What is the difference between U.S. vs. International Hair Transplant Choices?

Question

Is it worth investigating overseas options for a hair transplant? I guess what I'm asking is this...Are there any technologies or techniques only used outside of the US that makes it worth the time, effort and money to travel overseas for a procedure?

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

In general hair transplant overseas can be less expensive.  The techniques should be the same but the results can vary.  Even in the United States techniques should be the same but the results can vary.Follow up with your doctor may be an issue if you are traveling overseas.  Recourse with a doctor may also be an issue (if you have issues) if you are traveling overseas.No matter what cost or country you have your surgery, a bad hair transplant surgery is like herpes.  It's for life.

Rashid M. Rashid, PhD, MD · Answer

is similar. What varies is the oversight.  Have you heard of horror stories from other countries cosmetic surgeries?  The USA has them also but not at the same rate/frequency.  The regulation and oversight here is very high.  Now some developed countries are on par to the USA, so  its not like any place outside of here is risky.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

The advantages in places like Turkey and Iran is price per graft. Quality may or may not be good but how do you deal with a poor hair transplant done in Iran or Turkey>  In the US, you can file a complaint with the medical board of the state where the doctor practices and in California, the State must investigate your complaint. You have legal recourse, which means that you can sue a doctor who does not do it right, or get your money back. But what recourse is there is such places as Turkey or Iran where the hair transplant mills exist? When something goes wrong, who do you go to?  In California if anything ever went wrong, you come to see your surgeon and some are always available 24/7 for patients on their cell. how do you check out the reputation of overseas medical services?  I don't know the answer here. Look at the web reference below. Is the quality good?  I can't tell.

Michael Meshkin, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

There are some people that are willing to travel to unregulated countries to have hair transplant or other cosmetic surgical procedures for the cost. Unfortunetly due to unregulatory environment and low cost you are lucky to get good result.The hair transplant has to be taken from an area from the back of the head called the donor zone . The donor hair in the donor zone is limited and has to be handled with utmost care. There many detailed factors that are involved in hair transplantation both in the harvesting of the grafts and in the incisions in the recipient area. If any one of those details are not done correctly, then the implanted hair will not grow, and your donor hair is wasted and you are left with a scar. The presence of a medical doctor is the key ingredient to assure that all the steps are done properly and prevent complications.In many cases these clinics are run by non medical staff and there are no doctors present during the procedure. In some cases, the doctor only shows up for the initial design. During the procedure, many of the clinics use only assistants without any medical training to do the whole procedure including, cutting, harvesting, incisions, and placements. These skills require many years of surgical training and experience to be performed properly. If any of the steps is compromised, not only will it effect the outcome of hair transplant procedure, it may cause serious problems for the patient.If your decision is just based on the cost and you are willing to take the risk then having hair transplant at an unregulated country could be for you. But before choosing a clinic for your transplant procedure, do research and find a quality clinic with experienced doctor who is present during the procedure to be sure that the proper care is taken. Ask questions about the doctor's experience, background and affiliations to any medical organizations. You need to make sure that the doctor and its staff have proper training to do the procedure.  If you do proper research you may find a quality clinic in the states that would meet your expectations and have reasonable cost that is close to your budget. Remember If the cost is the only factor, whatever you pay for a bad transplant is way too much.

Jonathan Ballon, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

I see you live in Los Angeles. While there are many excellent hair transplant surgeons in many countries around the world, I doubt that you would receive better care or have a better end result than you could have right in your home city--to say nothing of the state of California--from any one of a number of well-respected surgeons. And there is a lot to be said for knowing that your doctor is not an ocean or two away when you'd like to have a follow-up visit after the surgery.

What is the difference between U.S. vs. International Hair Transplant Choices?

Answers (5)

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