Hair Transplant
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) Hair Transplant Overview
- Average Cost:
- $8 per graft with SmartGraft™ Follicular Unit Extraction (we typically charge $5 per graft to make it financially accessible to as many patients as possible)
- Discomfort Level:
- Mild
- Anesthesia Options:
- Local anesthesia with oral Valium to relax patients
- Recovery Period:
- 7 to 10 Days
- Results Length:
- Typically permanent, although the full results can take about a year. A significant amount of growth can usually be seen after 6 months.
- Potential Benefits:
- Achievement of fuller, thicker hair in areas of hair loss; improvement in hair styling options; increase in self-confidence and self-image; elimination of unsightly bald spots; creation of a more youthful appearance.
A hair transplant can be an effective way to regain a fuller head of hair. Men and women alike suffer from hair thinning and loss, often creating bald spots and unhealthy-looking hair. Using SmartGraft™ – an automated follicular unit extraction (FUE) system – and injection of natural growth factors, our experienced surgeons, Dr. Jonathan Pontell and Dr. Catherine Weng, and their team of skilled hair restoration technicians can restore hair growth to balding areas or receding hairlines with successful results for many individuals. Our doctors provide expert hair restoration treatments at The Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgery Center, conveniently located to serve the areas of Philadelphia, Delaware, and South Jersey.
Topics On This Page:
- What Is FUE Hair Transplant Surgery?
- Why Choose Dr. Pontell and Dr. Weng for Hair Loss Treatment?
- Benefits of Hair Transplants
- Before & After Hair Transplant Photos
- Hair Transplant Candidates
- Hair Transplant Consultation
- Hair Transplant Procedure
- Hair Transplant Recovery
- Hair Transplant Results
- How Much Do Hair Transplants Cost?
- Can a Hair Transplant Be Done Without Surgery?
- Additional Hair Transplants FAQs
What Is FUE Hair Transplant Surgery?
The average person loses 50 to 100 strands of hair daily. There are many thousands of hair follicles, so minimal hair loss is not usually an alarming issue. However, for some men and women, the natural hair cycle is disrupted, causing hair loss and thinning. For men, androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) can affect the hairline and the top of the scalp around the crown. Genetics and family history play a huge role in whether or not men will experience hair loss.1 Although not as common, women can also experience hair loss. Various conditions can cause a woman to lose her hair, including thyroid problems and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
FUE is the acronym for Follicular Unit Extraction, an innovative hair restoration method designed to create thicker, fuller hair in thinning areas. With FUE, Dr. Pontell or Dr. Weng harvests groups of healthy hair follicles (follicular units) from the back of the scalp that are genetically programmed to never fall out. The follicular units are carefully preserved intact, and then implanted in areas of thinning hair or balding.
To help address these issues, Dr. Pontell and Dr. Weng offer hair loss treatment using our FUE hair transplant system, SmartGraft™, a virtually painless procedure that can permanently solve hair loss problems. As one of the most effective treatments for hair loss available, SmartGraft™ is capable of creating a fully restored head of hair that looks natural. This technique can also minimize visible scarring and does not typically require a lengthy period of downtime.
Why Choose Dr. Pontell and Dr. Weng for Hair Loss Treatment?
Dr. Jonathan Pontell and Dr. Catherine Weng have provided a cosmetic haven for those seeking natural-appearing enhancements of the face. The Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgery Center is a boutique center that provides a personalized experience for our patients.
When it comes to SmartGraft™ hair transplantation, few physicians in the area have the level of expertise and consistency of results offered at our practice. Dr. Pontell and Dr. Weng treat patients like family, so you should never feel alone on your journey. From the moment you walk in the door, you will be received by a luxurious, spa-like office that is 100% attentive to your needs and comfort.
Every detail of your experience is met with professional expertise that only highlights the caliber of the cosmetic care delivered. With nearly four decades of combined experience in the profession, Dr. Pontell and Dr. Weng have assembled a highly experienced team of technicians for hair restoration in the Philadelphia Main Line, leaving no room for compromise in your hair restoration result.
What Are the Benefits of Hair Transplant Surgery?
Compared to other hair loss treatments, SmartGraft™ Follicular Unit Extraction can provide dramatic results that look and feel natural. Other benefits include quicker recovery than alternative approaches and strategic placement to appropriately frame the patient’s unique facial structure for a personalized outcome. Some of the most notable advantages offered by hair transplant surgery include:
Fuller, More Youthful Hair
Men and women who have experienced hair loss can achieve complete hair restoration when our doctor performs the SmartGraft™ treatment. Although not an immediate outcome, over the course of a year following the initial procedure, the treatment will gradually restore the hair and provide a fuller, more youthful head of hair.
Long-lasting Results
Many hair loss treatments require constant upkeep to maintain continued hair growth. Dr. Pontell and Dr. Weng perform SmartGraft™ hair loss treatment to help people regrow their natural hair. Patients can rest assured knowing their hair loss worries will no longer be an issue because the results of this treatment should last for life.
Increased Confidence
Hair loss can cause a person to look older than they are. Many people with baldness or thin hair feel uncomfortable with their appearance and may avoid social situations or appearing in photographs. With SmartGraft™, the days of large, noticeable surgery scars are gone. Since there are no linear incision sites or stitches, patients can return to normal activities more quickly. After hair loss treatment, many individuals feel confident about their appearance and can proudly show off their newly restored full head of hair.
Who Is a Candidate for a Hair Transplant?
Both women and men can benefit from our hair restoration treatment. Anyone who has experienced hair loss and wants to restore hair growth is an ideal patient for SmartGraft™. Patients must be realistic in their expectations and in good physical and mental health to undergo this procedure.
What Does the Hair Transplant Consultation Involve?
At your consultation, Dr. Pontell or Dr. Weng will review your medical history and perform a scalp evaluation before outlining a recommended surgery plan. They will determine the number of hair transplants needed to provide an effective and natural-looking result and explain the procedure and recovery process in detail. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have. Our doctors want you to feel confident that you are getting the information you need to make the best possible decision. To schedule your consultation, please call (267) 708-6999 or fill ou our contact form.
What Can I Expect in the Hair Transplant Procedure?
Dr. Pontell and Dr. Weng use SmartGraft™ for the hair restoration procedure. The patient receives a mild sedative to help them relax. A technician will cut the hair short in an area at the back of the patient’s head. Depending on the patient’s length of hair, the hair can be shaved in small sections to hide the donor area following the procedure.
We prepare the donor site and administer a local anesthetic before harvesting the donor hair. The SmartGraft™ device gently removes individual or small groups of follicles from the donor area. The donor hair follicles are carefully collected, sorted, counted, and stored in a sterile and controlled environment before implantation.
Our FUE hair transplant system, SmartGraft™, allows the grafted area to be adequately prepared for regrowth. Once the hair grafts from the donor site are collected, the implantation sites are created. Our doctor and their team implant the hair grafts through tiny openings no larger than a pinprick.
The procedure takes anywhere from three to eight hours to complete depending on the number of grafts needed to achieve the desired result. SmartGraft™ has a quicker surgery time than most, which allows hair grafts to have a higher chance of surviving.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Hair Transplant Surgery?
Our doctor sees patients about a week after a hair transplant, three or so months later, and then one year after the procedure. Our goal is for our patients to experience arguably the best hair restoration that Philadelphia offers. Our patients can return home after the completion of the procedure and wear a loose-fitting hat if they desire. Most patients can return to work about one week after surgery and resume fitness and sports regimens within two weeks.
After your hair restoration procedure, you can return to the comfort of your own home. Recovery is short and involves very little downtime. You can even wash your hair after a few days. There are no staples or stitches, and the incisions are tiny, so healing happens quickly. The recovery is generally easy, with minimal post-operative pain.
When Will I See My Hair Transplant Results?
Gradually, the patient’s hair will start growing at the implantation site. The hair will take root in the first few weeks and then shed. New hair begins to develop within three months. Six months after the hair restoration procedure, there should be a significant improvement in hair growth. Patients should experience total hair growth within 12 months.2
SmartGraft™ can be an excellent choice for those looking for a very natural look. In as little as three months, you should see new hair growth. As the transplanted follicles enter their growth phase, you will see more hair appearing in the treated area, with optimal results achieved in about one year.
How Much Does Hair Transplant Surgery Cost?
Every FUE procedure performed at our Philadelphia practice is based on a personalized treatment plan unique to the individual patient; therefore, the cost of hair restoration varies from person to person. The cost changes based on how many hair follicles must be harvested and transplanted to a thinning or balding area. For SmartGraft™ FUE hair restoration, the cost is between $5 and $8 per transplanted follicle, with most requiring between 1,000 and 2,000 grafts, although some patients want even more. The price range typically lands between $5,000 and $12,500, depending on the number of transplants performed. For patients who have injectable hair restoration therapy (described below), the cost typically ranges between $1,000 and $1,500 per procedure.
The fees above do not include anesthesia or operating room costs; however, we are often able to perform many of these procedures in our office operating room without additional anesthesia fees incurred. Ultimately, it is important to note that the total cost of hair restoration procedures vary among patients depending on the complexity of each case, the ultimate treatment goals, and other factors. Once your customized treatment plan is in place, a member of our team can go over the total cost estimate with you and answer any questions you may have about the convenient forms of payment we accept at our practice.
Learn more about the cost, and about how a hair transplant with SmartGraft™ can help you, by calling (267) 708-6999, or you can visit our contact page to book a consultation.
Can a Hair Transplant Be Done Without Surgery?
Advanced hair restoration techniques offer many patients the opportunity to address hair loss with an injectable solution. This option utilizes natural growth factors inside the blood that contain healing and cell regeneration properties. These growth factors can stimulate small, unhealthy hair follicles to produce new, healthy hair.
The patient’s blood is taken the same way as a lab test, and the blood is centrifuged to separate and concentrate the properties that have the highest concentration of growth factors. The solution is then injected into the hair loss areas as a series of three sets spaced about five weeks apart. This innovative treatment typically works best for patients with thinning hair as opposed to those who are entirely bald.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Transplant Procedures
Will A Hair Transplant Leave A Scar?
The scarring is hardly noticeable while the graft area is healing. Once it is finished, there will be minimal scarring. However, when full hair growth is achieved, there should be no visible signs of having had the procedure as the scar left behind should be concealed by the newly grown hair, revealing a natural-looking growth pattern.
Is The Hair Transplant Treatment Painful?
There is minimal pain during the SmartGraft™ procedure. A local anesthetic numbs the area so the patient can relax and listen to music while undergoing hair transplantation. Because there is no long surgical scar, SmartGraft™ is less painful overall.
Will I Have To Stay Overnight In A Hospital For A Hair Transplant?
Patients can return home after undergoing the procedure. Since medication to relax patients is used during treatment, it is recommended to have a designated person to drive the patient to and from surgery.
Can I Undergo Additional Procedures Along With My Hair Loss Treatment?
Some patients seeking hair loss treatment desire a younger, more refreshed appearance. Often, they are interested in facial procedures to enhance their new head of hair. Patients may choose to undergo facial rejuvenation procedures such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, dermal fillers, facelifts, eyelid lifts, and laser skin resurfacing.
What If A Revision Hair Loss Treatment Is Necessary?
Some patients who undergo a hair loss treatment will not achieve their desired results. Dr. Pontell or Dr. Weng can perform a revision hair loss treatment with SmartGraft™ to provide patients with natural-looking and lasting results.
At what age can a hair transplant be performed?
Surgical hair transplant procedures cannot be performed for patients under the age of 18. In fact, our doctors may not recommend this procedure until the patient is at least 21 or even a bit older (25 and over is usually the more ideal age range). The reason for this is due to the fact that hair loss patterns often change with the passage of time, and hair loss is more unpredictable in patients who are younger since the patterns may not have fully developed. A hair transplant procedure that is performed too early in life may lead to a result that is uneven, and require another treatment later in life if additional balding areas have occurred.
There is no upper age limit for hair transplant procedures; however, medical conditions that are common in older individuals may affect candidacy, and some may require approval from their primary care provider. Dr. Pontell and Dr. Weng can meet with you for an initial consultation to determine whether you are an ideal candidate for this treatment.
How does the hair transplant procedure differ for women?
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplant surgery differs in several ways when performed for female vs. male patients. The pattern of hair loss in women is typically quite distinct from the condition in men. When significant hair loss affects women, it typically manifests as a condition known as “female pattern baldness,” which results in diffuse thinning across the scalp rather than distinct bald patches, as seen in men.
Women tend to wear their hair long, which would suggest that a shaved donor sight is more noticeable than in men, where close-cropped or shaved hair may appear normal or everyday.
Unlike men, who often shave their heads for the procedure, most women undergo FUE without their hair fully shaven. Instead, our doctor shaves only small areas of the donor site to extract follicles. This can allow the surrounding hair to conceal the shaved spots.Additionally, women often seek FUE for different aesthetic reasons when compared to male patients. While men typically focus on restoring receding hairlines or crown areas, women may be more interested in restoring overall hair density, filling in thinning areas, or addressing specific hairline concerns. With that in mind, it ultimately depends on the extent and severity of hair loss and the patient’s specific wishes and goals for the procedure.
Overall, while the basic FUE technique remains similar for both genders, these differences in hair loss patterns, preferences, and treatment goals make the procedure more personalized for women. Still, it is important to remember that all of our hair transplant surgeries are completely customized to the individual patient’s needs in order to produce the best possible results.
References
- Cranwell W, Sinclair R. Male Androgenetic Alopecia. Nih.gov. Published February 29, 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
- Sharma R, Ranjan A. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Hair Transplant: Curves Ahead. Journal of Maxillofacial & Oral Surgery. 2019;18(4):509-517. doi:https://doi.org/
