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- Combing behind the ear: Russians under the age of 35 are twice as likely to have a hair transplant
Combing behind the ear: Russians under the age of 35 are twice as likely to have a hair transplant
Young Russians are increasingly resorting to hair transplants: among citizens under 35, the number of such procedures has doubled in a year, market participants told Izvestia. According to doctors, over the past five years, the number of patients experiencing baldness has increased significantly already at the age of 20-30 years, and in some cases, even in adolescence. Experts attribute the increased demand for hair transplantation to the fact that young people care more about their appearance and are willing to invest in their health. At the same time, salons are opening in the "gray" zone, where an expensive procedure is performed without a license for surgery and an operating unit. Customers go there hoping to save money, but face dangerous consequences.
Young people began to transplant their hair more often
In 2025, Russians were 30% more likely than in 2024 to apply to domestic clinics for hair transplant services, market participants told Izvestia. The most noticeable increase, almost doubling, was recorded among patients aged 18 to 35 years, experts from the Moscow clinic "Medicine" told Izvestia.
— It's not only about hair transplantation on the head, but also on the beard and eyebrows, — said Ekaterina Anpilogova, head of the Department of Dermatovenerology and Cosmetology at the clinic, Candidate of Medical Sciences. — Baldness has ceased to be a purely age-related problem. Androgenetic alopecia (thinning of hair caused by hypersensitivity to male sex hormones. — Ed.) increasingly begins in 20-30 years. It is mostly experienced by men, but there are many women among the patients.
First of all, clients under the age of 35 now come for such a service, the HFE (Hair for ever) clinic network confirmed to Izvestia.
"Every year more and more people perform these operations," the clinic's press service noted. — We have had patients come to us before who were already shown the procedure at the age of 17-20. However, today young people are more attentive to their appearance, so the demand for hair transplants is much higher than it was five to ten years ago.
In St. Petersburg, the demand for hair transplantation in the first quarter of 2026 increased by 10% compared to the same period last year, said the medical director of the Volos clinic.<url>", trichologist, plastic surgeon Anastasia Demina.
"Over the past three years, there has been an increase in demand for this procedure," she added. — At the same time, more and more young patients are already experiencing alopecia in adolescence.
And according to the SM Clinic, in the first quarter, the volume of hair transplant operations remained at the level of the same period in 2025, but the proportion of young patients increased.
— However, one cannot say that baldness is "getting younger". The new generation is simply better informed, makes decisions about visiting a doctor faster, and is not inclined to hide health problems," said Alyona Romanova, chief trichologist at the clinic in St. Petersburg.
Russians most often go to Turkey for hair transplants, and Moscow holds the palm among Russian destinations in terms of demand, the expert added.
What is the cause of baldness?
Androgenetic alopecia remains the main indication for hair transplantation, Irina Kondrakhina, head of the advisory and diagnostic center of the State Scientific Center for Dermatovenerology and Cosmetology of the Russian Ministry of Health, dermatovenerologist, told Izvestia.
"But it is important to understand that a transplant does not eliminate the very cause of the disease," she warned. — Therefore, before and after surgery, the patient needs to be monitored by a trichologist and undergo therapy aimed at stabilizing his own hair loss. Otherwise, the transplanted hair will remain, but your own hair around them may thin out.
The doctor noted that the first signs of alopecia often appear as early as 20-25 years old. Their occurrence is associated with both heredity and hormonal factors.
— Androgenic alopecia is more common in men, — said Irina Kondrakhina. — This is due to a genetic predisposition and increased sensitivity of hair follicles to dihydrotestosterone (the most active form of testosterone. — Ed.). Under its influence, the hair becomes thinner, shorter and weaker, and then stops growing altogether. As a result, a characteristic baldness of the frontal-parietal zone is formed, while the hair on the back of the head remains.
In women, androgenic alopecia is less common, and the mechanism of development of the disease has its own characteristics — hair usually thinns in the area of the central parting and parietal area. According to Irina Kondrakhina, thyroid diseases, iron deficiency and metabolic disorders can worsen baldness.
Trichologist Anastasia Demina added that the aggressiveness of the course of the disease is influenced by chronic stress, as well as previous infections.
"After the COVID-19 pandemic, we received a large number of patients with increased alopecia or its first manifestations," she said.
The increased demand for hair transplants among young people is also due to the fact that this generation thinks more about health and does not postpone a visit to the doctor at the last moment, the doctor believes. In addition, men, according to her, are now calmer about aesthetic procedures.
— This is a good trend, because the sooner you start treatment, the more hair you will be able to preserve, — Anastasia Demina believes.
Baldness, as clinical studies show, often leads to a decrease in self-esteem, so after a transplant, many patients change for the better not only their appearance, but also their quality of life, both personal and professional, said doctor Ekaterina Anpilogova.
How much does it cost to transplant hair
Hair follicle transplantation is an expensive operation, experts interviewed by Izvestia believe. According to trichologist Alena Romanova, the cost of this procedure continues to grow due to the rising cost of imported consumables.
— It is important to understand that financial investments require not only the operation itself, but also long—term rehabilitation care after it, - said the doctor.
In a licensed medical center in Moscow, a hair transplant in the middle price segment will cost 300-400 thousand rubles. In premium class clinics, where they rely on well-known surgeons and a high level of service, the cost of an operation starts from 750 thousand rubles. The lowest prices — from 80 to 150 thousand — are offered by small clinics and medical offices operating on rented premises.
— The hair transplant service falls into the field of general and plastic surgery, and the treatment of alopecia falls within the competence of a dermatovenerologist and cosmetologist, — said Ekaterina Anpilogova. — However, in the "gray" zone there are organizations that carry out such operations without a license for surgical activity and without a full-fledged operating unit. They even take patients with severe infections. Such an irresponsible approach is fraught with terrible consequences: blood poisoning, tissue necrosis, even death. Of course, people consciously go there with only one goal — to save money. But is it possible to save on your health?
How is the hair transplant market regulated
Any medical service must be provided in compliance with licensing requirements, Roszdravnadzor told Izvestia.
The licensing requirements include the availability of an appropriate license at the clinic, the necessary equipment, trained personnel, and compliance with medical care procedures, the press service noted. When choosing a medical organization, it is important for the patient to ensure that they have a license to provide the necessary medical services.
The relevant information is posted in the Unified Register of Licenses, which is located on the official website of Roszdravnadzor, the agency recalled.
Hair transplantation is considered a surgical operation, Veronika Polyakova, managing partner of the Business Legal Group Bar Association, told Izvestia.
According to the order of the Ministry of Health of 2018, the transplant belongs to the profile of "plastic surgery". In addition, there is a professional standard "plastic surgeon", where the work function of this specialist includes hair transplantation procedures.
— However, there is no order that would be specifically dedicated to hair transplantation. Although there is such a document for dental operations, for example," the lawyer said. — This may also contribute to the emergence of a "gray" market. There are quite a lot of cases in Russia when people without medical education illegally perform operations. The problem is acute: aesthetic plastic surgery, cosmetic procedures, such as injections into the face and lips, and laser hair removal are in the "gray" zone.
So, in 2025, Andrey Kapustin, a 32-year-old lawyer from Vladivostok, died during a hair transplant. A criminal case was opened under the article on causing death by negligence — "due to improper performance of professional duties."
"The investigation will show whether the doctors are to blame for Andrei Kapustin's death," Veronika Polyakova noted. — The private clinic where he died was operating legally and was in good standing with the patients.
At the same time, patients continue to go to "gray" cosmetologists and surgeons, trying to save money: the cost of illegal hair transplantation is about 50% lower than the market price, experts say.
To restore order in the market, it is necessary to develop separate standards for aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetology, Veronika Polyakova believes. It is necessary to create a classifier of "everyday" procedures, such as eyelash extensions or eyebrow tattooing, so that there are no discrepancies with medical services, as well as to develop GOST standards for most such procedures, the lawyer believes.
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