Selecting the right doctor requires research, research, and research. You’re spending a lot of money, undergoing surgery, and have a long recovery. You want to take every step possible to increase your chances of success.
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We are all looking for a guarantee, and that doesn’t exist. You need to be realistic and find what’s right for you.
These are the steps I took when researching hair loss solutions.
Step 1: Hair loss forums
Hair Loss Talk, Bald Truth Talk, The Hair Loss Forum, and Hair Restoration Social Network have tons of information and registered users. After a while, I felt everyone is asking the same questions.
“What is the best option for a guaranteed full head of hair? Who is the best doctor? What is the best and cheapest approach?”
Through this process, I learned you can invariably find a group that gives you the answer you want. But be careful, the answer you want isn’t always the answer you need.
 | These forums are advertising platform for doctors. It can be challenging to weed through biased and unbiased viewpoints. People posting on these sites don’t need to disclose if they are compensated for their opinions. |
Step 2: Credentials
After a while, I found these forums more frustrating than helpful. This led me to learn more about what certifications, standards, and education hair loss doctors are required to attain.
According to the American Hair Loss Association, “Currently hair transplant surgery or surgical hair restoration has no approved medical specialty board sanctioned by The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).“
| Seek experienced and qualified doctors. You have to wait a 12+ months before you see the full results of your hair transplant. Your doctor also has to wait 12+ months to see the results of their work. Only after they see the results can they make corrections to their process or procedures. The more transplants your doctor has performed means they hopefully have refined their technique and honed their skill. You don’t want to be a guinea pig. |
Step 3: Consultations
I’m an introvert. Which means I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I felt I could learn everything I needed from the Web to make an intelligent and informed decision. This was a humbling experience where I realized I can’t do this on my own. I finally set up virtual consultations with several clinics. These consultations provided me with the best information and helped me set realistic expectations for my hair restoration.
I reached out to seven clinics, and five followed up to set up consultations. Each clinic had its own forms you needed to complete for the meeting. I felt they all wanted too much information, and some were more personal than I was willing to share. Beware, the systems they used to collect your information are archaic. All you need is current photos of your hairline from the front, top, crown, back, left, and ride sides of your head. I
When the consultations approached, I had every intention to prepare a thoughtful list of questions. What actually happened is I wasn’t ready for the meetings. My mind was blank from all the research in Step 1; I didn’t know what to ask. Instead, I listened. Valuable consultations will ask about you, your goals, and tailor your session to your needs. Every person I talked to had the first-hand experience of losing their hair and undergoing hair restoration procedures. They will be able to relate to you and your situation. This makes it challenging to make a decision because everyone is so helpful, friendly, and informative.
I feel reluctant to share my list, and I don’t know why. But the whole point of this blog is to be transparent and share my personal experience. So here is my list of consultations.
Dr. Leonard
May 27, 2020
I learned more in 1 hour than I did during my research in step 1. This helped me understand the difference between FUE, FUT, and all the available options. My two concerns were I felt like I was being upsold for products I didn’t need (laser cap, PRP), and I wouldn’t know precisely how many grafts I would receive. The explanation made sense, but my analytical side wants a specific number.
DiStefano Hair Restoration
June 18, 2020
Another great consultation. This consultation edged out Dr. Leonard’s and quickly became my next choice. There was a super session I could purchase for 3,000 grafts. This appealed to my analytical side.
Hair Club for Men
June 18, 2020
Take a chance to learn about alternative approaches. Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by the Hair Club for Men. Based on my understanding, most of their business is from their replacement solution. If you want a non-surgical approach to a thick full head of hair, I recommend a conversation with them. For me, personally, this system requires too much maintenance.
New England Hair Restoration
June 16, 2020
This was my least favorite consultation. The consultant wasn’t as engaging and conversational as the others. In his defense, I wasn’t prepared and didn’t have a lot of questions. I think he had more of a Q&A than a conversational strategy. Since I came unprepared, our approaches didn’t match. However, I was impressed with how he answered my questions—a lot of great insight into the hair transplant robots. A method I was skeptical of to start, and they confirmed my gut feeling that this wasn’t an approach for me. I’m sticking with a human.
Shapiro Medical Group
July 14, 2020
Very educational. The most comprehensive consultation related to my specific needs, no upselling, and transparent pricing. They recommended 2,000 grafts, which is below my ideal threshold. My concern with fewer grafts is I have thin blonde hair; I’ll need more to make it look denser. I understand there is more to it than just a number, but I’ve never gone through this and don’t know what this means for me.
Dr. True and Skin Care Physicians
I submitted several requests to Dr. True and Skin Care Physicians. I never received a follow up to schedule an appointment. This is at the beginning of COVID, so they may not have been set up to support these requests.
| Consultations are with salespeople, not the doctor. Don’t limit yourself due to geography. If you find someone you love, you’ll find a way to make it work out. You don’t talk to the doctor until your first day for surgery. |
| Every consultation recommended starting Rogaine or Finasteride to retain and strengthen my existing hair. Ideally, both to increase my chances. |
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