How do I choose a doctor to perform my hair transplant? What doctor is best qualified to perform this procedure?
A variety of specialists perform hair transplantation- for most doctors, it represents only a portion of their practice, not the majority. With the demands of today’s most modern techniques- assuming you are seeking the most natural appearing results- it requires a full or near full-devotion to performing hair transplants. This means typically that the doctor performs at least 3 to 5 of these procedures every week, and has a full time staff to assist him.
As far as the type of specialty the doctor has- usually dermatologists are well versed in the basic techniques, while plastic surgeons who do specialize in this procedure can be expected to bring a more aesthetic approach, given their years of experience with cosmetic surgery.
The most important criteria, however, is to find a doctor whose work looks natural. You should be able to view tens, if not hundreds, of the doctor’s own before and after photos, with results that you would be proud to have as your own. For most of my patients, the internet is the best referral source- not only can the doctor’s own website be viewed, but many patients share their experiences and photos on one of several community websites that contain forums.
Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS