The Best Hair Transplant Surgeons in India

A cosmetic surgical procedure, hair transplant operations continue to gain popularity in affluent countries such as the United States. But even in the U.S., affluence is being redefined in a faltering economy. As the demand for such cosmetic surgeries increases among American citizens, India continues to come up with more economical ways to bridge the gap and become a major provider.

History

• Hair loss has plagued men and women alike for ages. But only since the 19th century have doctors experimented with solutions to permanently reverse various forms of baldness. Early methods of hair transplantation in the 1800s required large grafts of skin from other parts of the body being transplanted to the head. Today, however, surgeons have found that smaller grafts and fewer graft transplants per session actually allow for the creation of a more natural hairline. As hair transplantation methods continue to improve and evolve, it is safe to say that many hair transplant surgeons have found varying methods of helping their hair-deficient patients look more naturally hairy after their operations.

Cost Breakdown

• Typically, hair transplant costs can range anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000, with the actual cost depending on the size of the area to be covered and the number of sessions needed. But when patients travel outside of the United States to complete their surgeries, that price range goes down drastically. For a procedure that Americans spend anywhere from $4 to $9 per graft, Indian doctors charge from 55 cents to $2 dollars per graft. That brings the price range down to $550 to $7,500 dollars if an Indian surgeon performs the procedure.

Finding an Indian Surgeon

• When choosing a surgeon for any cosmetic procedure, a doctor's level of experience should be the single-most important factor in a search. This may entail calling up an office and asking directly about a particular doctor's track record with hair transplantation surgeries. Looking through pages of before-and-after photos from the doctor's website or a reputable source is also highly recommended. And last, asking to see the surgeon's best and worst results throughout his career will help a patient make a better-informed decision about his hair transplant doctor.

Trusted Affiliations

• In the U.S., patients are encouraged to check that their doctor is licensed and certified by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery before making an appointment. In India, however, board certification from a national hub does not exist in the same way. But memberships to nationally affiliated organizations for doctors who have met certain requirements do. For example, a doctor who is a member of the Association of Hair Restoration Surgeons in India has more credibility than a doctor who is not.

  Also, the Hair Transplant Network is a great community resource for patients looking to be treated in India. The founder of HTN's website regularly fields emails from patients who have had both good and bad experiences with their hair transplantation procedures, and visits leading hair transplant clinics around the world to gauge the surgical quality at each.

The Bottom Line

• Choosing a hair transplant surgeon requires each patient to individualize her need for care. That means evaluating your needs and ensuring that the surgeon of choice can meet all of them. Also, even if Indian hair transplant doctors are listed as members of nationally affiliated organizations and come with years of experience, smart patients need to dig deeper to ensure that desired results are met.

  In a world of growing doctors' offices for every ailment, "medical tourism trips" to places such as India for less-expensive cosmetic treatments may seem financially attractive on the surface, but do not make the trip and go under the knife without doing meticulous and careful research.