A hair transplant procedure represents not only a sophisticated surgery with extensively developed techniques. They are also a particularly sensitive emotional investment for the patient.
They have many hopes riding on the fact that they might be able to look good again after hair loss had their way with them.
Their social lives and general self-esteem are at play here, so the patient better knows how to choose a hair loss surgeon that does good work.
Skills for Hair Transplant
As most people can imagine, making a successful hair transplant requires more than a few skills, precision being chief among them.
From the earlier days of the procedure, it was said that to attain better results, you had to use scalpels of 1mm in diameter. It was also noted how particularly difficult using those was.
On the many decades that have passed, since the procedure was only further refined, and with it, the skills involved too.
An FUE hair transplant procedure requires extracting healthy hair follicles from the back of the scalp.
Doctors make an initial microincision with a 1mm or less scalpel, then rotate the scalpel around it to excise it from the surrounding tissue. And finally, they extract it with forceps.
How to Choose a Hair Loss Surgeon and What to Look For
There are a couple of simple steps on how to choose a hair loss surgeon that will land you a reliable one. These are:
Search the Credentials
Once you have a couple of doctors in your shortlist, before even contacting them, conduct a bit of detective work yourself. Look for them in the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons’ database (search for online as ‘IAHRS’). They screen every surgeon that wishes to join, effectively measuring their level of skill.
Contact Your Prospects
Technology is amazing, and the surgeons know it too. Nowadays, most doctors take video calls to interact with potential patients and build trust. You can look in their websites ways to link up with them by video chat.
Once face-to-screen-to-face with your surgeon ask them to show you before and after photos of their work. Most skilled surgeons keep albums to showcase their operations.
Also, seize this time to ask them to show you further professional accreditations in their possession.
Know Their Numbers
Don’t be shy, ask them directly how many procedures they’ve performed, for how many years, and also, if hair restoration is their only speciality. If your surgeon’s main field indeed is hair restoration, that is a good sign on how focused their skills are.
Use References
It would be great if you could get a hold of some former patients to hear their opinions on the surgeon.
Some surgeons keep a list of patients who gave consent for contact as a reference. Ask your surgeon for it when video chatting; otherwise, the online reviews might do, just check their legitimacy.
Get an Evaluation Appointment
Yes, it will likely cost you a fee, but it will be much less than what you would spend on the actual procedure.
During this face-to-face time, you can get a read on your doctor and his facilities while they assess your scalp. Here’s where you can get the most accurate assessment of their professionalism.