For the two-thirds of American men who will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss by the age of 35, the cost of a hair transplant surgery is a procedure to seriously consider. Seeking help from hair loss specialists is a viable option for men of other ages and women in every demographic who experience hair loss as well as that primary group of men. For anyone weighing the cost of a hair transplant surgery against potential benefits, here are some quick facts to know.

• There are three kinds of hair transplant surgery. For a permanent solution to hair loss, surgeons can either use the method of Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) or Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). In FUT, a strip of scalp is cut out from the back of the patient’s head and dissected into individual grafts. With FUE, individual follicular units are taken from the back of the patient’s head and replanted into the target area. Some patients do not have enough hair on the back of their head for these procedures, so they use the Body Hair Transplantation (BHT) method, which takes donor hair from the chest, back, shoulders, torso, or legs.

• Hair transplant surgery requires post-operative care. There isn’t a taxing amount of care that you need to do after a hair transplant surgery, but you shouldn’t ignore your new scalp altogether. Doctors should give out post-operation care instructions, which will typically include taking antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications for three to five days. It is also a good idea to stay out of direct sunlight and to avoid heavy exercises, swimming, and using gels or chemical treatments for weeks after surgery.

• Some people cannot get hair transplants. While people of any gender and most ages can get hair transplant surgery, other factors may prevent someone from going through the procedure. People who do not have enough “donor” hair cannot get the surgery, as they need hair harvested from their own body. People with keloid scars after an injury or surgery and people who suffer hair loss due to medication such as chemotherapy also cannot have the procedure because the implant site would be too delicate.

Although hair transplant surgery is a minimally invasive procedure, it is still considered a surgical treatment and it is permanent. It is a major step for anyone experiencing hair loss and requires a careful decision-making process.