Who is Qualified to Do a Hair Transplant?

You might think that to be qualified to do a hair transplant you need a particular qualification.

Fact is, as long as you have an MD after your name you can technically perform hair transplants.

Because of the lack of regulation in the "hair transplant industry"  you need to make your decisions very carefully. 

The American College of Surgeons do not recognize hair transplants as a specialty. Therefore you can't become "Board Certified" in that area. 

Hair transplants are something that is learned in addition to what we have become "Board Certified" in such as plastic surgery.

When talking with different clinics, look at the doctors experience, make sure you look at before and after pictures, talk with actual patients and find out about the experience of the technicians that will be assisting the MD.

Any physician can perform a hair transplant, but not all will perform it well.  It is important to research an individual surgeon's qualifications.  One important factor to consider and to ask your surgeon about would be their level of training in hair restoration.  Many doctors performing hair transplant decide to purchase a machine from a salesperson and have little to no training or education on the topic before they begin performing the procedure.  They also may be versed only in one method of hair transplantation (the machine that they purchased).
A transplant team is needed to perform large hair transplant sessions.  In some cases, the physician is not very involved in the process due to a lack of knowledge or training.  In my practice, I am personally responsible for the hairline design, donor area demarcation and preparation, injecting local anesthesia, overseeing any oral or IV sedation, harvesting the grafts, and creating the recipient sites.
I recommend that patients seek out a fellowship-trained hair restoration surgeon.  These surgeons will be well-versed in all aspects of hair restoration, including multiple surgical techniques, medical management, post-procedural care, potential complications and pitfalls, and other adjunctive treatment options.
All the best,

Any physician is technically permitted to perform a hair transplant, but that doesn't mean that each one offers the same caliber of results. I recommend seeking out a physician who has completed specific training in hair restoration. It's also a good idea to read online testimonials and reviews from past patients and check out before-and-after photos. Presently, the American Board of Medical Specialties doesn't recognize hair restoration as its own specialty, so it's not possible to be "board certified" in hair restoration. But a doctor can complete fellowships, courses, and other types of training in various modalities of hair restoration. Best of luck with your search. 

Qualified doctor means they have a doctors degree.  Any doctor can do hair transplant surgery as well as brain surgery.   It is about training as well as some artistic aesthetic skills.Two equally trained doctors in hair transplants surgery does not mean you will have two equal results.

Since hair transplantation is not recognized as a specialty within itself, any board certified doctor can technically perform hair transplant--only as far as medical certifications go. But a qualifying certificate does not denote the skill, experience, or artistry of a surgeon. When looking for a hair transplant doctor, be sure that he/she has--in addition to the proper certifications and licensing:


Ample experience

Video and/or photo documentation of past cases

High success rates among said cases

The proper tools (preferably handheld), a competent staff, and a well-equipped operating room


Determining a good hair transplant surgeon goes beyond the basic medical qualifications. The right surgeon is perhaps the largest contributing factor to the success or failure of your procedure.

When you're looking for a hair transplant surgeon, do a thorough background check (much of this can be done on the internet.)  Board certification in a medical specialty (eg plastic surgery, dermatogy) is important as well as experience.  Having a state medical license and priveleges at a local hospital are also very important characteristics to have if you're a hair transplant surgeon.  Finally, talk with some previous patients of your chosen doctor to get a candid review of the before and after care as well. 

Technically, any licensed physician can do a hair transplant.  That's were it gets tricky.  Since anyone can advertise for it, it's imperitive that you find those MOST qualified.  As a physician who is dual fellowship trained in both facial plastic surgery and hair restoration I think this is optimal training.  Hair transplant is more than a technical challenge, but artistry.  Creating a hair restoration plan that will maintain flexibility for the patient and produce an aesthetic and natural result that is lifelong is key.  Other intangibles (Do you like your surgeon? Does he have a kind and considerate staff?) are all important.

A qualified hair transplant doctor can be any licensed physician that has trained in hair transplant surgery. Typically, in a private practice setting the hair transplant physician is a plastic surgeon, a facial plastic surgeon or a dermatologist. In the setting of a hair transplant clinic the physician can be any of the three already mentioned but also the physician could be an internist, an emergency medicine physician or a pediatrician. The most important factor s when choosing a hair transplant surgeon are:
1. a surgeon that has sufficient experience with hair transplant surgery
2. board certified in a surgical speciality
3. a surgeon that has an experienced hair transplant team
4. a surgeon that you feel comfortable with

There are several factors that help you find a good hair transplant surgeon:Training - A good hair transplant surgeon should have a proper training in hair restoration by a good center or by a good and experienced hair transplant surgeon. Certification - There are only two known Boards/certifications that are awarded by exceptional hair transplant surgeons: 1. ABHRS: American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery that requires certain number of years and proof of many successful procedures and the candidate have to pass a written and oral board for it and 2. FISHRS: Fellowship of International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery.  This fellowships is only awarded to a few doctors worldwide who are dedicated to the advancement and science of hair restoration with great track-record for the procedures they have done in past.Experience/Results - Experience with knowledge makes perfect. A good surgeon is able to show the evidence of many before and after hair transplant resultBedside manner - Eventually a good doctor should be able to understand you and your problem and should be able to work with you to come up with a good master plan to achieve your goals

Any licensed doctor is legally
permitted to perform hair transplant procedures, which can make finding a
"good" hair transplant surgeon a bit tricky. Typically, the procedure
is offered by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and other doctors who work in
aesthetic medicine. When you're doing your research, pay close attention to the
doctor's credentials, including how many years he or she has been performing
hair transplant surgery. Before-and-after photos of previous patients are also
a great resource. If you schedule a consultation, don't be afraid to ask a lot
of questions, including how often the doctor performs this procedure. Stick to
your gut when evaluating a doctor. If something rubs you the wrong way, keep
searching. Best of luck!