Hair Restoration Survey: 2025 Practice Census from the ISHRS
Research
Hair Restoration Survey: 2025 Practice Census from the ISHRS
The 2025 ISHRS Practice Census reveals global hair restoration trends, from graft counts to technique preferences. Here is what the numbers mean for patients, with commentary from Advanced Hair Restoration® physicians throughout.
Key takeaways
- In the 2025 ISHRS Practice Census, 84.7% of hair transplant patients are men and 15.3% are women. Women make up 38.3% of non-surgical treatments.
- FUE is the most common technique: 85.4% of procedures for men and 68.2% for women. Its average case (2,262 grafts) is also larger than FUT’s (2,100).
- The average session is 2,347 grafts for a first procedure and 1,637 for a subsequent one, and patients need 1.5 procedures on average to reach the desired result.
- Experience matters in volume, not just in years. Get more than one consultation, and don’t let a clinic’s limits decide how many grafts your goals require.
Every few years, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), a global, non-profit medical organization with over 1,200 members across 80 countries, releases its Practice Census Report. The 2025 edition offers powerful insight into the current state of hair restoration: who’s getting procedures, what techniques are most used, and how today’s physicians are delivering results.
But why does this data matter?
Because numbers tell a story about trends, standards, and what you should expect when evaluating a physician or clinic. If a provider is doing things dramatically differently from what the majority of experts are doing, it’s worth asking: Why?
In this article, we break down key takeaways from the 2025 ISHRS Census and provide expert commentary from our physicians at Advanced Hair Restoration® to help you interpret what the stats really mean. Our goal? To help you make more informed decisions about your own hair restoration journey.
Want to dive deeper? You can view the full ISHRS 2025 Practice Census Report (PDF).
Male and female share of patients
According to the research conducted by the ISHRS, 84.7% of hair transplant patients are men, meaning only 15.3% are women. Women make up 38.3% of non-surgical treatments.
84.7%
men’s share of hair transplant patients
15.3%
women’s share of hair transplant patients
38.3%
women’s share of non-surgical treatments
Our physicians’ view
This difference is largely due to the nature of hair loss in women. Female hair loss typically presents in a diffuse pattern, which can limit candidacy for transplantation. As a result, women more often seek non-surgical treatments. However, women can still be excellent hair transplant candidates with the right diagnosis and strategy.
Average number of grafts per session
2,347
grafts per session, first procedure
1,637
grafts per session, subsequent procedure
Our physicians’ view
This variation can reflect not only the patient’s needs and goals, but also the capabilities of the physician and treatment team. Some clinics simply aren’t equipped to perform larger sessions. Always get multiple consultations and understand how many grafts are truly required to meet your goals. Don’t settle for limitations based on a provider’s experience or equipment.
Procedures performed per ISHRS member
Here is how many hair transplant procedures each member performed, per month and over the past year:
15
procedures per month (mean)
13
procedures per month (median)
178
procedures in the past year (mean)
The wide range of procedures per member reflects the diversity in practice sizes within the ISHRS. What’s important is ensuring your surgeon performs procedures frequently enough to maintain precision and consistency. Experience matters, not just in years, but in volume.
Hair transplant patients by sex and age
Over half of both male and female patients fell between the ages of 30 and 49: 58.7% and 54.0% respectively. On average, males tended to be slightly younger than females.
Our physicians’ view
Hair loss can affect people at any age, but financial readiness and the stage of hair loss progression often dictate when patients pursue treatment. It’s never too early, or too late, to consult with a specialist. Early intervention offers more options for preservation and restoration.
Hair transplant procedures by type
When members were asked what percent of their total male and female hair transplant procedures were performed using three different methods, the most common method was hair transplantation with FUE harvesting (males: 85.4%, females: 68.2%), followed by hair transplantation with strip/linear harvesting (males: 12.5%, females: 30.0%) and a combination of strip and FUE performed during the same session (males: 2.1%, females: 1.9%).
Our physicians’ view
This is a crucial data point. Over 85% of male patients worldwide are treated with FUE. That should tell you something. At Advanced Hair Restoration®, we believe FUE represents the future of hair transplantation due to its precision, faster healing, and lack of linear scarring. You can read more in our in-depth guide: FUT vs FUE: Comparing Hair Transplantation Techniques.
Free consultation
Find out how many grafts your goals require
Census averages are a benchmark, not a plan. At a free, in-person consultation, an Advanced Hair Restoration® physician examines your scalp and donor area directly and maps your exact graft count.
Average number of FUE and FUT grafts in a typical case
When asked about the average number of grafts they used in a typical case, most members replied zero to 2,999 FUT grafts (91.1%) and 1,000 to 2,999 FUE grafts (79.1%). The average number of grafts per case was 2,100 for FUT cases and 2,262 for FUE cases.
Our physicians’ view
This is one of the most revealing statistics. FUE not only accounts for more procedures, but also a higher average graft count. This dispels the myth that FUT always yields more grafts. If your goals require a high graft count, make sure your clinic is capable of delivering. Don’t accept limitations that stem from a team’s lack of experience or training.
What size punch do physicians use for FUE?
When asked what size punch ISHRS members use when performing FUE, most respondents indicated they use a 0.81 mm to 0.90 mm punch (50.8%) or a 0.91 mm to 1.00 mm punch (38.0%).
Our physicians’ view
Not all FUE is created equal. Punch size affects healing, scarring, and graft viability. A smaller punch typically results in less visible scarring and quicker recovery, but if it’s too small and used improperly, it can increase graft damage. An experienced team chooses the right tool based on patient characteristics, not one-size-fits-all protocols.
FUE donor harvest sites
When members were asked about donor harvest site areas, the scalp was the most common donor harvest site (91.7%), followed by the beard (6.1%) and chest (1.1%).
Our physicians’ view
Body hair transplantation sounds promising, but the reality is that less than 2% of cases use body hair like chest or leg. Why? Because body hair doesn’t grow like scalp hair: it retains its original characteristics. While it may play a small role in some cases, it’s not a reliable or mainstream solution.
Average number of procedures per patient
Two-thirds (67.3%) of members reported performing an average of one procedure to achieve the desired hair restoration result. The average number of procedures needed to achieve the desired hair restoration result was 1.5, while the median was 1 procedure.
Our physicians’ view
Needing more than one procedure isn’t unusual, and doesn’t necessarily mean the first failed. It could be due to timing (early in hair loss), budget limitations, or provider skill. Some patients need multiple sessions to achieve full density or restore large areas. A transparent, personalized plan should explain what’s possible in one vs. multiple procedures.
What the census means for you
These insights from the 2025 ISHRS Practice Census highlight key trends and benchmarks in the world of hair restoration. Use this data to make informed decisions, and remember: the right physician makes all the difference.
If you’re ready to explore your options, schedule a free consultation with Advanced Hair Restoration® today. We meet in person because the physician needs to examine your scalp and donor area directly to map your exact graft count.
For a full breakdown of the survey findings, visit the ISHRS 2025 Practice Census Results.
Questions patients ask
ISHRS census questions
What percentage of hair transplant patients are women?
According to the 2025 ISHRS Practice Census, 15.3% of hair transplant patients are women and 84.7% are men. Women make up a larger share of non-surgical treatments: 38.3%. Female hair loss typically presents in a diffuse pattern, which can limit candidacy for transplantation, but women can still be excellent hair transplant candidates with the right diagnosis and strategy.
How many grafts are used in a typical hair transplant?
In the 2025 ISHRS Practice Census, members reported an average of 2,347 grafts per session for a first procedure and 1,637 for a subsequent procedure. By technique, the average case was 2,262 grafts for FUE and 2,100 for FUT. Session size can reflect the capabilities of the physician and team as well as the patient’s needs and goals, so it is worth understanding how many grafts your goals truly require.
Is FUE or FUT more common?
FUE. In the 2025 ISHRS Practice Census, hair transplantation with FUE harvesting accounted for 85.4% of procedures for men and 68.2% for women, compared with 12.5% and 30.0% for strip/linear (FUT) harvesting and 2.1% and 1.9% for a combination of both in the same session. FUE cases also had a higher average graft count, which dispels the myth that FUT always yields more grafts.
How many procedures does it take to achieve the desired result?
Two-thirds of ISHRS members (67.3%) reported an average of one procedure to achieve the desired result; the average was 1.5 procedures and the median was 1. Needing more than one procedure isn’t unusual and doesn’t necessarily mean the first failed. It can come down to timing, budget or provider skill, and some patients need multiple sessions to achieve full density or restore large areas.
Real Results
Simple 1 Day Treatment®. Lifetime Results.
Every photo below is a real Advanced Hair patient: Advanced FUE™, their own natural hair, Guaranteed to Grow for Life™.
Kyle M. · 3,000 Advanced FUE™ grafts
Scott H. · 2,500 Advanced FUE™ grafts
Madison T. · 3,300 Advanced FUE™ grafts
AJ S. · 2,500 Advanced FUE™ grafts
Individual results may vary.
Next step
Ready to explore your options?
Book a free consultation with Advanced Hair Restoration®. It takes place in person, so the physician can examine your scalp and donor area directly and map the exact number of grafts your goals require.