Does an Actual MD Perform the Hair Transplant Surgery?

Some doctor do the entire surgery all by themselves.  However this is rare and can be inefficient. While it is understandable that the patient may want the doctor to be the surgeon who conducts the entire surgery, hair transplant surgery is team work. A medical doctor (MD or DO) is required for harvesting and making any incision on the skin.

Yes, all hair transplants in the US need to be done by a physician.  Most top hair transplant surgeons are assisted by highly experienced hair transplant technicians, who typically dissect out the hairs under microscopes and help with the planting of the grafts.

No, the medical professional performing the installation of the grafts does not have to be a certified physician. However, the surgeon does perform the graft excision and prepare the slits in the recipient area where the transplanted hair will be installed. The slits made are what determine hairline design, density, and global growth pattern. Additionally, there is always an M.D. present to manage every aspect of surgery.

The physician harvest the grafts and closes the wound.  The surgeon then prepares the recipient sites for the grafts.  The technician then places the grafts into the recipient sites. 

Dr. ES

One of the most difficult parts of a natural appearing hair transplant is the design of the hairline and this is typically done by the surgeon.  Removing the hair to be transplanted is considered surgery and is also done by a doctor or, depending on the state, an advanced practitioner.  Placing the grafts in the previously made slots is typically done by an experienced technician.  Find someone you trust.  Good luck!

The surgeon typically removes the donor hair and makes the recipient sites for placement. The hair transplant technicians then place these grafts in the recipient sites. Our technicians have done this for 20 years or more. 

A hair transplant needs to be performed and supervised by a well trained physician.  There are phases in a hair transplant where non MD assistants are participating in the procedure, but the doctor is in complete control at all times. 

The laws in all 50 states requires that a licensed doctor does all surgery. Although this is not always the case, those that do the surgery outside the law can be charged criminally. 

 The MD, surgeon takes the donor strip and then hair techs make the grafts and place them under MD supervision.

More commonly , the surgeon harvests the strip or FUE grafts . Many states have laws requiing only a licensed practitioner, usually the surgeon, do that part of a procedure that cuts the skin in a manner that requires judgement for depth and angle. Skilled hair transplant technicians work on the harvested material  outside of the body preparing it for placing into holes or slits created by the surgeon. It is rare that the surgeon does much of  the actual placing of grafts into the recipient sites. With sessions reaching over 3000 grafts, it is impossible to have all the work done by one individual.