Hair Transplant Podcast

While FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction/ Excision) is currently the most requested method of hair transplant surgery in the field, understanding the nuances and having the ability and the infrastructure to perform strip hair transplant surgery can be extremely beneficial to repair patients, or any patient who simply does not make a good candidate for FUE. IAHRS accepted member Pradeep Sethi, MD of Mumbai, India sits down with Spencer Kobren to discuss.

As the hair transplant field continues its massive expansion the overall quality of care has not only diminished, but has become more dangerous than it has ever been. Spencer Kobren speaks with IAHRS accepted member, Newport Beach hair transplant surgeon, Dr. Christopher Varona about the the current state of the field and warns patients about what really goes on behind the scenes even in the practices that attempt to present themselves as being ethically beyond reproach. Caveat Emptor, “let the buyer beware.”

The commoditization of the hair transplant industry began in its inception. As soon as the first TV ad was aired and the no-obligation free consultation was born, a tone was set that turned this incredibly nuanced and life altering discipline of cosmetic surgery into a one size fits all product that had less to do with medicine and more to do with sales. IAHRS Founding Member Alan J. Bauman. M.D. speaks with Spencer Kobren about the reality of free surgical consultations and the real price patients pay when lead generation takes precedence over medicine.

Spencer Kobren speaks with IAHRS accepted member Amir Yazdan, M.D. about the the growing reality of untrained and unethical physicians hiring unlicensed, per diem technicians with a few clicks on an app to perform unsupervised hair transplant surgery on unsuspecting patients. You can’t make this stuff up!

The IAHRS and The American Hair Loss Association advocate mentoring at all stages of a hair transplant surgeon's education and throughout their career, however, due to the the entrepreneurial and extremely competitive environment created by many of the old guard of this speciality, true mentoring has not been a priority in the field, IAHRS accepted member Patrick Mwamba, M.D. joins Spencer Kobren in studio to discuss.

According to the ABHRS website "The American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery is internationally recognized as the only 'board certification' focusing on hair restoration surgery for physicians worldwide.” While both the IAHRS and The American Hair Loss Association recognize the tremendous effort the ABHRS and its leadership has put into attempting to create a reasonable standard of care for this unregulated field, being a Diplomate of the ABHRS only signifies proficiency in being able to pass both a written and oral examination. Past President of the ABHRS and accepted member of the IAHRS, Scott Boden, M.D. joins Spencer Kobren in studio to discuss.

It is no secret that some of the biggest names in hair transplant surgery were not earned on the merit of their work, but by the effectiveness of their marketing and PR. Be smart, do your homework and if a clinic or surgeon is more interested in promoting his body of press than his body of work, move on.

IAHRS accepted member, Arika Bansal, M.D. discusses the importance of having realistic expectations when considering hair transplant surgery. Proper patient education is vital, and if you are not fully educated on the entire scope, possible pitfalls and limitations of hair transplant surgery, then surgery might not be right for you.

Hair transplant surgery can be an incredible, life changing option for those who make good candidates for the procedure, but in today’s cut-throat, turnkey, hair transplant mill environment, if prospective patients aren’t privy to the the information they need to make truly informed decisions, they are literally putting their lives in danger. Newport Beach, hair transplant surgeon and IAHRS accepted member Amir Yazdan, M.D. sits down with Spencer Kobren to discuss.

IAHRS accepted member, Manchester, UK hair transplant surgeon Dr. Asim Shahmalak stops by the studio to discuss the importance of honest, open patient education and the dangers that today’s hair transplant patients face when trying to navigate this treacherous field.