Hair Restoration and Replacement

Hair restoration doctors in the US are actually unregulated unlike most other surgical specialties. Most surgeons are required to be certified by a board of their peers and thus must show proficiency in both knowledge and skill in the area of their expertise. This is not the case with hair restoration surgeons. In fact, any MD or OD can put up a sign claiming to be a hair restoration doctor and start doing transplants.

Hair Restoration Doctors

With this in mind, it is very important that you actually choose a physician who is proficient in the intricacies of treating hair loss with surgical procedures. You can quickly end up with a very bad problem if you don’t make a good choice. The first place to start when considering a particular clinic is the Better Business Service. Check to see if there have been any complaints against the doctor who will be performing the procedure or the clinic where it will be performed. If the results of a hair restoration procedure were so bad that the patient complained to the BBS then you really don’t want to have anything to do with them.

Next, you can talk to your family physician but be aware they may not really have any knowledge of the procedure and the results. If a clinic is real bad your health care provider may steer you clear but you can’t be sure of that because they are often times afraid of law suits. As with any medical treatment, it is always better to start with a professional who knows your particulars first.

Once you have chosen a surgeon and clinic then go for a visit. Hair restoration is a business and the personnel at the clinic understand that. Be prepared for a sales pitch because their job is to sell as many of the surgeries as they can. Do not sign anything on this first visit. Tell the person you are meeting with that you are only looking for information. This can be a big investment and if the clinic won’t take the time to give you all the facts you need to make a good decision then you don’t need to do business with them.

Hair Restoration Photos

Ask to see before and after pictures of patients who have been treated at that particular facility. These should be both shot from the exact same angle and should show the balding area before the procedure and after. They also should be provided with dates so you have a realistic time line of what to expect for hair growth. Don’t accept a before pictures which is shot from the top of the head showing the bald spot and then a frontal shot showing the results. Nothing can be compared if the photo are not taken from the same angle. Generally you want to see about ten sets of photos. Again, if they can’t provide these then walk away.

You should also ask for a list of names and phone numbers of clients you can contact. If they don’t have any satisfied customers then this should be a red flag. When you call these prior patients be sure to ask about the procedure, the follow up care, the length of time required for good hair growth, and if they had any problems. Most people are happy to give you information if you just ask the right questions. Ask if they would use this clinic again and if they have any pointers for you.

Choosing a hair restoration doctor can be a shot in the dark if you aren’t willing to do some research. The more time you spend up front the more likely you are to have good results. This procedure will be with you for the rest of your life so getting it done right the first time is very important.