Price Comparison

[gryphon]

I haven't been able to find a post containing a price list comparing different physicians who are recommended on Hair Transplant Network.com (Ultra-refined & traditional follicular unit grafting).

 

Has anyone already done this leg work? Although results vary, it would be nice to see a per follicle price list breakdown.

 

I can start with one group that I've encountered - Ron Shapiro $4.50/ea, Paul Shapiro $4.00/ea. for 2K and under.

 

I'm esp. interested in overseas quotes - Thailand, Brazil, Pakistan, Turkey, UK, etc... to see some variety. Thanks!

[Acrobaz]

That would be a useful exercise and advantageous to potential patients. Of course, like location, price alone is not a measure of quality, but it is clearly an important factor in the overall decision-making process.

 

The other thing to bear in mind, especially with overseas quotes, is the fact that exchange rates fluctuate. Speaking as someone from the UK, an HT procedure in the US is now about a third more expensive than it was this time last year, purely because of the fall in the value of sterling against the dollar.

 

Regards

[mgem]

Hi gryphon i don't think price is as important as choosing the right doc, a ht isn't cheap no matter where you go.I am travelling from uk to have a ht with dr feller in april, and because the pound is alot lower now than it was when i first worked out my price the extra money needed is considerable but i know i'm going to get a good result. cheers mgem

[AMR1]

I can say that 3000 graft's in Pakistan by Dr Humayun cost ??1300 in January 2009 , I had 2475 graft costing me just over ??1000.

[mgmjtech]

i still think its a good idea to compare last year price and this year especially with the recession.

Please let me know who got it done by

 

Thomas Chung Wai Nakatsui

[AMR1]

iI got it done by Dr Humayun in Pakistan

[GTDL]

I believe that most doctors usually charge on average between $4 and $5 per graft for the first 2000, and then the price per graft usually drops somewhat after that depending on the doctor. But be wary of pricing. More expensive does not mean better quality. Here in Ireland there is one doctor (Dr. Collins) who seems to be doing decent work from what I've read about him. However, I believe he is charging a whopping ?‚¬10 per graft (around $13). Now although his work is good, he is not in the same league (IMO) as the likes of Feller, Shapiro, Hasson & Wong etc. And for what Collins would charge for a 2000 graft session (around $26800, I kid you not!), I could get a world class HT in the States or Canada with a top doctor, stay in a plush hotel for the duration, and still have enough change to splash out if I wanted. And like mgem said, price is not the most important thing to consider when choosing a doctor. If you don't have the money to visit a good doctor right now, save until you do. But also remember what I said earlier, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.

[lostandgone]

Not sure about the grafts but, Dr.Ravindra Reddy and Dr.Ashok from Hyderabad, India charge apprx $1000 for a HT (strip method).

[AMR1]

wow in india its that cheap?, but also in pakistan u have butchers that will do it for less but would u really wanna go there just to save money and get bad results?

[Forrest Gump]

From among the doctors recommended on this forum, in North America, there are a couple of doctors who charge $3 per graft. Most charge between $4 - $5 per graft for FUT. Non-coalition doctors usually charge more, although there are a few who charge $2 per graft, but I wouldn't want them to touch my hair.

 

In some developing countries, it is much lower, although I have serious doubts about their quality. A few years back, I contemplated on a "medical tourism" trip to India, Pakistan, China, or Brazil. Through emails, and over the phone, I got a few quotes. I think I got a few quotes as low as 50 cents per graft.

 

However, the quality of work (based on photos) of most of them was horrible! In fact, for several of the patients, they looked considerably worse after the HT than before.

[ccexxp1]

Ohhhh...be really careful when shopping for price. Unlike an expensive car which you can shop till you drop and get an identical product, with hair transplants you are paying for the skill, reputation and pedigree of the Doctor and clinic. I would shop by Doctor and not look at the price, since this isn't just a new car or expensive shoes. in fact, I would rather not eat or drink and use the extra money for the best Doctor I could find. Don't lowball your medical care, in the unfortunate event of a mishap, you will be sorry.

[ian everton fan]

Theres a doctor recommended on here by the website who is based in Pakistan who is also cheap

[notjustyet]

As for everyone who says you get what you pay for...thats not entirely accurate. What you ARE paying for is perception and the effects of supply and demand. In many instances the majority of a hair transplant is done by techs..not the skilled doctor whose high rates you are paying anyways. Its okay to shop around but base it on results first..then price.

[hairlust]

hey gryphon, i ve heard some horror stories about

"overseas surgery" if youre looking for reasonable prices, consider dr. ochs, he charges 2 dollars a graft and is well qualified, although he is not a member inthis site. I just had a 1600 graft procedure there, and have no complaints. i can see all the grafts poking thru my scalp, its a great feeling! Also, in other countries there is less regulation of medical malpractice which is scary.

For 3000 dollars i had 1600 grafts, and saved a lot of money, plus los angeles is a great town to visit.

cheers.

[Guest Dr. Brandon Ross]

The cost of a surgery does not necessarily reflect the quality of the procedure. There are a lot of other variables involved. If an office mass-markets themselves, then they will have to charge more per graft to cover those costs. But the marketing and the quality of a procedure are completely unrelated.

 

Geography can also play a huge role. If an office is located in proximity to other offices, then they will likely have to charge a lower fee in order to compete. For example, my Southern California office has a bunch of other hair restoration clinics nearby, and several have outstanding surgeons. Nobody around here can stay in business at $8 per graft, when a patient can get quality work for half that price just down the street.

 

My office charges $3 per graft. That's the same price we charged 8 years ago. I probably would have raised the price to $4 per graft over the last couple of years, but to increase my price during the worst economic climate of our lifetimes seems downright ridiculous. Regardless, my skills, technique, staff, etc. would be the same either way, so an increase in price would have no bearing on the quality of my procedure.

[thanatopsis_awry]

I'd agree w/ Dr. Ross. It's true that you shouldn't research trying to find the best "bargain"; but it's also true that you shouldn't seek out the pricier guys, as if that directly reflects the quality.

 

Personally, I would just be extra-cautious whenever you encounter an extreme that stands out..e.g. Armanis of the world...e.g. the guys who run Super Duper $1/Graft Specials.

[Forrest Gump]

Dr Ross and thana make good points. Very often in life, we tend to draw a correlation between price and perceived quality, especially when we're uncertain about the outcome. This correlation need not be true objectively.

 

For example, the best doctor for hairlines (in my opinion) actually charges slightly less than most of the other coalition doctors. On the other hand, I have seen a couple of doctors charge slightly higher than others (about $5 or so per graft), but their work is not that great (again, in my opinion).

[Raphael84]

Dr Ross, your input and honesty is much appreciated.

 

Surely, both sides of the arguement must be considered. As already pointed out, location and unfortunately immediate competition plays its role, but surely regardless of this, quality must be a factor.

 

For example, a quality surgeon, despite potentially larger marketing costs, could also charge more due to reputation. In such a results driven and well researched market (despite the odd compulsive shopper, which I believe is becoming the minority thanks to the internet)! If a poor surgeon with consistently poor results, attempts to charge ceiling rates, especially in the current financial climate, there is no way that they will survive. Time will prove the enemy! However, a respected doc, with consistently good feedback and results will no doubt secure patients despite potential high rates!

 

This does not mean that I support the thesis that docs are currently working with the "higher cost, higher quality" ethic, just that realistically, things could evolve into this suggestion

 

Your thoughts?

[danoush]

Originally posted by Dr. Brandon Ross:

The cost of a surgery does not necessarily reflect the quality of the procedure. There are a lot of other variables involved. If an office mass-markets themselves, then they will have to charge more per graft to cover those costs. But the marketing and the quality of a procedure are completely unrelated.

 

Geography can also play a huge role. If an office is located in proximity to other offices, then they will likely have to charge a lower fee in order to compete. For example, my Southern California office has a bunch of other hair restoration clinics nearby, and several have outstanding surgeons. Nobody around here can stay in business at $8 per graft, when a patient can get quality work for half that price just down the street.

 

My office charges $3 per graft. That's the same price we charged 8 years ago. I probably would have raised the price to $4 per graft over the last couple of years, but to increase my price during the worst economic climate of our lifetimes seems downright ridiculous. Regardless, my skills, technique, staff, etc. would be the same either way, so an increase in price would have no bearing on the quality of my procedure.

 

yes, I went to your website and I can tell that your work is great. Unfortunately I did not have the same experience as I paid $2 per graft and my result is terrible. Your website says that you charge more than $3 per graft is surgery is done by you. So is the quality of the job is the same between having the surgery with you or some one else at your office?