Hair Transplant for Women: What Are The Costs?

Female hair loss is often overlooked by the mainstream beauty and cosmetic industry and mostly ignored by beauty publications. So it can be difficult for women to get the information and answers they deserve, as well as necessary treatments. Yet hair loss in women is very common, with around 30% of women experiencing some amount of thinning hair in their lifetimes. Moreover, the psychological impact of hair loss can be more severe for women, as femininity is frequently linked to their hair. 

As a result, many women aren’t even aware that they may be a good candidate for hair transplant surgery. This is why at Ziering Medical, our services include hair transplants for women, as we know that this is important.

Let Ziering Medical help you take control of your hair loss! 

Dr. Ziering bucks the trend of catering to only men when it comes to hair loss treatments. He launched his private practice with a dedicated emphasis for female hair loss solutions. Our world-class program for hair restoration procedures allows women to address and explore their hair loss treatment options. 

First, Ziering Medical helps patients learn what causes their unique hair loss situation. By understanding their condition, they can discover the solution that best suits them. Then, together with the Ziering Medical team, they can decide the best course of action.

Causes of Hair Loss

Inherited genetics is the primary reason, but there are other conditions and factors that cause hair loss in women. These include:

• Hormonal changes
• Discontinuation of birth control pills
• Obstetric and gynecological conditions like post-partum and post-menopausal states or ovarian tumors
• Anemia or iron deficiency
• Thyroid conditions and their associated medications
• Stress or trauma from medical operations or emotional problems
• Poor nutrition from dietary changes, eating disorders or vitamin/mineral deficiencies
• Lupus
• Various medications
• Traction alopecia or hair loss caused by trauma or excessive tension on the hair from tight hairstyles

Grading Hair Loss Severity

The Ludwig System measures the degree or severity of hair loss. The scale is specifically tailored for female pattern baldness to give a general categorization of what female hair loss looks like and how it typically progresses. Ziering Medical knows each patient is unique, and there are many women who do and don’t fit within perfectly within the Ludwig stages.  Some women may be seeking a hair transplant procedure for cosmetic reasons only like lowering their hairline to create a softer appearance or to camouflage scars from other aesthetic procedures like face and brow lifts.

Ludwig I-1: The central parting of a woman with no hair loss.

Ludwig I-2 I-3 I-4: The width of the parting gets progressively wider indicating thinner hair along the center of the scalp.

Ludwig II-1 II-2: Diffuse thinning of the hair over the top of the scalp.

Ludwig III: A woman with extensive diffuse hair on the top of the scalp, but some hair does survive.

Ludwig Advanced: A woman with extensive hair loss and little to no surviving hair in the alopecia affected area. Very few women ever reach this stage and if they do, it is usually because they have a condition that causes significant, abnormally excessive androgen hormone production.

Ludwig Frontal: A woman with a pattern of hair loss that is described as “frontal accentuated”. That means there is more hair loss at the front and center of the hair parting instead of just in the top middle of the scalp.

Hair Transplant for Women Procedures

There are two primary and different types of hair transplant procedures. Follicular Unit Strip Surgery (FUSS) and Follicular Unit Excision and Extraction (FUE). The major difference between these 2 procedures is how the donor hair is harvested.

FUSS is a hair restoration technique also known as the strip surgery procedure. It involves shaving a narrow, linear area on the back of the head in what is termed the donor zone where the hair is genetically programmed to last. Next, your surgeon surgically removes a strip of tissue from that shaved down area. Then, the surgery techs dissect the strip of tissue, using the Ziering Scope specifically designed for hair transplant procedures, into microscopic follicular units of 1 – 4 hairs. Your surgeon creates recipient sites in the agreed treatment areas at the proper angle and orientation to achieve the most natural result.  Finally, these tiny hair grafts are delicately placed into those recipient sites, rotating each graft carefully as they are placed to match the surgeon’s recipient site and overall hair transplant design.

Because FUE requires the entire back of the head to be shaved down and the donor hair follicles are removed one by one, women prefer the FUSS method over the FUE. In fact, it is rare for women to choose FUE for their surgical hair restoration procedure.

The process will take from 6 to 8 hours. In order to achieve more hair density, it is common for a second procedure to be included in the treatment plan.

Post-op, pain medications may be required for the next few days. Antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs are typically prescribed. Patients will be able to return to work 2-5 days after the operation. In 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, the transplanted hair will fall out but the follicles will develop new hair growth within a few months.

What Are The Costs?

The cost of a hair transplant for women depends mostly on the amount of hair loss, the quality and quantity of donor hair, and the actual number of hair grafts being transplanted. Most insurance companies consider hair transplants to be cosmetic or elective procedures. As such, the cost of the hair transplant is not covered by insurance carriers and payment will often be out of pocket. 

The recovery process also has expenses that must be taken into consideration. These include:

• Pain medication during the recovery period. 
• Anti-inflammatory meds to reduce swelling at the operative site.
• Antibiotics to reduce the risk of infections.
• Post Op Healing Program including Laser Therapy
• Any recommended oral medications or topical solutions like Z83M

In short, determining the cost is not clear cut, as each treatment plan is different, because it is customized to meet each patient’s unique needs.

We Look Forward To Helping You Get The Results You Want

Dr. Ziering has made it his mission to address hair loss among women, recognizing that they are an under-served community of hair loss sufferers. Ziering Medical looks forward to providing you with answers to any questions you may have and helping you decide on the best solution. We understand that this is a delicate process and that each patient has unique needs and goals. When you have made your decision on which treatment plan to pursue, we look forward to giving you the results you are looking for. Contact us for any inquiries or to schedule a consultation.