is higher in other countries for most cosmetic procedures, including hair restoration.
In addition, hair transplants in other countries like Mexico and Turkey are rarely overseen by a medical doctor, which is why they are charging $1,000-2,000. Going to another country and working with a reputable doctor there will cost a similar price to the USA when you factor in airline travel, hotel, food, etc.
Myth #2: NeoGraft & ARTAS are superior to traditional FUE
Many patients are under the impression that machines and robots produce better results and have more benefits than traditional FUE. The truth is that these technologies provide many benefits for the healthcare provider and little to no benefit for the patient. If these systems truly produced better results, we would be using them here at Venus. The truth is that your results depend purely on the skill and experience of your surgeon and his or her team of technicians.
The majority of clinics who invest in such machines do so for two reasons (in our experience). The first is that they increase efficiency, allowing clinics to treat more patients in less time (not always a good thing). The second is that they allow physicians who have little to no training in hair transplantation to take part in the lucrative market that is growing in the US.
The way that these hair restoration companies market their technology and convince patients into thinking they are the best choice, is by comparing their automated FUE systems to traditional FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) which is also known as strip harvesting. Strip harvesting is a technique that consisted of taking a strip of tissue from the back of a patient’s scalp and transplanting the follicles to the crown and hairline.
Features that are typically boasted about automated systems include little to no pain, no linear scar, little to no risk of complications, quicker recovery time, and more natural-looking results. If one were to do their research, they would notice that these are in fact the benefits of Follicular Unit Extraction or FUE and none of them are exclusive to automated systems such as ARTAS, SmartGraft, or NeoGraft.
Experienced and specialized hair transplant surgeons often prefer manual follicular unit extraction. Although it takes more time to perform, it allows the surgeon to carefully choose each donor follicle, expertly handle hair grafts, and create a more customized hairline for the patient. All of these things typically result in greater satisfaction for the patient and the ability to restore difficult areas such as eyebrows, eyelashes, and beards, all at a lower price (fancy robots are expensive). With that in mind, such devices in the hands of a skilled hair surgeon will yield great results, but they will barely differ from the results that such a surgeon could produce manually.
Myth #3: It can take 2-3 years to see results from hair restoration
Experienced hair transplant specialists know that this excuse is merely a way for clinics to get patients to stop bothering them about their poor quality work and keep waiting in the hopes that they will get what they paid for. If you had a hair transplant over a year ago and you are still not seeing any results, then, unfortunately, your procedure was not done properly.
This is not a rare scenario for patients who had a procedure overseas. I mean let’s be honest, are you going to file a lawsuit against a clinic in Europe or the Middle East because your hair never grew in? No, you won’t, in fact, you can’t even leave a 1-star review on Yelp. These clinics know that, and that’s why they operate in these countries. But if a doctor in your city gives you poor results, you are very likely to promote a negative reputation about them, and in extreme cases, even take legal action. This is why we encourage you to go somewhere close to home.
When done correctly, your new hairs will begin to shed about 4 to 5 weeks after your surgery. Within 2 months you should begin to see steady growth from a majority of your hairs. About 9 months after the procedure, at least 80% of your implanted hair follicles should be steadily growing and you should see a dramatic increase in your hairline. Within a year, all your hair should be long, healthy, and vibrant.
Real Data: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2956960/
Final thoughts
Now that you are accurately educated on some of the most common misconceptions regarding hair restoration in Michigan, we hope that you will be able to make the right decision with your hair. If you are interested in coming in for a FREE consultation, you can give us a call (248)-254-7882 or fill out the form on our homepage. Thanks!
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