Written by Will Jones
The field of aesthetic medicine can be cutthroat, and the most successful clinics find ways to differentiate themselves from the competition. Dr. Hani Sinno, a plastic surgeon and founder of hair-restoration clinic Follicl MD, has found a new way to deliver unparalleled value to patients: charging based on final results rather than by the graft.
Typically, hair-restoration practitioners charge patients for each follicular unit (FU), which is a group of one to four hairs. Instead of focusing on performing a set number of grafts, Dr. Sinno aims to create personalized, natural results for each patient.
Many people believe that hair restoration involves creating artificial hair or transplanting hair from a donor. That’s a common misconception.
“I like to tell people that the procedure is essentially a moving van for hair follicles,” Dr. Sinno explains. “It starts with taking healthy follicles from the permanent donor zone, which is usually the back and sides of the head. These follicles are genetically resistant to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that causes male-pattern baldness.”
“Once we move these follicles to areas affected by hair loss, they retain their resistance to DHT,” he continues. “For the right candidate, it’s an effective long-term solution that looks and feels natural.”
So why set pricing based on results instead of charging for each hair graft? Dr. Sinno’s practice has always been about prioritizing each patient’s long-term goals. Results-based pricing reflects that. And more often than not, it offers better value to the patients themselves.
“Many clients don’t realize that in any hair-restoration procedure, graft survival matters just as much as graft count,” he says. “During each procedure, there’s a graft survival (or ‘take’) rate. Not every transplanted graft is guaranteed to survive, which is why advertising a high graft number doesn’t necessarily translate to a better outcome.”
Dr. Sinno is based in Montreal, Canada, and many of his patients travel from the U.S. for care. Over the past decade, international travel for aesthetic procedures has become increasingly common, largely because patients pay thousands of dollars less than they would in their home countries.
However, Dr. Sinno cautions Canadian and American patients to be wary when trying to save money on hair transplants and other procedures.
“While countries like Turkey may advertise lower upfront costs, patients should also consider the value of receiving treatment close to home,” he says. “Having access to your surgeon and care team for follow-up appointments, ongoing monitoring, and management of any concerns is an important part of the overall patient experience. It also provides added peace of mind throughout the recovery process.”
Patient-centered care is a cornerstone of Dr. Sinno’s practice, and thanks to this approach, he’s helped countless people regain their confidence and transform their lives.
“Our emphasis is on maximizing the quality and success of the transplant rather than focusing solely on the number of grafts used,” he says. “Successful hair transplantation is about so much more than the number of grafts.”
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Readers are encouraged to consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.
