Greetings,
Sometimes when I meet a patient for the first time in consultation, they come to me with their mind made up as to which harvest procedure for the hair transplant they wish to undergo. Other times they come to me with no idea as to which harvest method for the hair transplant that they prefer. The Internet has been an amazing tool to educate patients regarding all aspects of hair transplant procedures, however there is a huge amount of misinformation in the Internet as well. Often it is difficult for the average consumer to differentiate between the truth and the fiction. To further complicate things, some Hair Transplant surgeons have their own agendas as well. These physicians may only be proficient in either FUT or FUE, and may then try to steer patients towards the procedure that they are more comfortable with. In other instances, the physician may have purchased an expensive piece of equipment that he needs to pay for, and then will steer patients towards the procedure which helps to pay off the equipment.
When I meet with patients the first thing I do is pay close attention to the hairstyle they wear when they come into my office. How short their hair is, how it is combed, product in the hair, hair color, etc. These are all clues that help me to understand the patient as an individual. In addition, between the family history of hair loss and the patients physical exam, I do my best to estimate how severe the patient’s hair loss will progress over time. I explain in depth the pros and cons of FUT hair transplant versus FUE hair transplant and tell the patient that I have no vested interest in which procedure the patient decides to have. I truly enjoy performing both FUT and FUE. My only interest is that the patient undergoes the procedure that suits them best. Not just in the short term but in the long term as well. That is part of my duty to my patients. I encourage my patients to take their time in deciding which procedure suits them best, so that they make the right decision. Not a quick decision that could prove to be wrong in the long term.
All the best,
Marc Dauer, MD