Hair Transplant Podcast

The extremely competitive, sadly commoditized, entrepreneurial environment of cosmetic surgery has not only made it more difficult for skilled and ethical hair transplant surgeons to practice their craft, but has made the field a much more dangerous place for hair transplant consumers. Sadly things are only getting worse. Spencer Kobren and IAHRS accepted member Sanusi Umar, MD, FAAD, FASDS discuss the competitive nature of this field and what can be done to improve the current environment in order to make it a safer place for consumers.

As the hair transplant industry continues to grow out of control, it's apparent that many novice surgeons, patient consultants or sales reps, haven’t a clue of the importance of patient selection when it comes to this extremely difficult discipline of cosmetic surgery. Anyone can sell a hair transplant to a vulnerable hair loss sufferer, but that doesn’t mean its in the best interest of the patient. Spencer Kobren and TBT UK contributor Spencer (Spex) Stevenson discuss the reality of appropriate patient selection and how some people should never even consider undergoing hair transplant surgery.

Let’s face it, as with everything in this world, medicine is a business and as with all businesses, innovation is key to benefiting the public it serves. The patent office does not grant patents just for the heck of it, and in medicine having the ability to patent one's inventions ensures that all of us have access to technology created that might not have been pursued if the inventor could not claim reasonable ownership of said invention. Spencer Kobren speaks with IAHRS accepted member Sanusi Umar, M.D. about the medical device patenting process as well as the importance of sharing patented technology and the surgical methodology accounted with the invention with one’s colleagues.

For those who make good candidates, and find the right surgeon and surgical team, hair transplant surgery can be an extremely positive, life changing experience. For the countless consumers who fall prey to hair transplant device maker marketing and inexperienced novice practitioners, the outcomes can be disastrous, and the field is becoming more confusing and dangerous every year. Martin calls the the guys on the UK show to discuss his success story and why he believes he has such a positive hair transplant experience.

As they say, there is a sucker born every minute and in the new world of device driven hair transplant surgery, many of those suckers are the naïve cosmetic surgeons who invest in what they believe are turkey solutions to enter the extremely lucrative world of hair restoration surgery. Whether you are a potential hair transplant patient doing their research or a plastic or cosmetic surgeon interested in learning the discipline, this is a segment you'll want watch.

Hair transplant marketing has hit an all time low and many clinics will promise potential patients the moon without even having a minimal body of evidence that illustrates their ability to meet the patient’s expectations.  Bottom line: it is up to prospective patients  to do their due diligence and ask doctors and consultants for verifiable evidence that they can actually provide you with the outcomes they are promising. You’ll be surprised how many can’t.

IAHRS accepted member Dr. Baubac, explains the importance of patients having a full understanding of the hair transplant process as well as their particular needs before even considering undergoing hair transplant surgery. If you don’t know at least as much as the consultant, you have not conducted enough research. Do your homework

Spencer Kobren speaks with TBT’s undercover doc about the dark underbelly of the hair transplant industry.  Is your hair transplant “surgeon” breaking the law and putting patients at risk? Apparently that is a matter up for interpretation according to many cosmetic surgeons now offering hair transplant surgery in their practices.  

Spencer Kobren speaks with IAHRS accepted member Michael Vories, MD, about the dumbing down of the hair transplant field and the extreme risks that patients are taking if they don’t do their due diligence by thoroughly researching their hair transplant surgeon.  Bottom line: In today’s environment, it seems that many of the technicians in the field know more about hair transplant surgery than the “surgeons” patients are entrusting your care to. 

Spencer Kobren and Joe Tillman speak with a caller who is concerned about having to take time off from training post surgery. Bottom line: Hair transplant surgery is a financial and emotional investment that takes some sacrifice in order to ensure the best possible outcome.