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Who is Qualified to Do a Hair Transplant?

  • 8 years ago

Doctor Answers 19

Hair transplant success depends on an excellent team

October 15th, 2009
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Unlike almost any other cosmetic procedure, an excellent hair transplant requires an excellent team. The surgeon is only part of the equation. I am responsible for hairline design, donor harvesting and closure, and recipient site creation (where the grafts go into). My team is responsible for graft dissection and placement. Having an excellent team is mandatory.

Almost any surgeon/physician can do hair restoration, but as the other physician has answered very few do it well. Looking at one's before and after results can be a testament to one's skills.

Knowing as much about safety regarding when to transplant and when not to is very important. I believe that good judgment must involve both understanding the medical aspects of hair loss (types of hair loss that you can't operate on, medical management, etc.) as well as surgical expertise (artistry and technical skills).

Finally, ethics is key. Too many clinics have hard driving salesmen to push you to do a case that the surgeon might otherwise think is dangerous or inappropriate. Ethical judgment on when not to operate is very important. hope that helps.

best,

sml

p.s.: here is a short video in which i talk about if any physician is trying to get into the field, what he or she should be thinking of regarding all of the above points.

Sam Lam, MD, FACS


Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.6 out of 5 stars 57 reviews

October 15th, 2009

Hair transplant success depends on an excellent team

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Unlike almost any other cosmetic procedure, an excellent hair transplant requires an excellent team. The surgeon is only part of the equation. I am responsible for hairline design, donor harvesting and closure, and recipient site creation (where the grafts go into). My team is responsible for graft dissection and placement. Having an excellent team is mandatory.

Almost any surgeon/physician can do hair restoration, but as the other physician has answered very few do it well. Looking at one's before and after results can be a testament to one's skills.

Knowing as much about safety regarding when to transplant and when not to is very important. I believe that good judgment must involve both understanding the medical aspects of hair loss (types of hair loss that you can't operate on, medical management, etc.) as well as surgical expertise (artistry and technical skills).

Finally, ethics is key. Too many clinics have hard driving salesmen to push you to do a case that the surgeon might otherwise think is dangerous or inappropriate. Ethical judgment on when not to operate is very important. hope that helps.

best,

sml

p.s.: here is a short video in which i talk about if any physician is trying to get into the field, what he or she should be thinking of regarding all of the above points.


Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

Who is Qualified to Do a Hair Transplant?

November 8th, 2010
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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.

Web reference: http://www.651hair.com

Jon E. Mendelsohn, MD

Jon E. Mendelsohn, MD
Cincinnati Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 121 reviews

November 8th, 2010

Who is Qualified to Do a Hair Transplant?

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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.

Learn more: http://www.651hair.com

Jon E. Mendelsohn, MD

Jon E. Mendelsohn, MD
Cincinnati Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 121 reviews

Who can do a hair transplant?

August 20th, 2010
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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.

John Bitner, MD

John Bitner, MD
Salt Lake City Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 89 reviews

August 20th, 2010

Who can do a hair transplant?

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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.

John Bitner, MD

John Bitner, MD
Salt Lake City Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 89 reviews

Qualified Hair Transplant Surgeon

August 22nd, 2009
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Qualifications are determined by experience. Hair transplants are easy to do, but it is difficult to get a good result. Remember, hair loss is progressive. Unfortunately, I have seen many patients who had hair replacement surgery at a young age and subsequently had severe additional hair loss. Without adequate donor area, the final result may be deforming. A qualified surgeon has the experience to estimate the ultimate extent of alopecia.

Richard W. Fleming, MD

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 40 reviews

August 22nd, 2009

Qualified Hair Transplant Surgeon

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Qualifications are determined by experience. Hair transplants are easy to do, but it is difficult to get a good result. Remember, hair loss is progressive. Unfortunately, I have seen many patients who had hair replacement surgery at a young age and subsequently had severe additional hair loss. Without adequate donor area, the final result may be deforming. A qualified surgeon has the experience to estimate the ultimate extent of alopecia.

Richard W. Fleming, MD

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 40 reviews

Any physician can technically do a hair transplant. What...

July 18th, 2008
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Any physician can technically do a hair transplant.

What you want to look for is a physician who understands hair loss and can create a natural looking hair line that will last for 10-20 years, not just 2-3. Most patients want to fill in bald areas, but an experienced and trained physician knows that just filling in bald areas will create an unnatural appearance as natural hair loss progresses. Qualified physicians are those that have trained in hair restoration, understand natural hair loss patterns, and will take the time to educate patients on what constitutes a natural hair line.

Unfortunately, some physicians who technically know how to perform hair transplants do not understand hair loss and create hairlines which are not natural.

Web reference: http://drverret.com

D.J. Verret, MD

D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
3.9 out of 5 stars 14 reviews

July 18th, 2008

Any physician can technically do a hair transplant. What...

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Any physician can technically do a hair transplant.

What you want to look for is a physician who understands hair loss and can create a natural looking hair line that will last for 10-20 years, not just 2-3. Most patients want to fill in bald areas, but an experienced and trained physician knows that just filling in bald areas will create an unnatural appearance as natural hair loss progresses. Qualified physicians are those that have trained in hair restoration, understand natural hair loss patterns, and will take the time to educate patients on what constitutes a natural hair line.

Unfortunately, some physicians who technically know how to perform hair transplants do not understand hair loss and create hairlines which are not natural.

Learn more: http://drverret.com

D.J. Verret, MD

D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
3.9 out of 5 stars 14 reviews

Who is qualified to do a hair transplant

June 16th, 2017
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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,

Web reference: https://www.txfaces.com/hair-restoration-dallas/hair-transplant/

Matthew Richardson, MD

Matthew Richardson, MD
Frisco Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 4 reviews

June 16th, 2017

Who is qualified to do a hair transplant

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

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,

Learn more: https://www.txfaces.com/hair-restoration-dallas/hair-transplant/

Matthew Richardson, MD

Matthew Richardson, MD
Frisco Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 4 reviews

Choose Your Doctor Wisely

September 21st, 2016
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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. 

Web reference: http://www.jrcs.com/plastic-surgery/hair-restoration.cfm

James N. Romanelli, MD, FACS
September 21st, 2016

Choose Your Doctor Wisely

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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. 

Learn more: http://www.jrcs.com/plastic-surgery/hair-restoration.cfm

James N. Romanelli, MD, FACS

The best hair transplant surgeon

September 16th, 2016
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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 result
  • Bedside 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

Web reference: http://parsamohebi.com

Parsa Mohebi, MD

Parsa Mohebi, MD
Beverly Hills Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 32 reviews

September 16th, 2016

The best hair transplant surgeon

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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 result
  • Bedside 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

Learn more: http://parsamohebi.com

Parsa Mohebi, MD

Parsa Mohebi, MD
Beverly Hills Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 32 reviews

Qualified doctor means they have a doctors degree.

August 5th, 2015
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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.
Jae Pak, MD

Jae Pak, MD
Los Angeles Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 102 reviews

August 5th, 2015

Qualified doctor means they have a doctors degree.

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
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.
Jae Pak, MD

Jae Pak, MD
Los Angeles Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 102 reviews

Choosing the Right Hair Transplant Surgeon

April 30th, 2014
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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!

Web reference: http://www.lajollaskin.com/cosmetic-surgery/hair/

Richard Chaffoo, MD, FACS
April 30th, 2014

Choosing the Right Hair Transplant Surgeon

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
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!

Learn more: http://www.lajollaskin.com/cosmetic-surgery/hair/

Richard Chaffoo, MD, FACS

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.