Understanding Hair
Valued member
Before getting to the in-person consultation with a doctor, ideally you should have done your due diligence, know about the clinic, their standards, and protocols, even seen a result in-person. It´s also ideal to visit more than one doctor, to get an idea how the approaches may differ.
An online assessment can be a good easy start and provide a good and accurate assessment from a decent hair clinic. It´s also an effective way to “test” the clinic, how they reply, the amount of care and detail they put in. Online assessments vary, from a couple of lines and a quote, often with a timed discount. To a comprehensive assessment of your current hair, detailed explanation of the hair transplant technique and their suggestion for treatment. However accurate and comprehensive an online assessment can be, nothing is more important than meeting the doctor and having an examination, while virgin cases are normally less demanding, this is vastly important with repair cases.
Doctors are often busy, and the consultation schedule timed, so ensure you have a list of concerns to ask, even send it to the clinic before arrival. The doctor´s approach will vary, but regardless of order they will be looking at key areas to establish the suitability for having a hair transplant. It´s important to be open and honest with the doctor, with something as subjective as expectations it´s important to be clear what you are looking for from the hair transplant. Never superimpose or assume what one clinic says means every clinic will be the same.
A key area is the donor area size and quality. The donor hair needs measuring with a magnifying device, so factors such as hair density can be correctly calculated, per cm², also the hair count. The doctor will also be checking for the % of hair miniaturisation. Often the doctor will check the donor at multiple points, to ensure of an accurate measurement. The precise nature of examining the donor area helps build a long-term plan for any further hair restoration. But in general, helps the candidate understand what is and is not possible to achieve.
A red flag – a simple brushing through of the hair with the hand or a comb doesn´t constitute a credible examination of the donor area. Opposed to carefully documenting, and often later sending to the candidate. Remember, a consultation assessment is not binding, things can change, the approach, the hair loss pattern, maybe an issue affecting the hair quality, so especially if there is a good length of time between the assessment and procedure, ensure the clinic is happy the initial assessment stands.
The recipient area examination will check for scarring, and the surface area size. The doctor will be considering your expressed expectations for aspects such as hairline position and design. Often an area that requires compromise from the candidate. A doctor may allow the individual to design the hairline as it gives them an idea how realistic their expectations are. Be prepared to be flexible as the doctor can only work with the hair you have. But also, ask questions and do not take extraordinary claims without proof. The approach to hair distribution can vary between doctors, as can whether they use intact follicular units. As a result, if a clinic is an outlier on the hair coverage they suggest, ask. They are going to use -/+ graft numbers, or the hairline position is different. But it´s important to question and get a good explanation.
Unless you mention surgery dates or similar, a good doctor is more likely to tell you to go away and have a good think, they will send their assessment, and you can then ask any new questions. The consultation can cause the candidate to become emotionally charged, especially if they like what they hear. As a result, there can be a willingness to want to say yes on the spot. Whereas going away, even if for a day or so clears the head, allowing for a more rational decision.
An online assessment can be a good easy start and provide a good and accurate assessment from a decent hair clinic. It´s also an effective way to “test” the clinic, how they reply, the amount of care and detail they put in. Online assessments vary, from a couple of lines and a quote, often with a timed discount. To a comprehensive assessment of your current hair, detailed explanation of the hair transplant technique and their suggestion for treatment. However accurate and comprehensive an online assessment can be, nothing is more important than meeting the doctor and having an examination, while virgin cases are normally less demanding, this is vastly important with repair cases.
Doctors are often busy, and the consultation schedule timed, so ensure you have a list of concerns to ask, even send it to the clinic before arrival. The doctor´s approach will vary, but regardless of order they will be looking at key areas to establish the suitability for having a hair transplant. It´s important to be open and honest with the doctor, with something as subjective as expectations it´s important to be clear what you are looking for from the hair transplant. Never superimpose or assume what one clinic says means every clinic will be the same.
A red flag – a simple brushing through of the hair with the hand or a comb doesn´t constitute a credible examination of the donor area. Opposed to carefully documenting, and often later sending to the candidate. Remember, a consultation assessment is not binding, things can change, the approach, the hair loss pattern, maybe an issue affecting the hair quality, so especially if there is a good length of time between the assessment and procedure, ensure the clinic is happy the initial assessment stands.
The recipient area examination will check for scarring, and the surface area size. The doctor will be considering your expressed expectations for aspects such as hairline position and design. Often an area that requires compromise from the candidate. A doctor may allow the individual to design the hairline as it gives them an idea how realistic their expectations are. Be prepared to be flexible as the doctor can only work with the hair you have. But also, ask questions and do not take extraordinary claims without proof. The approach to hair distribution can vary between doctors, as can whether they use intact follicular units. As a result, if a clinic is an outlier on the hair coverage they suggest, ask. They are going to use -/+ graft numbers, or the hairline position is different. But it´s important to question and get a good explanation.
Unless you mention surgery dates or similar, a good doctor is more likely to tell you to go away and have a good think, they will send their assessment, and you can then ask any new questions. The consultation can cause the candidate to become emotionally charged, especially if they like what they hear. As a result, there can be a willingness to want to say yes on the spot. Whereas going away, even if for a day or so clears the head, allowing for a more rational decision.
