Finding The Right Hair Transplant Surgeon

Written by Paul J. McAndrews, MD on February 19, 2008

I am seriously considering having a hair transplant, but I am very afraid after reading some of the horror stories on the internet. I almost had a hair transplant with Dr. Dominic Brandy but recently found so much bad information about him. When you go in for a consultation everything seems so legitimate, that is why I am so nervous about the process.

I really want to go for it since my hair loss makes me so self conscious but I want to be sure I choose a qualified surgeon. I am happy that I have found this organization and I’m hoping you can tell me what I should be looking for when choosing my hair transplant surgeon. I am afraid of making a mistake.
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I feel the perfect start in looking for a qualified surgeon is through the IAHRS.
This is also what I would look for in a surgeon when considering a hair transplant, or any surgery for that matter.
1. Look for a physician who has been formally trained in a residency or fellowship in the procedure you are interested in.
2. Look for a physician who is using the latest technological advances for that surgery ( i.e.- follicular unit grafts dissected with the aide of the stereoscopic microscope).
3. Look for a physician who is going to be personally involved in every step of the process for that surgery (i.e- performs one hair transplant a day since a typical surgery can last 6-8 hours). Avoid a physician who performs several surgeries at the same time (which means a technician is doing much of the surgery unsupervised since the doctor cannot be in 3-4 rooms at once).
4. Look for a physician that teaches the surgery to the residents at a major teaching medical center, which adds credence to his expertise.

I also feel it is important to get second opinions when every your considering any type of surgery, since it will only educate you more and will help you find a physician for which you feel most comfortable.

Sincerely,

Paul J. McAndrews, M.D.
Senior Medical Advisor, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons