Hair transplantation surgery is an expensive procedure. It is the most pricey of the few hair restoration options available to men dealing with male pattern baldness. Costs are highest in the U.S, Canada, and Europe.
This is why so many men opt to travel abroad where the same procedure is available for a fraction of the cost. But did you know you don’t have to travel to Turkey or India for affordable hair transplant surgery?
Quality service across the border
The average cost for a hair transplant in Mexico is between $4,000 and $7,000. This is significantly lower than costs in the U.S where they range between $4,000 and $15,000.
Read on as we break down the figures and explain how it is that you can get top-quality service at such affordable prices in Mexico.
Hair Transplant in the U.S and Mexico: Cost comparison
For a detailed comparison, we start with insights from The Treatment Rooms London which gives us an estimated number of grafts required for a hair transplant, based on the man’s extent of hair loss.
These experts use the Norwood scale, the most common standard for measuring hair loss caused by male pattern baldness, to guide the number of grafts required.
Advanced hair loss requires more grafts
For Norwood scale 2a, the earliest point at which a man could benefit from a hair transplant, one would need at least 500 grafts to cover the center of the head. Progressed hair loss at Norwood scale 5 would require at least 2,800 grafts. At scale 7, the most advanced extent of hair loss, one requires at least 3,300 grafts.
According to Hair Center Mexico, hair restoration for the three mentioned levels of hair loss would cost about $1,000, $5,000, and $7,000 respectively in Mexico.
This is compared to $2,000, $11,000 and $15,000 respectively in the U.S. This puts costs in Mexico at about half of what is available in the U.S.
Why is Hair Transplant Surgery Cheaper in Mexico?
Mexico has emerged as one of the world’s leading destinations for medical tourism. The country receives more than one million medical tourists a year. This number continues to grow thanks to rising costs and lengthy wait times for treatment in neighboring countries like USA and Canada.
For hair transplant surgery, guests are assured of quality care because surgeons and medical staff at top facilities are trained in the U.S and Europe. Proximity to the U.S also allows for easy access to the latest technology.
This top-notch service is still much cheaper than in the U.S mainly because of the lower cost of living in Mexico. This means lower costs for medical and administrative staff. Lower real estate costs in Mexico mean facilities spend less on rents and other overheads while still providing the same quality care.
Insurance and practice licenses whose costs typically get transferred to patients, are also a lot lower in Mexico.
Transport Cost
If you are in the U.S and plan to leave the country for a hair transplant, Mexico is undoubtedly the most affordable destination in terms of transport, as it borders the U.S to the south.
By air
Average flight costs from the U.S to Mexico range between $90 and $160.
That is cheaper than average flight charges from the U.S to Istanbul, Turkey (popularly known as the hair transplant capital of the world), which will set you back between $300 and $500.
By road
If you live in or near any of the four American states bordering Mexico (California, Arizona, Texas, or New Mexico), you could choose to drive for your hair transplant appointment. It will take you about a day to drive to Mexico City from Texas or New Mexico and about a day and a half from California or Arizona.
Best Cities for Hair Transplant Surgery in Mexico
Once the decision to go with a Mexican facility is made, the next question is ‘Where in Mexico?’ Tijuana, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta and Cancun are four cities to consider.
Tijuana City
Tijuana is a well-known center of medical tourism in Mexico. The main benefit of this city is its proximity to primary interstate highways and principal roads into the country. It is also accessible by air via Tijuana International Airport which can be accessed from most American cities.
Patients also have the option to drive to San Diego and fly from San Diego International Airport to Tijuana in a short thirty-minute flight.
Monterrey City
This city has a large healthcare infrastructure and is one of the best for medical services. You will not struggle to find a facility for a hair transplant. Monterrey International Airport connects with most American cities with flights available all year round.
Puerto Vallarta and Cancun cities
These are two of Mexico’s beach cities that form some of the country’s best tourist destinations. Patients arriving in the country for hair transplants can choose to have it done in one of these cities in order to combine the procedure with a vacation.
Many airlines in the U.S and Canada offer direct flights to Puerto Vallarta and Cancun so there is no need for time-consuming connecting flights.
Conclusion
Mexico is indeed a destination worth considering for hair transplantation surgery. For U.S residents, it is the closest and assures quality service. Surgeons and facility staff are trained in the U.S and Europe just like those in U.S – based facilities.
Apart from savings from the overall cost of the surgery, you also save on transport costs. Airfares are a lot cheaper than those to other renowned destinations. You also have the option to drive or take a bus across the border and return home in a few days.
References
1. https://hairmighty.com/?s=everything+you+need+to+know+about+hair+transplant
2. https://hairmighty.com/?s=flying+to+the+epicenter
4. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327001
5. https://www.haircentermexico.com/hair-transplant-in-mexico/
