Many men and women consider having hair restoration procedures. In fact, you might be wondering what the difference is between hair transplants here in North America and those overseas. To go outside of your country for a hair transplant will cost you extra time and effort.
India, Turkey, the Middle East, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Thailand all offer hair transplant procedures. Of course, there have been many success stories from outside of North America, but there have also been horror stories – is the risk worth saving a few dollars?
Overseas Hair Transplants
When you go overseas for a hair transplant you normally save on the price per graft. A graft is a term used for any piece of hair-bearing tissue that is transplanted into the scalp. Grafts are usually selected from the back of the scalp, also known as the donor zone. Grafts can be taken from any part of the body, but in this area, the hair has higher levels of sustainability. For the most part, the size and shape of each graft is determined by the skill, equipment, and surgical approach of the doctor doing the hair transplant. Most clinics charge per graft and you can (in most cases) expect to pay less for your grafts overseas.
Quality of Work Overseas Transplants VS North America
Its a fact that bad work has been performed overseas. It is possible to get bad work in the United States or Canada, as well, but it is by far less common then hair transplants performed on the black market or at unregulated clinics overseas.
In North America, you may have legal options and governing bodies you can complain to if you receive a botched hair transplant or poor restoration work. If you go overseas for hair transplant and something goes wrong you might not have anyone you can file a complaint with. And even if there is, it might not be an easy process once you return home.
Hair Transplants Require Skill and Experience
The donor hair in the donor zone should be handled with complete care, as there many detailed steps required for accurate hair transplantation. This includes both the harvesting of the grafts and the incisions in the recipient area, because if the steps are not completed correctly or with precision, the implanted hair will not grow, and you might be left with a scar.
The Black Market
“Hair Transplant Mills”, as they’re referred to, are usually run by non-medical staff with little to no training and usually there are no doctors present during the procedure. This is also an issue in Canada and the US, which is why it’s important you ensure your hair transplant is performed by a doctor and not a “technician”, which can be common practice. In some clinics overseas the doctor may only show up for the initial consultation, leaving you to think you are under the guidance of a medical professional, when in fact you are not. Believe it or not, many of these clinics use only assistants without any medical training to do the whole procedure. This could cause serious problems for the patient in the recovery phase, especially if you are back in North America and don’t plan on returning for a follow-up.
