International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) has officially published the results from a new member survey, which revealed patients who went ahead with first-time hair restoration surgery in 2024 included a much bigger chunk of younger generation than the general adult population.
Going by the available details, an estimated 95% would kickstart their hair restoration surgery between the ages of 20-35. More on that would reveal how a greater percentage of women also turned to a permanent solution for hair loss, as the number of female hair restoration surgical patients, during 2024, increased by 16.5% from 2021.
From a general standpoint, ISHRS members reported continued growth in the field of hair restoration. This came on the back of consistent refinements in hair transplantation and a variety of effective non-surgical and medical solutions to combat hair loss. You see, the average number of patients per ISHRS member increased by a substantial 20% since 2021.
As for the average number of hair restoration surgeries performed per ISHRS member, on a monthly basis, in 2024, it settled around the mark of 15 to reflect the hands-on nature of ISHRS physicians and their commitment to performing their own surgeries.
Talk about the published results on a slightly deeper level, we begin from how the percentage of men seeking non-scalp hair restoration procedures increased to 18% in 2024, up from 13% in 2021.
Next up, we must dig into a contingent of 21% women who were found to seek non-scalp hair restoration procedures, marking an increase from 17% in 2021. In fact, after scalp, the next highest percentage of transplantation to recipient area for females was eyebrows, at 12%.
Beyond that, after scalp, the next highest percentage of transplantation to recipient area for males was moustache/beards, at 5%.
Another detail worth a mention is rooted in a piece of data claiming that 44% hair transplant patients, treated in 2024, planned to tell others that they had a hair transplant.
Almost like an extension of it, the number one (90%) reason patients would undergo hair transplantation emerged as to “become/feel more attractive”. The second most common reason had 63% patients revealing an intention to “appear younger to compete in the workplace”.
Hold on, we still have a few bits left to unpack, considering we haven’t yet touched upon the rising number of complications from black market hair transplants, something which poses serious consequences for hair loss patients.
To be more specific, more than 59% of ISHRS members reported there are black market hair transplant clinics in their cities, up from 51% in 2021. ISHRS members also went on to reveal that the average percentage of repair cases, due to a previous black market hair transplant, was 10%, up from 6% in 2021.
Founded in 1993, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) has risen up the ranks through its track-record of promoting highest standards around medical practice, medical ethics, and research in the medical hair restoration industry. The society also provides medical education to physicians specializing in hair transplant surgery, while simultaneously delivering the latest information on medical and surgical treatments to consumers who are suffering from hair loss, and most commonly from androgenetic alopecia.
ISHRS’ excellence in what it does can also be gauged once you take into account that it currently boasts more than 1,200 members throughout 80 countries worldwide.
“People experiencing hair loss are no longer waiting until middle age to find effective solutions from trusted experts, such as ISHRS physicians who devote three-quarters of their practices to hair restoration on average,” said Ricardo Mejia, MD, FISHRS, president of the ISHRS. “The reasonable caseload of hair transplantation surgeries that our members reported performing each month is a testament to their direct role in performing this highly intricate and experience-driven surgery, unlike black market hair transplant clinics where technicians illegally perform hair transplant surgeries.”
