Why is hair transplantation so expensive in Japan?

この記事の概要

This section explains why hair transplant surgery is so expensive in Japan. Medical regulations require doctors to perform the surgery in Japan, which increases costs. In Turkey, on the other hand, nurses can handle much of the work, which reduces the cost of surgery. Another factor contributing to the price difference is the competitiveness of medical tourism in Turkey.

Why is hair transplantation so expensive in Japan?

The huge difference in the price of hair transplant surgery is especially noticeable between Japan and Turkey. Hair transplant surgery is more expensive in Japan than in other countries, and there are various reasons for this. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the reasons why hair transplants are so expensive in Japan, from the perspectives of medical regulations, the role of doctors, medical tourism, and more.

Japan’s Regulations and the Role of Doctors

In Japan, the Medical Practitioners Act strictly stipulates that medical procedures must be performed by doctors. For this reason, even in hair transplant surgery, important parts such as the extraction and transplantation of hair follicles must be directly performed by a doctor. The law restricts nurses and medical assistants from performing key parts of the surgery, and doctors must be involved in every process.

On the other hand, in Turkey, although the doctor supervises, it is common for nurses and medical assistants to take on many parts of the actual surgery, especially in the process of extracting and transplanting hair follicles. This keeps the labor costs of the entire operation low, making hair transplant surgery in Turkey relatively affordable.

Background of medical costs in Japan

In Japan, doctors are paid a high salary, so the fact that doctors are involved in all surgeries leads to higher surgery costs. While having a doctor perform the procedure directly guarantees quality, it is inevitable that costs will increase. Furthermore, in Japan, medical institutions tend to provide high-quality equipment and technology, which tends to be reflected in the price.

Another reason is that the labor costs of medical personnel are set higher in Japan than in Turkey. Because the involvement of a doctor is required, nurses cannot perform surgery as in Turkey, making it difficult to reduce costs in Japan.

トルコ旅行 ボスポラス海峡

Growth of Türkiye’s medical tourism and hair transplant market

Medical tourism is popular in Turkey, with many foreigners visiting the country to undergo hair transplant surgery. The Turkish government also actively supports this sector, and medical facilities are well equipped and technologically advanced. Turkey’s location makes it easily accessible to patients from Europe and the Middle East, and the low cost of surgery makes it an attractive option, especially when it comes to hair transplant surgery.

Moreover, the high demand in Turkey has led to high competition, which has resulted in relatively low prices for the procedure. This competition has resulted in high quality services at low prices, making the cost of hair transplant surgery in Turkey lower than in many countries.

Supply and demand in the Japanese hair transplant market

Meanwhile, in Japan , although there is a demand for hair transplants , costs tend to rise due to strict regulations on the supply side. In Japan, especially when it comes to hair transplants , high level of technology is emphasized, and medical institutions give top priority to safety. Therefore, the hair transplant market in Japan is taking an attitude of striving to ensure quality, even against the backdrop of high costs.

In Japan, advances in medical technology have made surgery safer and more effective, but there are also concerns about rising costs. Given that Japan’s regulations are unlikely to be revised, the current cost level of hair transplant surgery is unlikely to change, and it is expected that high costs will remain in the future.

The roles of medical professionals and their differences

Another big difference between Turkey and Japan is the implementation system of hair transplant surgery. In Turkey, nurses can play a major role even under the supervision of a doctor. This is because nurses are allowed to be entrusted with some medical procedures. This keeps the labor costs for surgery low, which ultimately reduces the overall cost of surgery.

In Japan, there is a legal restriction on nurses performing such surgeries, so doctors are forced to perform all surgeries, which leads to higher surgery costs and places a heavy burden on patients.

Differences in Technology and Quality: Japan’s Advanced Medical Equipment

In Japan, the quality of the equipment and techniques used in hair transplant surgery is said to be very high. Japanese medical institutions have introduced the latest medical technology and high-precision equipment to provide safe and effective procedures. For example, techniques such as FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) used to transplant hair follicles are highly advanced and require skilled doctors and expensive specialized equipment. This further contributes to the rise in surgery costs.

In addition, medical institutions in Japan are under strict government supervision and have very high safety standards. Patient safety is the number one priority during procedures, and procedures and measures are taken to minimize risk. These unique Japanese safety measures and high quality standards are reflected in the cost of surgery and are passed on to patients.

Hair Transplant Surgery in Japan and Its Reliability

In Japan, hair transplant surgery is performed by doctors who specialize in hair transplants, so the technique and reliability are considered high. Doctors usually undergo specific training after graduating from medical school to acquire specialized skills, and as they gain more experience, they hone their skills to minimize risks. For patients, knowing that surgery will be performed by such highly trained doctors is a great source of peace of mind.

However, this means that the cost to the patient will be higher. In addition, hair transplant surgery in Japan is generally not covered by insurance, so patients must pay the full cost themselves. For these reasons, the number of people undergoing hair transplant surgery in Japan is limited, but for those who want reliability and safety, it is a worthwhile option.

Türkiye’s Competitive Advantage: Balancing Cost and Quality of Surgery

Turkey has been successful in balancing competitive pricing with relatively high quality medical technology. The Turkish government, which places importance on medical tourism, is supporting medical tourism and taking measures such as relaxing regulations on treatment for foreigners. In addition, Turkish doctors and nurses have gained experience by treating many foreign patients, and their practical skills have improved.

As such, Turkey offers services with a good balance between price and quality, making it an attractive option for people who value cost-performance. In addition, Turkey often offers package plans that include follow-up care after treatment, which increases convenience for patients. This is one of the reasons why Turkey is gaining popularity worldwide for medical tourism.

Conclusions and future prospects

The reason why hair transplant surgery in Japan is so expensive is that it requires direct surgery by a doctor, advanced techniques and equipment, and strict regulations. Therefore, while hair transplant surgery in Japan is guaranteed to be highly safe and of high quality, the current situation is that the cost burden is high.

Compared to countries with a thriving medical tourism industry, such as Turkey, it is difficult to reduce costs in Japan, and the prospects for lowering surgery costs are slim. However, in the future, medical technology will evolve in Japan in response to demand, and more efficient treatment methods and new technologies will be developed, which may improve the cost of hair transplant surgery. For example, technological advances, such as the introduction of robotic technology, may reduce the time and cost of surgery.

In the future, the hair transplant market in Japan may become more competitive and pricing systems may be revised, allowing even more people to receive safe treatment at an affordable price. In Japan’s hair transplant market, where quality and reliability are important because of the high cost, we can expect improvements in both technology and price to continue to meet the needs of patients.

summary

The main reasons why hair transplant surgery is expensive in Japan are that it requires the involvement of a doctor and the role of nurses is limited. In addition, the high remuneration of doctors and the operating costs of medical institutions are also a factor compared to Turkey. Hair transplant surgery in Japan is of high quality and safety, but the high cost means that patients often have limited options.

In Turkey, medical tourism is booming, so competition is intensifying and efforts are being made to reduce costs. As a result, cheaper services are being offered, attracting many foreigners. When undergoing hair transplantation in Japan, it is important to pay attention not only to the cost, but also to the quality and safety of medical care.

記事の監修者


岡 博史 先生

CAPラボディレクター

慶應義塾大学 医学部 卒業

医学博士

皮膚科専門医