You’ve made the decision to get a hair transplant, congratulations! In no time at all your dreams of having immaculately restored youthful locks will become reality. But wait… you need to pick a hair clinic first…
It’s important to note right off the bat that this article concerns how to choose a clinic and not just a hair transplant doctor. As the old adage goes, ‘no man is an island’ and even the most spectacularly gifted hair transplant doctor on the planet cannot provide effective treatment without his or her experienced staff and a well-equipped, state of the art facility.
Let the buyer beware!
An unfortunate fact that must be noted is that the field of hair transplant surgery is rife with inexperienced doctors. Certain practitioners advertise hair transplant surgery solely with an eye toward adding another potential billable service to their practices and are in no way specialized hair restoration surgeons. The widespread incompetence and shoddy workmanship of these types in the past led to hair transplants being looked upon as the stuff of comedy through the 1960s to the 1980s.
It was only in the late 80s that highly dedicated hair transplant clinics arose and hair restoration procedures began to attain the finesse and consistency which have led to their general acceptance as one of today’s most highly effective and aesthetically satisfying cosmetic procedures.
When searching for a qualified hair transplant surgeon one simple question can save you a world of trouble:
“Are hair transplants all you do?” If the answer is ‘no’, walk away; or better yet, run for it.
If you’re still there, a good follow up question would be: “Is your clinic solely dedicated to hair transplants?”. If it isn’t then that’s another red flag and you ought to high-tail it out of there just as fast. Naturally, the finest results come from clinics that are dedicated solely to hair transplants. Unfortunately most facilities are not dedicated to hair transplants as a specialty and instead perform them as a sideline to scrounge up a bit of extra cash. Surgeons who only dip their toes in the hair transplant pool can hardly be expected to deliver the sort of consistent results that a discerning patient would rightly demand.
Still there? Now ask your potential doctor if their staff work full-time for you as hair transplant technicians. Be careful of noncommittal answers. You want a professional surgeon AND a professional surgical team operating on you. The doctor can’t do everything. His or her assistants are invaluable assets in performing a seamless procedure. Keep in mind that there is currently NO government regulation regarding the training and experience of staff members assisting in a hair transplant procedure, so it certainly pays to inquire into the matter on your own.
Next, ask to see NUMEROUS successful examples of your prospective surgeons work. If you are only shown one or two examples then you should probably not trust them to operate on you; such a low number of examples indicates either a lack of experience or presentable results. Practitioners who can easily furnish you with 100s of before/after photos of their work have likely refined their technique to that effortless precision and finesse that is the hallmark of great craftsmanship, care, and maturity. You deserve only the best – accept no substitutes.
Some final remarks. Hair transplantation can not and should not be performed by just anybody with a medical degree. Seek out an experienced team led by an experienced doctor housed in a specially designated clinic. Research the background of any clinic you are considering; try to find one that’s been in business for more than five years and offers extensive examples of their finished product. Dedication and specialization are the key qualities to look for in a potential hair transplant doctor; his or her office should be sizable, solely perform hair transplants and have a full time, professionally trained staff of at least five individuals if not more. And lastly, don’t be afraid to speak up! Ask hard questions, challenge your doctor, settle for nothing but the best; it’s your hair after all and your hair deserves nothing less.
For more information about restoring your hairline at any age or to discuss any questions you may have regarding our available procedures, be sure to contact our hair restoration center today. At Modena Hair Institute we pride ourselves on consistently providing our patients with the highest standard of custom hair restoration treatment available, directly tailored to their individual needs. Our specialists are eagerly awaiting your visit or digital consultation. Contact us today!

Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.