Choosing Your Hair Transplant Doctor
When Considering a Hair Transplant:
- Find a hair specialist who is an American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS) certified physician. The ABHRS is the only board specific to the field of hair restoration surgery. Dr. Mark DiStefano, MD is an ABHRS certified physician.
- Make sure that the hair restoration doctor you are interested in going to, specializes in hair restoration. Some doctors will perform hair transplants "on the side" while performing another medical job during the day. Dr. DiStefano performs over 500 hair restoration procedures each year, more than any other doctor in New England.
- The doctor should offer more than just a surgical approach, since not every patient in a candidate for surgery. Because hair loss is always ongoing, a good hair restoration surgeon should make his patients aware that surgery alone will not slow its progression. Propecia, Rogaine, PRP and Low Level Laser Therapy should be discussed and offered to patients to provide a full hair restoration treatment plan.
- When you leave your consultation, you should know exactly how many grafts you were quoted. The currency of hair transplants is in the number of grafts. A hair restoration doctor can transplant a minimum and a maximum number of grafts per session. The more grafts transplanted, the larger the area covered and denser the look. Larger sessions will cost more than smaller. The technicians will count the grafts the day of the procedure so the doctor knows how many recipient incisions to make. In essence, you should pay for what you get. Be wary of doctors who will not tell you how many grafts you are getting for what you are paying.
- Does the doctor practice in your area or does he fly in from another part of the country? Be sure the doctor is locally-based in case you need to see him after your procedure.
- Always ask the doctor for a list of his patients you can speak with as referrals. If the doctor cannot provide referrals, it's probably for a reason.
