What Make a Physician an Expert in Hair Loss?
Who treats hair loss anyway?
Hair loss is not one of those medical conditions for which people go to medical school. Most patients would not even know who to go to if they had a problem with their hair, and it is often something you will take for granted… until you need it!
A quick survey of those docs who treat hair almost exclusively will find an odd mix of interesting characters. Dermatologists, Plastic Surgeons, Internists, and ER doctors all end up in the “Hair Medicine” field, with physicians from Family Medicine and General Surgery as well. So what exactly is a “Hair Doctor,” and how do you find one that really understands hair loss and its treatment?
A Passion For Hair
Most of the information about hair loss is rarely taught in medical school. Instead, it is picked up either through physician self-study of the literature and textbooks or sometimes in dermatology and plastic/cosmetic surgery residency training. But none of this training is complete, providing the physician with a comprehensive understanding of hair loss causes and current medical and surgical options for the patient. So patients should look for a doctor who finds the subject of hair fascinating and looks into it to become an expert on their own.
Most doctors who treat hair loss will tell you that it was their interest and research that brought them to other like-minded individuals who were willing to teach them and share experiences. “It dropped into my lap” is another standard description of how a doctor enters this field. However, the most prevalent theme among leading hair doctors is their passion for “hair” and their motivation to help their patients.
To Excel, a Physician Needs to be Proactive in their Education
In the past, few hair doctors and even fewer hair loss treatment options filled this tiny medical niche, making it challenging for patients to get reasonable care. More recently, hair doctors have united in their efforts to provide better and more advanced treatments for their patients – and this unity has led to the creation of several voluntary “hair doctor” organizations dedicated to advancements in hair science and surgical training for the benefit of patients. Two of these organizations stand out and should catch the eye of any patient beginning their search for a “hair doc;”
- The largest group is the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS.org). It is a non-profit that sets standards for ethical behavior and disseminates accurate information regarding different forms of hair loss. It also connects patients with doctors from around the
world and doctors with training resources, and it conducts ongoing medical education on the latest medical treatments for hair loss. - The other significant body is the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS.com) because it provides a standardized oral and written exam for doctors worldwide to prove their hair medicine and surgery expertise. Both are optional organizations, and membership or certification is unnecessary for a physician or surgeon to practice hair medicine. That being said, participation in organizations and pursuit of certification that demonstrates expertise in hair restoration helps assure the patient of expert care.
Expertise Can Only be Achieved with Good Training
There is no clear path to that goal for those who want to be a hair doctor. Patients are usually surprised to learn that the training for a hair restoration surgeon is often a patchwork. Frequently, an interested doctor will have to walk the path of the average hair loss patient to find experienced and comprehensive instruction (usually paying for the privilege of training in this area of medicine). For instance;
- The Short Course: Surgeons can pay for a weekend course in hair restoration, but this is often less than adequate to provide the information needed to hone a surgeon’s skills. Patients may want to avoid a doctor whose only training in hair surgery is brief exposure.
- Books: Several well-written textbooks do also exist, but medicine is only partially learned from a textbook, unfortunately, and only years of experience can properly convey the nuances and aesthetic judgment needed to give patients appropriate advice and successful hair transplants.
- One-On-One: Knowledge in hair is best gained through either mentored instruction (i.e. an experienced surgeon who is willing to train a partner), or a “fellowship” (additional in-depth training after a doctor completes their residency in another larger field). Since there are not many dedicated hair surgeons around to act as mentors, and official “fellowships” are difficult to come by and even harder to gain acceptance into, both of these options present obstacles for the physician. Still, they are helpful for a patient to select a well-trained doctor because of the perseverance it takes to be trained.
Always Research a Doctor You are Considering
Ultimately, there is no single way to become a hair doctor. Years of involvement demonstrated results, and membership or certification by the few existing hair organizations (ISHRS or ABHRS) is the best way to be sure that your “hair doctor” has the training, surgical skill, and aesthetic judgment to meet the standards of this niche profession.
Investigate the doctor online, read reviews, visit certifying websites, and review the physician's online patient portfolio, training, and philosophy.