What to expect at a consultation with a hair restoration physician

The initial consultation with a hair restoration specialist provides an ideal window into the quality of treatment and care available at a given clinic. 

Rather than simply promoting a hair transplant, a best practice hair restoration specialist will strive to ensure a prospective patient is given comprehensive information about hair loss and treatment options.

The information should include a detailed explanation of why hair transplantation is the only long term solution, its benefits and its limitations.

Realistic feedback, which includes pointing out that a transplant does not guarantee a return to a full head of hair and that further hair loss of one’s original hair may occur, must be provided to the prospective patient.

The type of detail that should be discussed at a consultation includes hairline placement, the mature hairline, donor hair and donor scar.

Other factors for discussion include scar tissue, the low density coverage of the scalp that is generally achieved with the first procedure and the possible need for a second procedure to achieve the desired density.

Martinick Hair Restoration’s Dr Jennifer Martinick says it is also essential to provide a prospective patient with a detailed explanation of what happens on the day of their procedure.

“The patient should be completely comfortable asking follow up questions by either phone or email,” Dr Martinick says.

“I want my patients to fully understand all the issues because only then are they in a position to make an unbiased decision about their treatment.

“If a person feels their questions aren’t being taken seriously or answered to their satisfaction then it is appropriate to question if the clinic will treat them with the compassion and care they deserve before, during and after the procedure.” 

Dr Martinick says it is reasonable to request detailed information about the credentials and experience of the hair restoration surgeon as well as the surgical team’s training.

Ask for information about the clinic’s hygiene and sterilisation procedures, obtain details of the medications used and the preoperative and post operative instructions.

No-one should proceed with surgery unless all questions and concerns have been answered satisfactorily.

“A patient should never feel that their questions are unwarranted,” Dr Martinick says. 

Dr Martinick says there are many things a responsible doctor should ask a prospective patient before agreeing to perform a hair transplant. 

A doctor must ensure the patient is healthy enough to have what is non-essential surgery and that the patient has realistic expectations of the surgical outcome that can be met by the doctor.