The story of my own hair loss began in my late thirties, and initially, I couldn’t accept the truth, almost believing it was a product of my imagination. However, when I hit 40, the undeniable reality set in. Despite my status as a board-certified Emergency Room physician, I had no expertise in hair restoration. Intrigued by the subject, I dived into research on hair loss, and it didn’t take long for me to consider undergoing the procedure myself. I consulted a local specialist who recommended a strip procedure, but I was reluctant. The prospect of a linear scar didn’t sit well with me, especially since I often kept my hair very short at the back. This led me on a quest to find an alternative specialist.
At the time, I was working night shifts in the Emergency Room at the University of Massachusetts for eight years, primarily as a nocturnist at the Belmont Street location. One quiet night, around 3 a.m., I found myself surfing the internet. It was during this late-night exploration that I stumbled upon DiStefano Hair Restoration. Sitting beside me was Trina, a nurse I had worked with, and she casually mentioned that her cousin worked at DiStefano. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, I agreed to meet with Dr. Mark DiStefano. I stepped into the bustling office, feeling a bit out of my element and not knowing what to expect. Dr. Mark DiStefano, came across as a friendly and welcoming person. To my surprise, he revealed his intention to retire and sell the practice, which was quite unexpected since my initial visit was meant for a personal consultation. His offer caught my attention; he offered to provide me with training at no cost and even cover the expenses. Viewing this as a unique opportunity to explore a new medical specialty, I eagerly embraced it. Mark supplied me with articles and textbooks to study and guided me through the techniques required for making incisions in the recipient area and removing tissue from the donor area. Initially, he suggested I could take a year or two to learn, but his expectations soon accelerated, and he set a strict six-month training timeline.
