Choosing a Hair Transplant Surgeon – 6 Key Questions
Book an AppointmentThere has been a significant rise in the number of people wanting to undergo hair transplant.
This has led to a subsequent increase in the number of clinics, practitioners and hospitals offering the procedure as well.
A crucial challenge therefore surfaces before the patients in choosing the right hair transplant surgeon.
With all the healthcare facilities in place today, people happen to focus more on ensuring a healthy living and good lifestyle.
A variety of parameters abound in defining quality living and lifestyle.
But many people consider good looks as an important part of quality lifestyle.
This desire has given rise to a large number of people suddenly wanting to opt for a procedure called ‘Hair Transplant’.
Hundreds of clinics and cosmetic surgeons offer the Hair Transplant Procedure these days.
Thus, those seeking hair transplants need to do proper homework before zeroing in on a choice for hair transplant surgeon.
Hair Transplant
Hair transplantation is a cosmetic procedure for women and men who experience significant loss of hair, thinning hair or bald spots where hair grows no more.
The procedure helps to enhance appearance and perhaps boost self confidence through transplantation surgery that makes use of the existing hair.
Hair transplantation is also a minimally invasive process characterised by the removal of hair follicles from the donor site to the recipient site (the hairless or bald area).
There are three types of harvesting in hair transplant.
Based on the harvesting, there exist three techniques – Strip harvesting, FUT & FUE hair transplant.
Choosing a Hair Transplant Surgeon
For most younger and middle-aged men dealing with hair loss and baldness, a part of ‘looking good’ is synchronous to fitting into a conformity of being that ‘normal man with a head full of hair’.
But before opting to undergo the procedure, perhaps the most crucial step is choosing the right surgeon.
Here are 6 key points to keep in mind when you’re looking for the right doctor.
1. Board Certified Surgeons
Due to the lack of regulation in the hair transplant industry in some places, you need to be very careful in making your decision.
In the United States of America for example, the American College of Surgeons sees hair transplant as a non specialty.
It is believed that hair transplant is a procedure that could be learned in addition to what has been board certified in aspects such as plastic surgery.
It is therefor advisable to look for a board certified surgeon to perform the hair transplant.
2. Years of Experience
It becomes even more expedient to consider the surgical experience of the surgeon before making a choice.
One obviously desires a highly competent and qualified hair transplant surgeon who specializes in the procedures.
As a rule of thumb, check to see if the surgeon has a good track record. And should also inquire about their years of experience.
3. Don’t be forced into a surgery
It is a known fact that hair loss is a growing concern among men and women of all age groups.
A large number of women and men suffer from this problem and even after going through several treatments, no improvement is recorded.
The foremost factor is that no hair transplant surgeon should force an individual to opt for a surgery.
Consideration for a cosmetic surgery should be of personal motivation and judgement.
4. Professional Accreditation
It is probably best to not opt for surgeon who perform hair transplant surgeries only on occasional basis.
You may also want to check to see if the surgeon is a member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) or some other similar bodies.
The surgeon should have a professional accreditation.
5. Specialist Surgeons, Latest Technology & Hospital Infrastructure
The degree of hair loss, the circumstances and desires of the patient determine the most suitable hair replacement procedure.
But, this does not eliminate the fact that these procedures may come with discomforts as experience of patients’ show.
But these discomforts or effects tend to wear off with time – few weeks or months after the procedure.
The point is, irrespective of what anyone tells you, these procedures are very much surgical in nature.
This means it is important that you look into factors hospital infrastructure.
Advanced stages of baldness require longer sessions, and that’s a factor to keep in mind too.
Longer hair transplant sessions aka mega or giga sessions require adequate staff, technology and infrastructure.
You should also enquire about the availability and presence of specialty surgeons during surgeries.
Another good sense of measurement is to see if the hospital is up to date with latest medical technologies.
6. Comfort Factor
Finally, it is important that after a couple of consultations, you feel comfortable with the surgeon or team of staff.
And to know that they, perhaps understand you and your desired outcome from the procedure you intend to undergo.
Apart from these, other rudimentary factors that you might want to look into could be location of the hospital, availability of dates, suggestions from friends and references by other doctors like your general physician.
At Tamira Chennai, we have over a decade of experience in treating patients with hair transplant needs. Solving their hair loss and baldness issues, is our second nature.
