How to pick the right doctor for hair transplant procedure?

It is as important as picking a plastic surgeon

Image of a bald man who is losing most of his hair in the center of his head.

Courtney in Elizabeth, New Jersey, writes, "My husband, who just turned 40, is going bald, faster than any one of us expected. I think he still looks good, but I am trying to convince him to at least consider meeting with an expert who can tell him what his options are and how to go about it. I have heard that there are a lot of crooks in this business and if I do not bring him to the right person, he will put all the blame on me if something goes wrong. Please help!"

Indeed, this is one of those problems that reminds one of counterfeit Viagra. When it doesn't work, you are too embarrassed to ask for your money back. In any case, hair transplants are a popular treatment particularly after Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister had it. Here are a few things to keep in mind according to the Hair Transplant Network:

Does the hair transplant physician take a holistic approach to hair restoration? Your physician should help you evaluate all your options, surgical as well as non surgical, and lay out both risks and expected results.

Is hair restoration the primary focus of their practice? Outstanding results require a physician and a full staff who perform hair transplant surgery on a regular basis. Doing hair restoration as a side business, along with other cosmetic procedures, may hinder their ability to do large sessions of highly refined follicular unit transplantation.

How many patients has this physician produced excellent results for? Like any skill, experience over time is critical to acquiring the skill and judgment required to produce excellent results. Do not just trust their before and after photos. Insist on speaking/meeting with a few patients.

Have they made the investment in time and resources to do large sessions of micro follicular unit hair transplantation? Doing outstanding work requires a staff dedicated and trained to use high-powered magnification with the capability of producing more than 2,000 carefully trimmed grafts per surgical session.

And finally, ask someone you know and trust for a reference. Check out the websites of doctors. Spend some time in forums and bulletin boards before making up your mind.