Body hair transplant cost in India

When the back of the scalp cannot give enough grafts, some doctors take extra grafts from the beard or the body. This is a body hair transplant (BHT). It is mostly used for advanced hair loss. We estimate body hair grafts at ₹50 to ₹100 per graft in India, more than scalp FUE at ₹30 to ₹60 per graft. Few clinics publish these prices, so treat the figures as a rough guide.

When it is used

A 2017 review in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal describes two main uses:

• advanced loss, such as grades 6 and 7, where scalp donor hair is not enough to cover the bald area
• adding body hair to scalp grafts to make the result look denser

Scalp hair stays the first choice. See how many grafts do I need? for how far scalp donor hair usually goes.

Cost

The review notes that taking body grafts is slower than scalp FUE and needs more skill, because the hairs grow at changing angles.

How body hair differs from scalp hair

The same review sets out the differences:

• Thickness. Beard hair is thicker than scalp hair. Most other body hair is thinner.
• Shape. Body hair often curls once it grows past a certain length.
• Growth. Between 30% and 85% of body hairs are in a resting phase at any time, and their growing phase lasts months, not years. So they grow shorter than scalp hair.
• Survival. Published figures for how many body grafts grow range from about 60% to 80%.

Where body hair goes on the head

The review advises against placing thick beard grafts in the hairline and temples, where they can look unnatural. Beard hair is more often used to add density to the mid-scalp and crown. Finer hair from the arms or legs can suit the hairline in some cases.

Risks to ask about

The review lists pale marks where beard hairs were taken, which show more on darker skin, raised scars (keloids) on the chest, and inflamed or ingrown hairs where grafts were placed.

Before you agree to it

Ask the doctor:

• how many grafts will come from the scalp and how many from the body
• which body areas, and where each type of graft will go
• the price per graft for each, in writing
• what marks to expect on the beard or body