In today’s world it has become increasingly difficult for hair loss sufferers to sort through the large amount of information they are presented with regarding both medical and surgical management of both male and female pattern hair loss. These days, buzz words such as “minimally invasive”, “scarless”, often associated with claims of “no down time”, and the like are pervasive. These claims are usually supported by flashy ads and scenarios that sound too good to be true. Unfortunately, those claims generally are untrue.

My father taught me that the louder and more aggressive an entity appears in it’s attempts to “win you over”, generally the weaker the overall product they are trying to “sell”. And the key word here is just that, “sell”. In the world of elective cosmetic procedures, the salesman approach has seemingly flooded and area where decorum, professionalism, anything BUT “salesmanship” should continue to be the norm: the Traditional Surgical Practice. Consistently reproducible results which are natural and stand the test of time are the cornerstone of a conservative surgical practice. Examination of all available techniques for surgical utilization should be the norm, with the choice of the surgical tool appropriate to the indication presented. This surgical philosophy is grounded in sound medical practice, devoid of hype, “latest-greatest” claims, and “instant results”.

The reality is that in the last 25 years, there has been no surgical technique that has been developed which could even be remotely claimed to be “new” or “revolutionary”. Each technique available today for removal and transplantation of your limited donor has “pluses” and “minuses” that need to be examined in a clear, rational aesthetic light. And all have their unique indications, and should be treated as available “tools” your surgeon may choose from to create an undetectable work of art.

So, in your adventure in gathering information, trust your gut: Do you get the feeling you are being “sold” a solution? Or do you feel that you are speaking with a thoughtful, sincere surgeon whose sole goal is to educate you so as to help you make the correct decision about how to best address your hair loss problem. Evaluate carefully; the proper choice in a treatment plan can mean the difference between an improved quality of life or the beginning of a difficult and uncomfortable journey to improve on less than natural results.