15 Questions To Ask Before Hair Transplant Surgery

So you are considering getting a hair transplant done, but are yet to decide which doctor or clinic to go to. It would be wise that you do a lot of research beforehand, because a transplant is a big decision and if not done properly can lead to really bad situations. This is why you need to make sure that you choose a surgeon or hair restoration specialist who has a lot of experience and has a clinic that is properly equipped.

In situations like this it would be wise to have a checklist or questionnaire ready, which will allow you ask the right questions and ensure that you have all the answers you need. In this article, we will assist you with the perfect set of questions that you should ask your hair transplant surgeon:

1. When you first head to the clinic, you should ask whether you will be able to meet with the doctor immediately or whether your first interaction would be with a counselor.

2. You will have to enquire about the amount of experience the doctor who will be performing your surgery has. The more the experience, the better the chances of things going smoothly for you! It would also be wise to enquire about where the doctor earned his degrees and certifications, because an education from reputed institutions would be a positive marker. Further it is extremely important that doctor should have high respect among other doctors of same fraternity. You can ask about doctor’s presentation on hair transplant in forum. Whether if the doctor is on any board or founder list of appropriate associations.

3. It is important that you chose a doctor who has been certified by the appropriate board and you should ask to see the certifications. In addition, the doctor should also have the proper practicing license.

4. There are plenty of doctors who can complete the procedure without complications, but a hair transplant is much more than just harvesting hair from one part of the body to another. You need to make sure that the doctor will be able to design your new hairline with precision, ensuring that post completion of the procedure, your transplant will look natural.

5. While the doctor is important, it is also crucial to check the clinic where the procedure will be conducted. You need to make sure there is plenty of trained and experienced support staff and the rooms where the surgeries are conducted are well equipped.

6. The clinic or the facility should also have proper accreditation and should be recognised by the concerned authorities.

7. There are certain clinics that will offer only cosmetic procedures, which is why it is important that you ask for the entire portfolio of services offered.

8. Make sure you ask that the procedure you are looking for is provided by the clinic.

9. Feel free to ask about how much experience that the doctor has in the particular procedure that you are looking into. For instance, if you are considering a follicular unit extraction, ask how many such procedures the doctor has completed and ask for his success rate too.

10. Most of the doctors or clinics will keep photographic evidence of their procedures and should you ask to see the same, they should be willing to show you the same.

11. When you meet with the doctor, you should feel a sense of comfort with them, because after all, you are putting your looks, your confidence, your self-esteem and your future into their hands. It should be easy enough to talk to the doctor and the doctor should make all efforts to make you feel comfortable.

12. A good doctor will explain in detail about what to expect from the transplant, how many sittings will be required, the possible complications and thus put forward a more realistic picture about the whole procedure rather than only a feel good attitude taken by many commercial centres.

13. Another important point to ask the doctor is about the success percentage of the results and the wastage at their centre. The percentage of transected grafts (follicular transection rate or FTR) or the wastage should be minimal not only to ensure the success of the transplant but also to avoid overuse of your precious donor area.

14. It is just as important that the staff at the clinic makes you feel valued – the best places are those which welcome you and your queries, irrespective of the number of times. A good clinic will have staff members who are trained to provide you with the precise answers and are not looking into making you commit to a procedure as soon as possible.

15. It is important that you ask for a quote for the procedure, because when you ask at other clinics, you will be able to make a comparison. Also make sure whether the charges are for individual hairs or grafts, as a graft is equivalent to two hairs.

The above-mentioned questions will clarify almost all your doubts about the doctor and the clinic where the procedure will be conducted. However, there are also important queries you should raise about the actual procedure and how it will affect you on a personal level.

Here are some more questions that you should ask:

• You should always confirm whether you are the ideal candidate for a hair restoration procedure. There are plenty of quacks out there who will see you only as a money making venture. However, a genuine doctor will advise you on whether you really should get a procedure done, or should wait a little longer.

• If you are considered an ideal candidate for a hair restoration process, you should also ask whether you will be requiring subsequent sessions. This will also give you an idea of how long an investment you will have to make, in terms of time as well as money.

• The doctor should be able to answer vital questions such as whether your hair loss has stabilised, whether you have sufficient donor hair and how many grafts you will be requiring. An experienced doctor should be able to answer all these queries after the very first consultation.

The doctor should also be able to give you a clear idea of how much the transplant will cost and how much time you will have to invest.