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Doing
the Research
Considering a hair transplant?
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The Consultation
The initial interviewer should provide you with basic information about
the hair transplant procedure. You should fill out a basic medical history
form to determine your candidacy for having a surgical procedure. Some
assessment of your hair loss may be done at this time, but no one except
a physician or a specially qualified nurse practitioner may legally
perform a physical examination and render an opinion.
A more knowledgeable interviewer may try to determine if your expectations
are realistic. Some salespersons or patient educators work independently
in "consultation offices" that are without a physician. Be
sure that you are not given the impression that the salesperson is a
physician. Also make certain that salespeople do not recommend the type
of surgical procedure to be used, the number of procedures or the approximate
cost of your restoration without input from a doctor. In some offices,
the initial interview is done by a person who is introduced as a "Medical
Associate," but that person may be a salesman focused on determining
how much money you have and on selling you the procedure. Do not to
discuss your financial status before meeting with the doctor.
When a physician is available in the office, the educator or salesman
should call the doctor in to examine your scalp, determine the amount
of donor hair you have, address your worst-case balding pattern, and
then discuss your surgical options. At this stage, the doctor can then
review costs with you. Other physicians do the entire consultation themselves:
educating the patient, taking a history, doing the physical examination,
discussing the options, and reviewing cost.
See It Before You Believe It!
Ask to meet patients of the medical group you are considering. Be sure
that you meet with someone who has a transplant technique similar to
the one you might have. Meeting and talking with patients will enhance
your confidence in your selection of a doctor. Talk to the doctors about
their experience. Look closely at the quality of the doctor's work;
by seeing the results of the process you will know whether the work
meets your standards. Do not go forward with any procedure until you
have had all your questions answered. This is an all-too-often shady
business, so there is there is no substitute for good research. Take
the time to do your homework. The rewards of a good hair transplant
are well worth your effort, time, and research.
NHI often uses actual patients to educate prospective candidates. People
who have undergone surgery can relate their motivations for having surgery
and their experiences, as well as show their results.
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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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