Hair transplant, price, risk, what you need to know

Hair transplant in France: price, risk... what you need to know

Johanna Amselem         

Posted by Johanna Amselem on 05/18/2021 at 16:43

This article is validated by Dr Paul Benet - Doctor specialist in hair implants

Certified by our Medisite medical experts

SUMMARY

1 - Hair loss: the hormones involved

2 - The two hair transplant techniques

3 - Beware of fake good deals

According to an Ifop survey, 13% of French people claim to be suffering from baldness (2015 figures). Men and women are not equal when it comes to hair loss. If 2% of women complain of baldness, 25% of men report the presence of this problem. Today, it is no longer a question of admitting defeat in the face of hair loss.

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Hair loss: the hormones involved

“Every person has two types of hair. Some, called hormone-dependent, are linked to testosterone; they are the ones who fall. The others, implanted in a crown around the skull, never fall out,” explains Dr. Paul Benet , hair transplant specialist in Paris.

Not all men are equal when it comes to hair loss . Indeed, the role of hormones is very important since the more men have a high level of male hormones and the more they will lose their hair. Also, some men have normal testosterone levels, but have more 5 alpha receptors on hormone-dependent hair. Precisely, scientific research has highlighted the importance of dihydrotestosterone, a hormone derived from testosterone. The latter shortens the hair growth cycle which inevitably leads to hair loss. In the case of so-called androgenetic alopecia, the first hairs to fall are those located at the level of the temples and the forehead, or on the back part of the head.

In recent years, medicine has found solutions to provide people facing this problem. Hair transplantation remains the only effective and lasting solution to baldness. This is a redistribution of the remaining hair capital at the level of the Hippocratic crown.

For optimal results, there are two major techniques. These two approaches are aimed at both women and men. The first, called Follicular Units Extraction (FUE), is a technique performed via hair-by-hair sampling. Conversely, the second technique, Follicular Units Transplantation (FUT) allows the hair to be removed by strip. While FUE induces dot-shaped white microscars on the scalp, FUT leaves a very fine horizontal linear scar one millimeter wide on the back of the patient's head. Another advantage, this second technique allows you to move more hair in a single session.

The two hair transplant techniques

In detail, the FUT uses a strip measuring between 1 and 2 cm wide and up to 20 cm long, that is to say that the area can extend from one ear to the other. The sampling area is then closed with staples or a suture. “As part of Follicular Units Transplantation, the strip is dissected under the microscope follicular unit by follicular unit. It makes it possible to make follicular units that can group together up to five hairs during the collection, which gives more density”, summarizes Dr. Paul Benet.

Before adding: “Today, FUT hair transplantation represents an extremely efficient technique. It makes it possible to collect up to 10,000 hairs extracted from a strip of scalp after dissection under the microscope with a maximum yield greater than 98%”. Conversely, there can be up to 30% loss with FUE during collection. In terms of results, FUT gives a better density than FUE, in fewer sessions.

Hair transplant: do we shave the neck?

If the FUT does not require shaving, it is however imperative to shave the neck during a FUE hair transplant. Another major difference: FUT does not cause dedensification of the donor area unlike FUE. A precision, regardless of the sampling technique, the way of reimplantation remains the same with both techniques.

“ Hair transplantation gives very good results as a treatment for baldness. After an initial consultation, we determine together the most appropriate grafting technique. The method is rather simple, you have to take a sample from the back of the head and reimplant it above”, summarizes Dr. Paul Benet. Good news, this reimplanted hair does not change in nature and therefore does not fall out, because it was taken from an area where it is eternal.

“These two techniques are performed under local anesthesia. Post-operatively, the patient may feel discomfort, the skin may pull a little and then the pain disappears quickly. Some people also see a small edema appear. Indeed, the anesthetic product injected into the scalp descends on the forehead and the eyelids, thus causing swelling which disappears quickly”, specifies Dr. Paul Benet.

Beware of bogus deals

For FUT, in the majority of cases, a single session is sufficient for hair transplantation and usually it lasts between five and six hours. In some cases, a second session may be useful if the area concerned is very large. An FUE session lasts, on average, eight hours.

The price of the hair transplant varies according to the establishments, the technique and the specialists, it is generally invoiced between 2000 and 10,000 euros HT. A sum that is not covered by Social Security, because this intervention is considered a cosmetic operation. “Hair transplantation is open to all people in good health,” adds Dr. Paul Benet.

Medical tourism is not without risk

Today there is a real medical tourism of hair transplantation. Turkey, Tunisia... These countries offer packages at very attractive prices (with the flight, the operation, the stay at the hotel) and very far from those practiced in France.

However, medical tourism is not without risk. Generally, the patient does not know the surgeon and meets him only just before the intervention. Similarly, post-operative follow-up is also very fast and patients sometimes find themselves a little lost. So, before leaving, find out about the clinic and the surgeon, don't be fooled by very (too) attractive prices.