Hair transplant industry sees double-digit growth

China's hair transplant industry has witnessed double-digit growth, China.org.cn reported on Tuesday.

The country's hair transplant industry has been booming, as the size of the market expanded from 5.8 billion yuan ($898 million) in 2016 to 13.4 billion yuan in 2020, said the news portal, citing a report from data marketing technology firm Miaozhen Systems.

Data from the National Health Commission showed that more than 250 million people -- 163 million men and 88 million women -- are experiencing hair loss in China.

Moreover, among those with hair loss, 84 percent lost their hair before the age of 30, 20 years earlier than previous generations, reflecting a trend of people being afflicted at a younger age.

Currently, institutions carrying out hair transplants in the country fall into four categories: large chain organizations, making up 30 percent of the market; comprehensive medical and aesthetic institutions, at 25 percent; public hospitals, at 15 percent; and local clinics, at 30 percent.

The majority of consumers opting for hair transplants are still men. But with rising demand for a better appearance, the proportion of women seeking hair transplants has seen a steady increase, said the Miaozhen Systems report. In addition, those opting for hair transplants have high income and high education, consistent with higher requirements for quality of life.

The report said customers more pay attention to the actual effects of hair transplant technology and the advantages and disadvantages of different technologies, instead of understanding the underlying technical principles.

After experiencing explosive development driven by capital, the hair transplant industry has gradually entered a mature and stable growth period, the report said.