Why are Some Hair Transplant Surgeons Better Than Others?

I am a hair loss sufferer considering hair transplantation but I am confused.   I have been reading this hair restoration forum for some time and don’t understand what makes some hair transplant clinics better than others.   Hair replacement surgery seems like a simple process.   Why are some hair transplant surgeons better than others?

There are many ways to answer this question.

Firstly, I don’t think it’s fair to call hair transplantation  a “simple” procedure.   It’s in fact a very delicate process and damaging the follicular unit grafts without the necessary and proper care is sadly more commonplace than not in the world of hair transplantation.

Keep in mind also that not all hair transplant doctors in the world utilize the latest techniques and technologies.   In fact, the majority of them are still using out of date techniques which is why only a handful of hair transplant clinics are recommended on the Hair Transplant Network.   Many hair restoration clinics, believe it or not, still refuse to use microscopes when slivering the follicular unit grafts from the strip.   Many clinics still use minigrafts.   Read more about the history of hair transplantation.   And even still, many hair replacement surgeons still use a  triple +  blade to harvest the strip, which significantly increases hair follicle transection rate.

Keep in mind also that there are variations in even the latest of techniques and technologies.  

Some hair transplant physicians prefer making recipient incisions with needles, some with precut flat blades, some with custom cut flat blades, etc.   I have personally heard of cases made for each of these hair transplant tools.

Some hair transplant surgeons swear that coronal / lateral (perpendicular) incisions produce the most natural hair transplant result whereas others are particular to sagital (paralel) incisions.   In my opinion, a case can be made for either type of incision.

Some hair transplant clinics prefer the use of chubby grafts while others prefer using skinny grafts.   In my opinion, a case can be made to support both types of grafts.

Some hair restoration physicians believe that larger hair transplant megasessions are the way to go when appropriate for the hair transplant patient while others still believe it is better to accomplish a patient’s hair restoraiton goals over multiple hair transplant surgeries.

Now do I personally have my preferences in some of these as a hair transplant patient?   Yes, of course!   Does that make my preferences the only correct one?   I wouldn’t be so arrogant to make this claim.

I think we also have to be careful on how we define the word “better”.

Should we as hair transplant patients compare physicians?   Yes, we should!   After all, we are looking for the most pleasing of hair restoration results aren’t we?

Here are some of the things I consider when selecting a hair transplant surgeon for myself:

• Consistent High hair growth yield:   Do hair transplant surgeries from this physician typically look like it produced the approximate number of grafts?   Looking at before, immediately postoperative, and after hair transplant photos  helps discern this information.

• Consistent Minimal Scarring: Does this hair restoration physician typically produce thin fine scars regardless of the session size?

• Consistent Artistic ability:   Does this physician typically produce natural looking hairlines, crown swirls, illusion of hair density regardless of the hair transplant patient’s hair characteristics?

• Preferences:   Does this surgeon/clinic meet my personal preferences?

Bill
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

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