What is the success rate for hair transplant surgery?

It has been said, “I have never seen a good hair transplant.” This is true – it is impossible to detect a good hair transplant from the person’s original hair because the appearance will be completely natural. As many AlviArmani patients can attest, “Even my hair stylist has no idea I had my hair transplanted”

What is the success rate for hair transplant surgery?

The good news is that hair transplant surgery has evolved from unsightly hair plugs in the 1980’s to a much more refined, reliable, and aesthetically natural result for most patients. The success rate of hair transplant surgery is generally very high, with graft survival rates typically between 90-95%.

A true hair transplant success story involves much more than just successfully transplanting hair from the back of the head to the top. It is just as important to:

  • Safely harvest the grafts, so the donor area looks normal once healed,
  • The hair is transplanted in a natural hair growth pattern that is undetectable from the patient’s hair before they lost it, and
  • The hair transplant achieves acceptable hair density.

AlviArmani Patient before and after FUE hair transplant surgery.

Hair Transplant Industry Statistics:

A 2016 study surveyed patients who underwent FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplants and found an average satisfaction rating of 8.3 out of 10 around 3 years after treatment, attesting to the high success rate.

For a hair transplant to be considered highly successful, approximately 95% of the transplanted hair grafts need to take root and thrive in the recipient area. (*What is not noted is the aesthetic satisfaction with the results, including naturalness and density.)

At reputable hair transplant clinics with skilled surgeons, the failure rate is reported to be less than 2%.

However, the success rate can vary depending on several factors:

  • The technique used (FUE vs. FUT/Strip method).
  • The texture, color, and quality of the patient's existing hair.
  • The skill and experience of the surgeon performing the procedure.
  • Proper patient selection to ensure a successful outcome. Not all prospective patients are viable candidates for surgery.
  • Proper post-operative care and adherence to instructions by the patient.
  • Additional treatments or medications used to enhance results.

Overall, with modern techniques and when performed by qualified professionals at accredited clinics, hair transplant surgery has an extremely high success rate of around 90-95% graft survival and patient satisfaction.

Mature AlviArmani patient with an age appropriate hairline design.

How Much of a Factor is the Surgeons’ Skill in Successful Hair Transplantation?

The surgeon's skill and experience are crucial in determining the success rate of hair transplant surgery. Here are some key factors in which a skilled and experienced surgeon can positively impact the outcome:

Graft Survival and Yield

Highly skilled surgeons have mastered the techniques to extract and implant grafts with minimal damage, resulting in higher graft survival rates. The experience of the surgeon and the medical team allows them to maximize the yield of viable grafts from the donor area.

Natural-Looking Results

Well-trained and experienced surgeons have an artistic eye and can create natural-looking hairlines and distribute grafts in a way that mimics natural hair growth patterns. This leads to more aesthetically pleasing and undetectable results.

Minimizing Complications

Skilled surgeons can anticipate and prevent potential complications like excessive bleeding, scarring, or infections through proper surgical techniques and post-operative care instructions.

Maximizing Density

Experienced surgeons can strategically plan and execute the procedure to achieve maximum density in the recipient area while preserving the donor area for potential future procedures.

Graft Placement and Angulation

Proper graft placement and angulation are critical for natural-looking results. Experienced surgeons have a deep understanding of how to orient grafts to match the patient's natural hair growth patterns.

Patient Selection and Counseling

Skilled surgeons can accurately assess a patient's candidacy for a hair transplant and provide realistic expectations, ensuring patient satisfaction with the results.

Overall, the surgeon's expertise, artistic ability, and years of experience directly translate into higher graft survival rates, natural-looking results, and minimized complications, ultimately leading to a higher success rate and patient satisfaction with the hair transplant procedure.

Celebrities rumored to have had their hair transplanted include Elon Musk, Sylvester Stallone, Bradley Cooper, Renaldo, Wayne Rooney, Kelsey Gramar, Brendan Fraser, Sean Penn, Prince Harry, Rio Ferdinand, Rivaldo, Ludovic Giuly, Bacary Sagna, and Nemanja Gudelj to name a few.