Hair Transplantation, The Emotional Journey
Before hair restoration surgery, patients have endured a chronic state of diminishing self-esteem. While they want to seek a surgical option, sometimes the seeds of doubt, paranoia, and mistrust of the surgeon is planted in their minds, quite often due to transplant horror stories on the internet. The media does it’s fair share spreading fear as well, using celebrities and public figures as poster children for hair transplants that have gone awry. Throw in the slick sales approach that characterizes many a so-called hair restoration clinic consultation, and you can understand why prospective patients have fears.
In my experience, it seems to take a patient about nine months after surgery to come to terms with their new look, let go of the frustration and pain of their time living with hair loss, and move on to a fresh start. It takes compassion and experience to help guide them through this emotional journey. Hair restoration is about more than the follicles. The personal touch is key.
Finding the right surgeon to perform your hair transplantation is the most critical decision in the entire process. Having your hair transplant done by an unethical or inexperienced hair surgeon can lead to more turmoil, when what you need is someone to help you through what can be a difficult transition.
This is one of the reasons I do not approach hair transplantation with the salesman mindset common in many strip surgery clinic. Anyone who sends an email or consultation request to me online gets an answer from me. When people have a question about how Follicular Unit Extraction works, or concerns about how much scarring or pain is involved (answer, virtually none), they don’t hear back from a sales representative. They hear back from the doctor. That makes a difference.
Watch this video of one patient’s emotional journey from the tyranny of hair loss to the freedom of hair restoration. Watch, and know that you’re not alone.