25 Important Considerations When Choosing a Hair Transplant Surgeon

1. Who referred you to the doctor? Many doctors offer a small percentage to hair stylists who send patients their way. The hair stylist is simply making the referral to get the cash, they can't truly attest to the safety records and standards of the doctor.


2. Does the doctor feel you are a good candidate? Not every person is a good candidate for hair transplant surgery. The doctor needs to view your level of hair loss before making any decisions.


3. How much training does the doctor have? You want a doctor with experience in both hair restoration and facial plastic surgery. First, the success rate is going to be higher with an experienced doctor than with one just starting out. Second, doctors with training in facial plastic surgery are less likely to leave visible scars.


4. How many certifications does the doctor hold? Look for doctors who hold more than one board certification. This means the doctor has spent plenty of time really mastering specific skills in plastic surgery and passing tests overseen by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.


5. What specific certifications should the doctor have? Always look for a doctor who is certified in plastic surgery. It's also beneficial to look for doctors who passed the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgeons' exam.


6. How many hair transplant surgeries has the doctor performed? When searching for the best hair transplant doctor, look for one who has performed hundreds or thousands of surgeries over someone who is new and doesn't have enough of a record for you to see how many of those transplants were successful.


7. How many people are in the room during my hair transplant surgery? More is better! The key to success involves proper handling of the harvested follicles. Keeping them moist is important. With a full team where each person has one specific job, the chance of something going wrong is greatly reduced.


8. What training have the assistants had? Look for assistants that have been with the doctor for a long time. Ask about their education and training. You don't want someone with little hands-on experience


9. How well do you understand what happens during the surgery? Before agreeing to a hair transplant, make sure you know each step the doctor takes. Local anesthesia is used. Donor hair is removed from the back or sides of the head. The hair follicles are carefully dissected and transplanted to your bald areas. Only the hair transplant surgeon will do the implants. Ask about the size of the blades used in the transplants. Blades of 0.5 to 0.7 are ideal.


10. What procedure is used by the doctor? No two patients are alike. When choosing the best hair restoration doctor, you want a doctor skilled in the different methods. While follicular unit micrografting (FUM/FUG) is popular, there are definite benefits to follicular unit extraction (FUE). For people with a high hairline, a hairline lowering procedure can prove beneficial.


11. What are the doctor's preferred transplant sites? Not all doctors have the same degree of experience in hairline restoration.


12. What are the preferred donor sites? Every patient is different. Typically, these areas include the sides or back of the head.


13. Does the doctor's office handle travel arrangements? Planning a hair restoration surgery is stressful, especially if you live out of town. Look for an office that helps you book a suitable hotel and find flights that match your surgery schedule.


14. Does the doctor do mega-sessions? Some doctors believe mega-sessions are worthwhile. During this procedure, up to 4,500 hair follicles are transplanted during one surgery that takes up to nine hour to complete. Not every patient is a good candidate, but if you are, having the entire transplant done at once is effective in terms of both recovery time and cost.


15. Are virtual consultations offered? Finding time to visit a hair transplant doctor is problematic if you have limited personal or vacation time, especially when you need to take days off for the surgery. A doctor that offers virtual consultations is ideal. You send photos of yourself to the doctor and then discuss the procedure over a video conferencing service like Skype.


16. Who handles the consultations? The best hair transplant doctor takes care of his or her own consultations. If the doctor sends a consultant, only basic information should be discussed. If the consultant begins to discuss specifics of your surgery and isn't certified in hair transplant surgery and plastic surgery, find a different doctor.


17. How thorough is the consultation? In addition to viewing your level of hair loss and determining the best method to correct this issue, the doctor should discuss things you need to do before and after the surgery. This includes post-operative care and what activities you need to avoid while you heal.


18. How many before and after pictures are available for viewing? View at least a dozen before and after photos before making any final decision. Look for pictures that are similar to your stage of hair loss and even hair texture and density.


19. How old are those pictures? Look for pictures that are regularly updated. After years of experience, a doctor may learn new techniques during seminars or become stuck in his or her ways and ignore advancements in technology.


20. Can you talk to past patients? Ideally, getting to talk to patients who used the doctor for hair restoration is best. This allows you to see the work up close, look at the actual scars, and see what the patient thought of the doctor's bedside manner.


21. What do the forums say? Take a look at hair loss forums. The American Hair Loss Association is a great place to start. You'll find doctor recommendations and feedback on what the surgery was like in these forums.


22. What do online reviews say? You can't trust every review. You can, however, read the reviews and see what people are saying. Look specifically for detailed reviews that avoid marketing talk, are not written by an anonymous poster, or that have lots of grammar or spelling errors. Also, make sure you read the positive and negative. Use these reviews as guidance, but not as a replacement for checking photos and talking to former patients.


23. What does the state medical board say? After reading reviews, check out what the state medical board has on file. The board can tell you if there are any complaints against the doctor.


24. Is the doctor affiliated with any organizations? There are some organizations who are not really worthwhile, but the best hair restoration doctor is affiliated with the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons. Affiliation with the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons also shows a commitment to continuing education regarding hair restoration skills.


25. Has the doctor warned you against smoking? Smokers heal slower than non-smokers. Before any surgery, you should stop smoking at least a few weeks before and after the surgery. Make sure the hair transplant surgeon you choose has specific rules on when you need to stop smoking and when you can start back up.

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