Welcome to Show the Receipts, a new series where we ask interesting people to share exactly how much it costs to get shit done. No matter the task, we’re tracking every last dollar from start to finish. Up next: a hair transplant.
Peter*, a 38-year-old retail marketing manager in Brooklyn, New York, is now six months post-op from a hair transplant. He had been considering one for years when he began noticing that his hair was thinning, particularly at the hairline and around his temples. “My hair was receding to the point where I felt self-conscious about it,” Peter says.
Initially, traveling abroad seemed like the most affordable option. “I considered going to Turkey because hair transplants are relatively cheap there,” Peter says. Turkey is the world’s cheapest destination for medical travel, including hair transplants. That proved true in Peter’s research. “I reached out to some of the clinics in Turkey,” Peter says. “I found there was a lot included for the value.” For example, Dr. Serkan Aygin’s clinic offered a package that included a hair transplant procedure plus a hotel stay and shuttle service — everything aside from flight costs — for about $3,600. But, for comfort reasons, Peter ultimately opted against an overseas surgery. “I was ultimately a little bit uncomfortable with the idea of being put under [anesthesia] in a foreign country.”
Fortunately, Peter found the Barber Surgeons Guild with an office in New York. Following his (free) consultation, Peter was quoted $9,500 for a hair transplant procedure, which felt like a good deal. “It was more than twice the amount I would have paid in Turkey, but for me personally, to be able to take a taxi from Brooklyn to SoHo and do it all in one Saturday morning felt like a better solution than flying across the world. Also, I didn’t really want to take a full week off work.”
The Procedure
The hair transplant procedure was relatively painless for Peter. “It was like being on a long flight, honestly,” he says. “They had TV and I chilled there for a few hours.” He was first treated with a local anesthetic. “That was the worst part, pain-wise,” Peter says (like a “mild stabbing” sensation). Once his scalp was numb, the doctor made incisions in Peter’s temple area and around the peak of his hairline where they would implant the donor hair follicles. The doctor then turned Peter’s head and explanted hair follicles from the donor area at the back of the head. “They were kind of scooping out the follicles,” Peter says — although he couldn’t actually see this. Then, they implanted those donor follicles into the recipient areas, at the hairline.
The procedure concluded with a PRP treatment to help with graph retention and healing, which Peter counted as a huge value-add. A standalone PRP treatment (or PRFM) for hair loss averages over $1,000.
The Recovery
The recovery process was uncomfortable. “I had to sleep upright for a week, which was hard because I’m a stomach sleeper,” Peter says. “I got one of those post-surgery pillows ($25.90).” Other post-op institutions included only washing your hair with warm water and baby shampoo and wearing button-up shirts round the clock. “You risk pulling out the graphs if you pull your head into or out of a T-shirt,” Peter says. “You just have to be careful.” But about five days post-procedure, Peter was in the clear. “I could wear a hat because everything was fully planted.”
Now, six months later, Peter has seen a big improvement in his hair. “It takes a year, so I’m only halfway through, but I’m happy,” he says. “Now, I’m just waiting for it to grow longer and thicker.”
Here’s the full cost breakdown.
Task: hair transplant
Occupation: Retail Marketing Manager
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Timeline: 1 year
The Receipts
Pre-procedure oral hair-growth medications (Hims Finasteride): $34 per month, or $408 per year
Hair transplant procedure (including consultation, local anesthetic, explantation, implantation, and post-procedure PRP): $9,500
Medications needed for the hair transplant (Prednisone and Cephalexin): $10.72 copay with insurance
Post-surgery pillow: $25.90
Post-procedure oral hair-growth medication (Blends Growth PRO Capsules): $95 per three months, or $380 per year
Post-procedure topical hair-growth medications (Blends Growth PRO Topical): $135 per three months, or $540 per year
Total Cost: $10,864.62
How I Did It
Peter did extensive research, contacting medical clinics worldwide, before finding a hair transplant doctor, procedure, location, and price he felt comfortable with. He paid for the entire cost of his hair transplant and supplemental hair-loss medications out of pocket, without insurance support. He financed his hair transplant using a long-term payment plan that he’ll fully pay off over the next year. For Peter, all the costs have felt worth it — “palatable,” even.
PS: What was the most surprising expense of this process?
Peter: The most surprising thing was that it actually felt affordable to do a hair transplant here in New York. I had a few assessments where doctors said I needed to do the procedure on my entire head. Some clinics had a $15,000 starting point. But at my consultation with the Barber Surgeons Guild, they were much more conservative and only wanted to treat my widow’s peak and temple areas. I was like, “Are you sure I don’t need to do the crown, too?” They said I didn’t; the doctor said I had a good head of hair. That made me feel better about working with them because they weren’t just trying to upsell me. They could have been like, ‘That’s $10,000 more.‘
PS: What were you surprised what insurance would or wouldn’t cover?
Peter: Insurance did not cover the procedure — that was totally out of pocket. I had to take some specific medications — Prednisone and Cephalexin — before and after just to avoid infection. Insurance did cover those. I only paid about $10 for both; I have good health insurance. Oh, I also took a Xanax before to mellow out. That was my own prescription, also covered by insurance.
PS: What other hair-growth products have you invested in?
Peter: For a year before my transplant, I was taking oral finasteride supplements. I got my prescription through His. It was about $34 a month. I could have used my flexible spending account to pay for it, but I paid out of pocket.
However, after the transplant, my doctor recommended I switch to oral and topical medication from Blends. The Growth Pro Capsules are a mix of minoxidil and dutasteride; I take one a day. The Growth Pro Topical is minoxidil, tretinoin, latanoprost, dutasteride, and ketoconazole. I’ve tried topical minoxidil in the past but never got in the habit of using it. Now, I’m in the habit of using this every day. It’s around $230 to re-up on both the topical and oral medications every three months.
PS: Where did you cut costs to accommodate your treatments and medications?
Peter: I opened a zero-interest credit card to pay off [the transplant procedure] over 18 to 21 months. It was $2,000 down and I’ve been paying off the rest over the past few months. I didn’t really have to make any lifestyle adjustments. The long-term payment plan was palatable to me.
PS: What were some of the more unexpected lifestyle expenses you faced treating hair loss?
Peter: I can’t think of any unexpected lifestyle expenses. I took Finasteride before [the procedure] so there have been no real changes in lifestyle costs post-procedure. I’m just continuing to take my medications.
Final Thoughts
For Peter, the hair transplant, and all the costs associated, have been “a no-brainer.” “I definitely think it was all worth it,” he says. “[My hair] was something that always bothered me and the results are coming through.”
*Name has been changed.
Megan Decker is a freelance writer and editor based in New York City. Formerly the beauty editor at Refinery29, Megan has worked in editorial for over seven years, frequently covering emerging trends and profiling celebrities.
#Show #Receipts #Costs #Hair #Transplant
