A non-surgical hair transplant is a hair transplant procedure that does not involve surgery. During a non-surgical hair restoration procedure, real or synthetic hair is attached to either the patient’s existing hair or to the scalp. Initially, a non-surgical hair transplant can cost less than surgical options. Depending on the procedure, though, non-surgical hair restoration can cost more than surgical options due to the cost of ongoing maintenance. Most health insurance companies will not cover the cost of a hair transplant, but some will consider it if the reason for hair loss is due to a serious medical condition, symptom, or treatment side effect.
There are two common ways for a hair transplant specialist to attach new hair to a patient’s head during a non-surgical hair transplant. The first is by attaching it to the patient’s existing hair. Some of the terms that refer to this method include weaving, bonding, and beading. The second method is by attaching the new hair directly to the scalp using one of various kinds of adhesives. Attaching the new hair to the existing hair requires more maintenance than using an adhesive, but using an adhesive does not provide as strong and secure an attachment.
Whether real or synthetic hair is used during the non-surgical hair transplant will depend on the exact transplant procedure used and the patient’s preference. Real human hair can provide a more natural look than synthetic hair. Depending on the quality, however, synthetic hair can provide just as natural an appearance. The patient might ask the hair transplant specialist to show him samples of each variety. Also, if the specific procedure only allows for one kind of hair, the specialist can help the patient narrow his options from that point.
Depending on the exact procedure, a patient’s initial non-surgical hair transplant can cost less than other surgical options. A patient must keep in mind, though, that non-surgical methods require more maintenance than surgical methods. This means there is potential for the cost of a non-surgical transplant to add up and surpass that of a surgical one. Generally, health insurance companies do not cover the cost of any kind of hair transplant procedure. A patient who is experiencing hair loss as a result of a serious medical condition, or as a symptom of medical treatment, might find that his health insurance provider will cover some or all of the non-surgical hair transplant cost.