Introduction
New York City, known as the Big Apple, is a bustling metropolis not only famous for its cultural, financial, and media influence but also for its top - notch medical facilities. When it comes to hair follicle transplantation, the city offers numerous options for those looking to combat hair loss. In this article, we will explore three regular hospitals for hair follicle transplantation in New York City, their services, prices, success rates, and more. This information will assist you in making an informed decision if you're considering a hair transplant.
Understanding Hair Follicle Transplantation
What is Hair Follicle Transplantation?
Hair follicle transplantation, also known as hair restoration surgery, is a surgical process that moves hair follicles from a part of the body with abundant hair (the donor site) to a bald or thinning area of the head (the recipient site). It's a long - term solution to hair loss, commonly used to treat male baldness but can also be used for restoring eyelashes, eyebrows, beard hair, and filling in scars.
Causes of Hair Loss
- Genetics: Hereditary hair loss is the most common cause, especially in men. As men age, genetic factors can lead to androgenic alopecia.
- Stress: Physical or emotional shock can cause temporary hair thinning for several months.
- Hairstyles and Treatments: Tight pigtails, ponytails, braids, permanent hair treatments, and hot oil treatments can cause traction alopecia or damage to hair follicles, leading to hair loss. Scarring from such treatments may result in permanent hair loss.
- Radiation Therapy: Cancer treatment with radiation can cause hair loss in the treated area.
- Medical Conditions and Hormonal Changes: In women, hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or thyroid problems can cause temporary or permanent hair loss. Medical conditions like alopecia, scalp infections, and trichotillomania can also lead to hair loss.
Overview of Hair Transplant Clinics in New York City
New York City has a significant number of hair transplant clinics. As of April 20, 2024, there were a total of 64 hair transplantation clinics in the city. These clinics offer a range of services, including different hair transplant techniques, with varying success rates and prices. The average cost of a hair transplant in New York City is around $13,610, with a price range from $8,669 to $19,589. The methods commonly used in these clinics are Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), Artas, Scalp Micro - Pigmentation (SMP), and Platelet - Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy.
Three Regular Hospitals for Hair Follicle Transplantation in New York City
Bernstein Medical Center for Hair Restoration
Key Information
- Address: 110 East 55th Street, New York
- Years Active: At least 20 years
- Other Branches: Long Island
- Email: contact@bernsteinmedical.com
- Website: https://www.bernsteinmedical.com/
- Lead Surgeon: Dr. Robert M. Bernstein
Services and Techniques
Bernstein Medical is a state - of - the - art hair restoration facility. They offer follicular unit transplantation (FUT), robotic follicular unit extraction (r - FUE), and hair transplant repair procedures. All FUE procedures use the Artas robotic system, which provides unparalleled speed and precision. In addition to hair transplants, they also offer beard transplant, eyebrow transplant, scalp micro - pigmentation, and laser hair therapy.
Surgeon's Expertise
Dr. Robert M. Bernstein is a clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University in New York. He is a pioneer in the hair transplant field and has helped pioneer modern hair transplant surgery over the past 20 years. He is the only hair restoration physician to be named to New York magazine’s “Best Doctors in New York” issue for fifteen consecutive years.
Cost
The initial consultation is $185, and there is a fee of $550 for a “full hair loss evaluation”. However, the online consultation is free. The exact cost of the hair transplant is not specifically given as it depends on various factors, but you can discuss pricing details during the consultation.
Reviews and Highlights
The clinic has an overwhelmingly positive forum feedback. Their website is open, honest, and full of excellent information. They emphasize educating clients on how to choose a good clinic and what to look out for. The photo - gallery with detailed commentary on each case is incredibly useful and educational. Dr. Bernstein is known for giving a realistic evaluation of a patient's suitability for a hair transplant, and he turns down many unsuitable candidates, which shows a high level of professionalism.
Dr. Feller's Clinic (Feller & Bloxham)
Key Information
- Address: 287 Northern Blvd, Suite 200, New York
- Years Active: At least 25 years
- Other Branches: Philadelphia
- Email: info@feller medical.com
- Website: https://feller medical.com/contact/
- Lead Surgeon: Dr. Alan Feller
Services and Techniques
The clinic specializes in hair transplants, using techniques such as FUT and FUE. While information about other services is limited, they seem to be primarily focused on hair transplantation.
Surgeon's Expertise
Dr. Alan Feller has many publications dating back to the early 2000s and is an inventor of certain hair transplant instruments. He is a pioneer in hair transplantation and has been in the field for decades.
Cost
The cost at Dr. Feller's clinic is structured and depends on the number of hair grafts. The more grafts, the more expensive the procedure. Also, the FUE technique is much more expensive than FUT. The website provides a nice summary of the potential cost, which is quite rare among hair transplant clinics.
Reviews and Highlights
They have very positive and long - standing forum feedback. The clinic is dedicated solely to hair transplants and has not branched out into other cosmetic areas. Their website is transparent and informative, and they clearly show their experience and professionalism through their long - term success in the field.
Dr. True & Dr. Dorin's Clinic
Key Information
- Address: 499 7th Ave, 24th fl S Tower, New York
- Years Active: Over 20 years
- Other Branches: New Jersey, Long Island, and Boston
- Email: No email listed on website, but there is a contact form at https://www.hair loss doctors.com/contact
- Website: https://www.hair loss doctors.com/
- Lead Surgeons: Dr. Robert True and Dr. Robert Dorin
Services and Techniques
The clinic offers FUT, FUE, and non - surgical options such as PRP and laser light therapy. They also provide eyebrow restoration and beard transplant services.
Surgeon's Expertise
Dr. True and Dr. Dorin are board - certified hair transplantation surgeons. Although they may not be as well - known as some other surgeons in hair transplant forums, they have been active in sharing case studies since 2009 and are highly rated by patients.
Cost
They don't give a definitive cost but provide a very broad range of $5000 – $15000 per single hair transplant session. They also mention that FUE is more expensive than FUT.
Reviews and Highlights
Their website is modern, with gorgeous layout and graphics. They have excellent forum feedback and are actively involved in sharing case studies with readers. They have a consistent stream of excellent results and a professional approach to hair transplant treatments.
Comparison of the Three Clinics
Clinic | Techniques Offered | Cost Range | Surgeon Expertise | Other Services | Website Quality | Forum Feedback |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bernstein Medical Center for Hair Restoration | FUT, r - FUE, repair procedures | Initial consult $185, “full hair loss evaluation” $550, online consult free, exact transplant cost variable | Dr. Robert M. Bernstein, pioneer, named in New York magazine’s “Best Doctors” for 15 years | Beard transplant, eyebrow transplant, SMP, laser hair therapy | Open, honest, educational | Overwhelmingly positive |
Dr. Feller's Clinic (Feller & Bloxham) | FUT, FUE | Structured based on grafts, FUE more expensive | Dr. Alan Feller, inventor of instruments, long - term experience | Not clearly stated, mainly hair transplants | Transparent, informative | Very positive and long - standing |
Dr. True & Dr. Dorin's Clinic | FUT, FUE, non - surgical (PRP, laser) | $5000 – $15000 per session, FUE more expensive | Dr. True and Dr. Dorin, board - certified, active in sharing case studies | Eyebrow restoration, beard transplant | Modern, well - designed | Excellent |
Hair Transplant Techniques
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
FUT, also known as follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS), involves removing a strip of skin from the back of the head containing multiple hair follicles. This strip is then stitched up, and the hair around it helps hide the scar. The strip of follicles is divided into 500 - 2,000 tiny grafts, each containing just a few hairs, which are then embedded across the bald area of the head. One drawback of FUT is that it can leave a linear scar at the donor site.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
FUE does not require the removal of a strip of skin. Instead, individual hair follicles are directly extracted from the donor area using a specialist microsurgical needle. These follicles are then moved to the recipient site and placed in tiny slits created by a scalpel or needle. FUE is now the preferred technique as it does not leave a linear scar at the back of the head, but it is generally more time - consuming and may be more expensive.
Factors Affecting Hair Transplant Success
Surgeon's Expertise
A seasoned and competent surgeon is crucial for a successful hair transplant. An experienced surgeon will use sophisticated methods to prevent damage to the transplanted hair follicles during the process and will be able to place the grafts in an attractive manner that resembles natural hair growth. For example, surgeons like Dr. Robert M. Bernstein at Bernstein Medical Center have a long - standing reputation for their expertise in hair transplant surgery.
Patient's Health and Lifestyle
The overall health status and lifestyle choices of the patient greatly impact the treatment's effectiveness. Subpar habits such as excessive smoking and alcohol intake can obstruct the recovery process and influence the result adversely. Illnesses like diabetes can also interfere with the likelihood of success.
Donor Hair Quality
Patients with robust, plentiful hair in the donor region generally have a higher success rate as compared to individuals with sparse or poor - quality hair. A detailed examination is carried out before the hair transplant to verify the quantity and quality of the donor's hair.
Cost of Hair Transplant in New York City
The cost of a hair transplant in New York City can vary significantly. The average cost is around $13,610, with a range from $8,669 to $19,589. The cost is influenced by several factors, including the experience and reputation of the surgeon, the complexity of the case, the total number of grafts needed, and the pricing strategy of the medical establishment. Some clinics charge based on the number of grafts transplanted, while others price the procedure as a package. For example, 2000 grafts in New York may cost more than $10,000, as the cost of one graft is around $5.44 according to research.
Procedure and Recovery
Procedure
The hair transplant procedure is performed under local anesthetic. The surgeon will take hair from the donor site and transfer it to the recipient site. The two main methods, FUT and FUE, have different ways of extracting and transplanting the hair follicles as described above. The procedure usually lasts between 4 to 8 hours, depending on the number of grafts needed. Most procedures involve the extraction of around 3,000 grafts, and if more are required, it may need two separate sittings.
Recovery
After the procedure, the scalp will be sensitive to pain for a few days. Patients are usually given painkillers, anti - inflammatory medications, and sometimes antibiotics to prevent infection. Patients can expect to return to work and their daily routine, including exercise, after 5 days. However, the signs of a hair transplant will remain for at least another 2 - 3 weeks. The newly transplanted hairs will start to fall out after a few weeks, which is a normal part of the process as dead hair makes way for new hair growth. It may take several months for significant hair growth to be visible, and full results can be expected after about a year.
Aftercare for Hair Transplants
After the hair transplant procedure, patients are provided with various post - op items, including specialist shampoo, lotion, multivitamins, a special hat, a headband, neck pillow, and wound dressing. Anti - swelling medication and painkillers are also available. Some clinics may offer platelet - rich plasma (PRP) therapy, where a small amount of blood is taken, spun in a centrifuge to separate the plasma, and then injected into the recipient site to stimulate hair follicles and encourage hair growth.
Alternatives to Hair Transplants
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy uses a low - level laser device with a wavelength of 650 nanometres to stimulate hair growth, especially for hair loss caused by genetics. However, the long - term effects of this alternative are still uncertain.
PRP Therapy
PRP therapy uses the patient's own blood. The blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate the plasma component, which contains many growth factors that can promote hair growth when injected into the scalp.
Other Non - Surgical Alternatives
Other non - surgical options include shaving all the hair off, trying different hairstyles, or using a wig or hair piece.
Conclusion
New York City offers a wide range of options