Hair transplant surgery is on the rise. And so are many uncertified, technician-level practitioners with lesser skills. This is due to the sudden expansion of the market share in hair transplants thanks to their popularity. Everyone wants to cash in on the trend, but not everyone has the skills to.
Making a mistake in choosing a hair transplant specialist can be a costly one that you will regret for years to come. You don’t want that. So avoid the common mistakes while choosing a hair transplant specialist and save yourself the trouble.
Choosing a Hair Transplant Specialist: Common Mistakes to Avoid
The ultimate results of your hair transplant surgery will depend on the skill of your hair transplant specialist. This is not something you’d want an amateur to do. Choosing a great hair transplant specialist starts with avoiding these mistakes.
Not Doing Your Homework on Them
Use the power of social media in your favour. Rest for a second from seeing the latest gossip and political drama and research how to benefit yourself here. Make an online search of all the surgeons that are in your shortlist.
Search the database of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). Also, the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS) database. Both organizations allow you to see the credentials of registered surgeons. If your surgeon is not in either of these, look for another surgeon.
In addition, contact your surgeon and ask them for references on past procedures. Past clients sometimes give their consent for contacting them to provide their opinion on the experience.
Choosing the Cheapest Price
As said before, the field is growing, and scammers are looking to profit. There are many service providers that advertise prices that are too good to be true. That is because they are. In a best-case scenario, they will take your money and vanish.
The worst-case scenario is when they will perform the operation with a shady doctor, the results of which would be a nightmare. Always research the average price of the region you are having your hair transplant in.
Know the Difference between a Hair and a Graft
A graft consists of 1 hair follicle. A hair follicle has between 1 to 4 hairs growing out of it, 2.2 on average. Some sneaky surgeons take advantage of the fact that people don’t know this.
They charge by the graft but say the exact number of the hairs growing out of the hair follicles.
See, they will say you will receive 4,000 grafts and charge you for that number. But in reality, you will receive around 1,500 grafts that will total 4,000 hairs. It is a really dishonourable sleight of hand. Needless to say, respectable institutions do not incur this disreputable practice. Always make sure you are being charged by the actual number of grafts.
Have a Face-to-Face Meeting with the Doctor
Or more like a face-to-face with the doctor via a screen. Most doctors offer video calls to build trust with their patients. Once you have chosen one doctor after the background research, call them. You will be able to tell more about how legitimate they are once you talk to them. You can have them show you before and after pictures and further certifications this way.
Finding a good doctor is life or death regarding hair transplant procedures. Be as thorough as you can. Always ask as many questions as you need to confirm they are, in fact, as skilled as they claim to be.