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Hair Transplant Statistics (Updated 2024)

Thanks to celebrity hair transplant success stories and the growing business of male grooming, hair restoration surgeries are more popular than ever. Thanks to hair transplant statistics from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, it’s easy for hair transplant clinics to better understand their patients’ needs [1]. That means we can offer a straightforward surgical experience and fantastic results.

The ISHRS 2022 Practice Census breaks down the current state of the global hair transplant industry. Their data shows that hair transplant surgery is a booming industry as surgeries have increased by 10% since 2016 [1, 2].

We’ve compiled some interesting facts and statistics about hair transplantation that you may not already know. And if you’d like to know more about hair loss in general, see our hair loss facts and statistics

Table of Contents

Key facts and statistics about hair transplants

  • 66.2% of hair transplant surgeries are FUE, 31.5% are FUT, and 2.35% use both techniques. Learn more about the difference between FUE & FUT
  • 87.3% of hair transplant patients are men, according to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (2022).
  • Every 13th man has a hair transplant [23].
  • Men are 5.3 times more likely to seek treatment than women.
  • Only you can provide donor hair for transplantation.
  • The average cost of a UK hair transplant is £4,820.
  • The market for hair restoration surgery has increased by 10% since 2016.

International hair transplant statistics

The ISHRS estimates that  703,183 hair transplant procedures were performed in 2021 — a 4% decrease versus 2019. Unsurprisingly, there’s some variation in the number of hair restoration procedures performed around the world.

RegionNumber of hair transplants performed in 2021 (most to least)Number of hair transplants performed in 2019
Asia/Australia256,835196,630
Africa & Middle East124,475 188,360
USA & Canada149,254182,025
Europe112,742106,949
Mexico, Central & South America59,87761,348
Total703,183735,312

*The ISHRS notes that this data should be viewed with caution as it was derived and extrapolated from fewer than 30 respondents.

34.7% of people worldwide have a hair transplant for career reasons

Many people are self-conscious about how they look at work. Our hair is one of the first things colleagues and peers notice. Therefore, hair loss and hair thinning can have a perceivable impact on business success. As such, 34.7% of elective hair transplant procedures are undertaken by those looking for an edge [3].

37% of patients in the global hair transplant market opt for surgical hair restoration to improve their social lives

During their 2020 census, ISHRS physicians found plenty of information about hair restoration patients. For example, 37% of patients cited social or dating as their main reason for seeking treatment [3]. 

A UK hair transplant costs £4,820 on average

Hair transplants are a popular solution to hair loss. However, the price for these procedures can vary a lot. So to ensure you don’t get over or under-charged, you should check the prices and try and determine an average.

The good news is that we have already analysed the prices of 104 clinics for hair transplantation surgery nationwide and found the average hair transplant price to be £4,820.

Hair transplant costs will vary depending on the stage of hair loss the patient is at, the number of hair grafts needed to meet the patient’s goals, and the treatment they choose. Not everyone will be suitable for hair transplantation surgery, and the best UK hair transplant surgeons will tell you this. If this is the case, they will discuss other options available to you.

6% of hair transplant surgeries are to repair botched black market hair transplants

The majority (96.4%) of ISHRS hair surgeons have reported that up to 25% of their repair cases were due to a previous black market hair transplant, with the average across all ISHRS members reaching 6%. See what hair transplants gone wrong look like.

Hair transplants have a 97% and above success rate

Hair transplant success rates are 97% and above in the overall market. For Wimpole Clinic, our success rates are between 97% and 100%.

However, we believe hair transplantation surgery should be a last resort in your fight against hair loss. There are plenty of preventative hair loss treatments for men and hair loss treatments for women (including hair loss medication) available, such as Minoxidil. A reputable hair transplant specialist will want to ensure you have stopped hair loss before any surgical procedure takes place. 

In a successful hair transplant, hair grafts must survive and adapt to the areas they have been transplanted. Many factors influence the success of your surgery. These include:

  • Suitability assessments and biopsy tests
  • Prevention of further hair loss
  • The skill of the hair surgeon
  • Correct hair transplant aftercare and recovery management

You should always do your research when opting for a hair transplant. Take a look at the available options and identify reputable surgeons who will deliver the results you want.

87% of UK hair transplant clinics offer a free consultation

Thankfully it shouldn’t be too hard to conduct some research as the majority of clinics in the UK hair transplant market offer a free consultation. You should take advantage of this as this will allow you to make a more informed decision. 

Only you can be your hair donor

Unlike other forms of body part donation, only you can donate hair for transplantation. Surgeons usually use the side or back of the head as a donor area. However, it’s often possible to transplant hair from your body to your scalp if necessary.

A hair transplant with someone else’s hair is impossible, even if closely related to you. This is because your immune system would attack the donor hair follicles, and the transplanted hair would fall out straight away. 

Click here to learn where hair transplant hair comes from.

Men are 5.3 times more likely to turn to surgical hair restoration

Men are more likely than women to use surgical procedures for hair restoration [1,2]. Not only that, but the procedures are becoming more popular in the general population. Europeans saw a 240% increase in interest in hair transplant surgeries between 2010 and 2021 [1].

The best hair transplant candidates for either gender are those suffering from genetic hair loss conditions such as male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss). In addition, both male patients and female patients must also fit other criteria such as having enough healthy hair to transplant and the ability to grow transplanted hair.

42.7% of patients require more than one hair transplant in their lifetime

Even though most people need only one procedure to reach the desired results, a recent ISHRS survey showed that 33.1% need two procedures and 9.,6% need three [1]. Therefore, one hair transplant procedure is not always a lasting solution to hair loss. 

The chances of multiple hair transplants will depend on the patient’s age and the severity of the hair loss. Even if the patient requires further transplants, they should see hair regrowth [7]. 

Within a few months of the procedure, patients should notice new growth. After six months, most will see 60% of new hair growth. Learn more about the typical hair transplant timeline.

Post-operative care is vital

After having hair transplantation surgery, patients should always follow the surgeon’s aftercare advice. In addition, you should wash your hair after a hair transplant gently and avoid doing so until at least 48 hours after the procedure.

On average, aftercare and recovery can take up to 18 months before you see any conclusive results, which is why it might not be feasible or worth the risk of having a hair transplant in Turkey or another country.

This is why you need to plan and make sure you have the medical support to see the process through correctly. Otherwise, you can end up with bad results and disappointment.

Not following clear advice could lead to follicles shifting before they heal, affecting results. It is extremely rare to hear of a failed hair transplant which is why it is so important to follow any guidelines given to you.

When should you consider a hair transplant?

If you are experiencing hair loss and want to discuss treatments, then get in touch with the team at The Wimpole Clinic. We are happy to answer your questions and discuss your options as well as the treatments available to you. 

We offer both FUT and FUE hair transplants. Hopefully, these facts and statistics about hair transplants have helped you learn more about them.

Contact us today to book a free consultation and check out our list of questions you really want to ask about hair transplants.

Hair Transplant Statistics (Updated 2024), Wimpole Clinic

The Wimpole Clinic offers FUE Hair, Beard & Eyebrow Transplants & Trichology.
Talk to a specialist ☎ 020 7935 1861.

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