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Doing
the Research
Considering a hair transplant?
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A proper assessment of both the quality and quantity of hair required
for reconstruction requires a thorough understanding of the amount and
cost of work required to achieve a defined result. A doctor must ascertain
whether the patient's intended budget can realistically accommodate
his needs and expectations. Prospective patients should expect the physician
to define, in writing, the expectations and the cost of the work. Ideally,
the doctor should describe his impression of the goals that were defined
during the consultation and what the proposed treatment is intended
to accomplish for that patient. The doctor should also give a prospective
patient the opportunity to see and speak with others who have had the
procedures being offered. This benefits both parties: it ensures that
the patient's expectations are realistic and the patient is able to
make an informed decision.
The well being of the patient depends upon the physician's integrity.
The physician must educate and inform the prospective patient about
the realities of the services being offered. The patient should be informed
of all available options, what he will experience, what the visual effect
will be, and how much it will cost. The patient should have time to
carefully consider the information and have all questions answered.
The patient should not rush to schedule the procedure, but rather take
deliberate steps to delay the decision until the analysis is complete.
A good doctor maintains careful post-operative follow-up of his patients
and ensures they return for observation. Matching the patient's results
with his or her expectations is an important part of the physician's
educational obligation to the patient. An ongoing assessment of the
patient's results over time is part of the service the transplant patient
should expect to receive.
Many hair restoration physicians produce brochures and/or videos to
give prospective patients a clear idea of what the procedure entails,
or (less helpfully) to sell them on having surgery. NHI has produced
an informative video and extensive collection of printed material, all
of which are provided to prospective patients before their initial consultations.
This ensures that the patient is educated and prepared to ask questions
before meeting with the doctor. The consultation visit is more valuable
when the patient is more informed and can ask better questions.
When you decide that you may be interested in surgical hair restoration,
it is a sound idea to plan to spend a specific block of time doing research.
Many patients take six months to one year to study the procedures available,
meet with different doctors and patients, and then make informed decisions
to go forward with surgery or not. Planning to take some time in research
will help you avoid the pitfalls of becoming an uninformed patient or
being "sold" on a procedure before you are ready.
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Recommended
Resources |
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- Ask questions and get information on Hair Transplants
in our Men's
Forums and Women's
Forums!
- Information provided courtesy of the New
Hair Institute, taken from "The Patient's Guide to
Hair Transplantation" William R. Rassman, MD and Robert
M. Bernstein, MD
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