Hair Transplant Reality: The Importance of Hair Restoration Physician Selection and Patient Research

It is increasingly  troubling when patient members of our online hair transplant community who have had hair restoration surgery still have no idea how it works or what to expect.

In a day where information is found by the click of a button, there is no excuse to make poor and uneducated decisions.

Hair transplantation  is a REAL  option for balding men and women but should not be taken with a grain of salt.    Patients MUST be aware of the benefits, risks, and limitations before proceeding. Even in the hands of an elite hair transplant surgeon, risks exist.

The purpose of our  online  community education and providing truthful information. Though those recommended and elite members of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians  have been pre-screened, it is up to ALL seeking patients considering hair replacement to research ALL surgeons they are considering.

Do your research, take your time, and take responsibility for your own decisions. With so much information available through the internet, it is hard to accept that people can be deceived as long as a hair loss sufferer researches thoroughly. Yes, there are deceivers and scam artists out there, but there is enough information out there that can help those suffering from hair loss  make an educated decision.

In my opinion, one problem is that people want others to do all the work for them. Use our online hair  loss forum  as an educational tool to help in your research, but don’t use it as an excuse to be lazy and expect that we’ve done ALL the work for you.

Here are a few quick tips to help you:

SPEAK to real patients online and offline. View their hair transplant photos. Even if  pictures can’t be found  online, ask the clinic you are considering to direct you to real patients that you can talk to.

MEET with real  patients if possible of a surgeon you are considering. Pictures are great, but seeing a hair transplant in person is even better!

DON’T take one person’s word for it. Use a number of online hair loss  resources (much like a research paper) and look for consistency.   Question ALL contradictions and look for clarity.

It is extremely important for balding men and women to set reasonable LONG TERM hair restoration goals upfront, BEFORE undergoing surgery.  Do this by asking questions, speaking to patients, and asking hair loss doctors. This can’t be emphasized this enough.   Even patients who have received excellent results can be disappointed if their expectations are unreasonable. Hair transplantation is NOT a cure for baldness!

It is also not a walk in the park. It is a SURGICAL procedure.

Truthfully, follicular unit hair transplantation (FUT) is quite intrusive. Strip removal pictures can be found on our forum so look for them.

Follicular unit extraction  (FUE) doesn’t get off the hook either. This is also a surgical procedure, though less intrusive, risks are just as many (though different). Don’t be deceived by claims like “no scar procedure”. It is highly disappointing to read these claims when I have seen follicular unit extraction (FUE) cases that have led to excessive scarring and poor hair growth.

This is not meant as a scare tactic! But it’s to make you aware of reality!

Research thoroughly and you will learn about the  hair transplant  procedure itself, all the benefits, risks, limitations, whether or not you are a qualified candidate, how many follicular unit grafts you need, how hair characteristics  play a role in the final result, how scalp elasticity and donor hair density play a role in the number of hair grafts that can be excised during strip surgery, etc. Research will also lead you to an elite hair  surgeon  who can best help you meet your hair restoration goals.

Do NOT go in blindly. Ignorance is no excuse. Research until you are certain you have a FULL understanding of what you are getting yourself into.   These words are for your own benefit.

There is SO much online hype and  patients are blindly trusting it. At the Hair Transplant Network, we believe in doing our best to sift through the garbage and expose reality. This includes the good, the bad, and the ugly.

But the Hair Transplant Network is more than those who work diligently in providing a free online  hair loss resource. It is YOU, the patient members of our hair transplant forum  that are given a voice. You have more power to influence the hair transplant business than you realize. Use it for GOOD, and bald men and women will find the best hair restoration  option for them. Use if for EVIL, and the kings of hype and poor quality  physicians will continue to deceive and/or leave patients scarred (some for life).

As a 3 time hair transplant patient myself, I believe that surgery can be a viable solution for those who are qualified. But please do NOT go in ignorant. Do the necessary research it takes to have a successful experience.

Our discussion forum members and guests are encouraged to add their input on the following discussion thread.   Registration is free and easy.   Feel free also to add your thoughts to this blog.

Bill
Associate Publisher

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, hair restoration, balding, hair replacement, hair loss, hair loss doctor, Hair transplantation, FUT, FUE, no scar procedure, follicular unit extraction, hair growth, follicular unit grafts, scalp elasticity, donor hair, hair grafts, strip surgery, Hair Transplant Network, hair loss resource, bald