Questions To Ask HT Surgeon During Consultation

[FineHair]

Hello,

I have my hair transplant consultations this Friday and I was wondering what questions should I ask during my consultation? Any suggestions or tips from anyone experienced with hair transplants would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

[Spex]

Hi Finehair,

Here is a comprehensive list of questions acquired from various posters online with experience to help:


Make sure you have these written down and any other questions you can think of. Also if at all possible take someone with you you trust as your emotions will be running high and its easy to forget to ask the relevant questions.


1.What kind of procedures do you perform does the clinic perform ie. Strip, FUE , BHT - if so for how long and ask to see results and be put in touch with actual patients.

2. What type of donor closure does the hair transplant surgeon use? Does he use sutures or staples, and why does he use his chosen technique?

What type and size of instruments does the hair transplant doctor use to make recipient incisions?

3.What is the length of time that this hair transplant physician has been performing hair transplant surgery?Ask about his credentials and experience and governing bodies he /she are assosiated with.

4. How many hair transplant technicians are employeed with their clinic? What is the length of time each hair technician has worked for the clinic?

5. Ask if you are a good candidate and ask for an explanation to why? Ask to see similar comparisons.

6. What is the state of your donor region and how many grafts does the doc feel can be safely harvested in one session and via multiple surgeries / methods?

7. Gain an estimate of how many grafts you require now and also how many are likely to be required in the futured based on your goal.

8. How good your donor laxity and how you can improve this prior to surgery IF required. can they demonstrate

9. Make sure you discuss YOUR exact goals (hairline, temples, forelock, crown, hair density, hair coverage, etc)

10. Ask how many grafts the doctor will use in your balding area

11.Ask if your goals are reasonable and if they can be met with your hair characterisitcs.

12. Establish how suitable you are for a HT in their opinon.

13. Very importantly ask if you can meet or talk to previous patients in similar circumstances to yourself. Also ask to see testimonials and plenty of photos.

14.Ask about costs involved eg. prices of consults(if applicable), amounts per graft and additional aftercare, medications etc as most clinics vary from some degree and its good to know exactly where you stand!

15. Can I get a reduced fee for short notice surgery? Travel reimbursement?and ask how long their wating list is.

16. Discuss medications such as propecia and finasteride to help prevent further loss. Ask if they can perscribe?

17. Does this hair transplant clinic dissect hair grafts from the strip using a microscope?

18. Ask about post op and pre op instructions. Can you have a list (hardcopy)

19. Can you record the entire consultation? If no, walk out.


20. Have they had any HT surgery? If so who with?



Red flags

"Just had a cancellation and we can see you next week."
Discounts
Special deals
Cold calling by consultants or doctors
No results to show
No patients to speak to or see
Small number of staff




Best
Spex

[FineHair]

Thank you so much for the list of questions! It saved my day!

I will compile the questions and modify into my own words and ask them during the consultations.

If ya'll have more tips, please write it out here for us future HT patients!

Thanks.

[Spex]

Finehair,
You are welcome. Each patient is different with different goals and requirements so the list needs to be amended to suit their own situation however its a good starting point.

Best of luck with it all.

Regards
Spex

[TonyRuiz]

Spex, Thanks for that! Really helpful man.

[garageland]

Fine Hair, I was just about going to answer your questions but Spex has provided you with an excellent platform of questions to ask.

You might also want to ask just how involved does the Doctor get in the surgery and make sure he is the one making the incisions and designing the all important hairline.

[Spex]

No probs TonyR.

You might also want to ask just how involved does the Doctor get in the surgery and make sure he is the one making the incisions and designing the all important hairline.

That is a great additional question added by Garageland. Only too common now, many clinics have their technicians or nurses perform incisions in the recipient area..

[FineHair]

Thanks everyone!

[35YrsAfter]

Hello,

I have my hair transplant consultations this Friday and I was wondering what questions should I ask during my consultation? Any suggestions or tips from anyone experienced with hair transplants would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Have you decided to have strip or FUE?

-35YrsAfter works at Dr. Cole's office

[FineHair]

Have you decided to have strip or FUE?

-35YrsAfter works at Dr. Cole's office

I want FuE

[FineHair]

Hi Finehair,

Here is a comprehensive list of questions acquired from various posters online with experience to help:


Make sure you have these written down and any other questions you can think of. Also if at all possible take someone with you you trust as your emotions will be running high and its easy to forget to ask the relevant questions.


1.What kind of procedures do you perform does the clinic perform ie. Strip, FUE , BHT - if so for how long and ask to see results and be put in touch with actual patients.

2. What type of donor closure does the hair transplant surgeon use? Does he use sutures or staples, and why does he use his chosen technique?

What type and size of instruments does the hair transplant doctor use to make recipient incisions?

3.What is the length of time that this hair transplant physician has been performing hair transplant surgery?Ask about his credentials and experience and governing bodies he /she are assosiated with.

4. How many hair transplant technicians are employeed with their clinic? What is the length of time each hair technician has worked for the clinic?

5. Ask if you are a good candidate and ask for an explanation to why? Ask to see similar comparisons.

6. What is the state of your donor region and how many grafts does the doc feel can be safely harvested in one session and via multiple surgeries / methods?

7. Gain an estimate of how many grafts you require now and also how many are likely to be required in the futured based on your goal.

8. How good your donor laxity and how you can improve this prior to surgery IF required. can they demonstrate

9. Make sure you discuss YOUR exact goals (hairline, temples, forelock, crown, hair density, hair coverage, etc)

10. Ask how many grafts the doctor will use in your balding area

11.Ask if your goals are reasonable and if they can be met with your hair characterisitcs.

12. Establish how suitable you are for a HT in their opinon.

13. Very importantly ask if you can meet or talk to previous patients in similar circumstances to yourself. Also ask to see testimonials and plenty of photos.

14.Ask about costs involved eg. prices of consults(if applicable), amounts per graft and additional aftercare, medications etc as most clinics vary from some degree and its good to know exactly where you stand!

15. Can I get a reduced fee for short notice surgery? Travel reimbursement?and ask how long their wating list is.

16. Discuss medications such as propecia and finasteride to help prevent further loss. Ask if they can perscribe?

17. Does this hair transplant clinic dissect hair grafts from the strip using a microscope?

18. Ask about post op and pre op instructions. Can you have a list (hardcopy)

19. Can you record the entire consultation? If no, walk out.


20. Have they had any HT surgery? If so who with?



Red flags

"Just had a cancellation and we can see you next week."
Discounts
Special deals
Cold calling by consultants or doctors
No results to show
No patients to speak to or see
Small number of staff




Best
Spex

Hey Spex,

What does it mean to record the consultation and if not, walk out? Number 19.

Thanks.

[Spex]

These are a list of questions i complied from a number of patients. I can't remember who wrote it but my understanding is - You can refer to it after and you will known if the doctor is comfortable with it he is transparent and nothing to hide.

[FineHair]

Hey guys,

I thought I might share my experience on how it went when I saw a couple of hair transplant surgeons.

The first one I went too, mentioned that FUE is not what the doctor would do and I would be referred out.

The second doctor said that laser combs have been fda approved because of it's (1) safety & (2) efficacy and that after lunch break the nurses that have been doing this for 16 will be the ones harvesting the hairs! This doc said that propecia is strong, laser is good but minoxidil is weak.

The third doctor was like "No, i do not recommend laser combs. First of all, they have a certain type of FDA clearance that approves of it's safety but not of it's efficacy. Second of all, I hate doctors that say that their nurses will harvest the hairs, why won't they do it themselves? For my patients I do 50% of the harvesting of the grafts." I was like "Exactly! Why go to medical school for that?" This doctor mentioned that I would not be a good candidate for FUE either as FUE 70% survival rate. However, this doctor had to rush me out and go onto the next appointment. This doctor said that propecia is strong, minoxidil is good but laser is weak!

I'm confused. One doctor says something and the other says something else.

[35YrsAfter]

I doubt that many young men with hair loss considering hair transplant surgery will be asking...
Doctor, do you use saline to temporarily store grafts or a combination of HypoThermosol-FRS and liposomal ATP?

The latter dramatically improves graft survival and is FAR more expensive than ordinary saline solution.

In many cases you get what you pay for and many bargain basement hair transplant outfits are most likely NOT going to include expensive alternatives that improve a patient's chances for an optimal result.

-35YrsAfter works at Dr. Cole's office

[Jotronic]

The second doctor said that laser combs have been fda approved because of it's (1) safety & (2) efficacy

This doctor is either a liar or has not looked at the facts himself. Laser is not FDA approved. ONE laser was "cleared" for safety and that was Lexington Laser Comb. More specifically, it received what is known as a 510K clearance which means it was cleared for safety based on similarly engineered equipment that was manufactured before 1976 when the FDA granted authority over medical equipment and devices by Congress. Lexington Laser Comb submitted their own efficacy studies to the FDA but it does not mean that the FDA took these studies under consideration therefore it is not cleared or "approved" for efficacy. In fact, it uses the same lasers that you can find on a 5.00 laser pointer at Office Depot.