I am considering having a hair transplant, now what?

Choosing to have a hair transplant procedure is a life-changing decision that should not be taken lightly.  If you are thinking about having hair restoration surgery, there are a number of steps you should first take.  We will discuss these steps in a multi-part series, starting today, with one of the most important:

Part I: RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH

You will hear this generic-sounding advice over and over again but it is vital that you not overlook this important step.  It is so important to soak up all the information you can.  Make sure you spend time researching the following topics in particular:

Alternatives to Hair Transplantation – This is an important early step, and you should certainly consider all alternatives before jumping into a hair transplant.  Educate yourself about medical therapies such as Propecia and Rogaine.  It is advised that you first try such treatments for six months to a year before even considering hair restoration surgery.  Also, look into natural medical therapies (such as saw palmetto), vitamins (zinc in particular), and non-surgical treatments (such as hair fibers, hair replacement systems, PRP, etc.)

Possible Complications

– When properly performed by a top physician, hair transplant surgery is consistently successful and very safe.  However, no surgery is an exact science and problems and unexpected occurrences can arise, even in the most skilled hands. These complications are generally not serious and will usually not affect the final result.  However, it is best to be aware of all of the possibilities.

Surgical Techniques

– Read about the differences between Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), also known as “strip” surgery.  You will find that there are marked differences in instruments used, recovery time, the level of invasiveness, scarring, results, pricing, etc.  Understand the pros and cons of each method.  Read about other techniques you may be interested in, such as body or beard hair transplantation, non-shaven FUE, scar grafting, plug redistribution, etc.

Hair Restoration Surgeons

– Find out who the most skilled and experienced surgeons are.  These doctors will be certified through the ISHRS and IAHRS, have many years worth of experience, and hundreds or thousands of well-documented patient results.  You will quickly see that different surgeons can have very different methods, philosophies (there are those that are more conservative and those that are more aggressive, among other things) and aesthetic results.

Patient Results

– These can be posted by either hair restoration surgeons and clinics, or patients themselves.  Pay particular attention to the detail and quality of photos used; unfortunately, it is easy for unethical doctors to manipulate photos using lighting or blurred focus to make results appear better than they really are.