Choosing your surgeon is a difficult first step when considering cosmetic surgery. The most important factor is trust, and that can be gained only by meeting personally with your surgeon and having the opportunity to have all your questions answered. The following are some common questions patients ask us about our approach, and our answers. You may find this useful as you consider your cosmetic goals.

Is it necessary to meet with the surgeon instead of a salesperson?
Absolutely! Only the surgeon who will actually perform the procedure can
adequately assess you as a candidate and answer your questions completely.
You will meet with Dr. Haber at your first visit, since your time is important.
Centers that require an initial visit with a "salesperson" or "consultant" often use
a rotating pool of out-of-town surgeons who may produce inconsistent surgical
results.

What cosmetic results should I expect? State-of-the-art hair restoration
techniques should produce two results: a natural appearance and undetectability.
(See photo below left: illustartion of a transplanted hairline.)   Hair grafts should
grow without visible evidence of surgery to the casual observer.  Older techniques
and certain major scalp procedures cannot produce these results. Also important
are the donor scars; donor scars should be almost imperceptible.  (See photo
below right: donor scar illustration.)

A properly designed hairline and transplant pattern will still look good several decades after surgery.

What size grafts or plugs do you use? We use a unique Total Micrografting
approach to minimize visible evidence of surgery. We do this by transplanting
naturally occurring hair bundles, called follicular units, thereby recreating the same
type of hair growth that originally existed in the balding areas. This means our
largest grafts contain at most 3 to 4 hairs. Grafts larger than these are often
referred to as plugs, and will usually produce a "pluggy" look. Our smallest grafts
contain a single hair, and are used to give the softest hairline possible. All grafts
are placed into Microslits that permit healing within several days.

How many grafts do you place in a single session? We transplant well over
1000 grafts, and as few as 200 grafts in each session, depending on the needs of
the scalp and the patient's goals. The ability to perform large sessions allows us to
complete the transplant process in less time.

Do you harvest round plugs or strips? Round plug harvesting is a technique of
the past, as it always leaves significant scarring on the back of the head. We use
strip harvesting with a multi-bladed knife, and close the site with absorbable
sutures or staples, leaving a barely visible scar in most cases.

How many procedures have you performed? Dr. Haber has performed well
over 1000 procedures, and performs approximately 200 procedures each year. He
is Board Certified in Dermatology and devotes a significant portion of his practice
to hair restoration in order to maintain high quality results.

Do you do scalp flaps, reductions, or lifts? No! Results of these procedures are
often disastrous, and at best give short-term benefits with major long-term risks.
During your consultation, Dr. Haber will discuss these procedures with you in
detail.

Do you apply a bulky bandage? Absolutely! Many studies have shown that
maintaining a moist and protected environment immediately after surgery protects
the grafts and improves survival. "Bandageless" surgery might sound attractive, but
subjects your new hair to unnecessary risk. The bandage comes off the next day
when you return for scalp care and cleansing.

Can you repair work done in the past? Yes. About 25% of our patients have had work done in the past.

Many patients, like the one in the photo above, who have had work done elsewhere
and are not happy with the result come to us to improve their appearance.  We can
often make dramatic changes in the visibility of the old "pluggy" look.

Can women be candidates for surgery? Yes. Although only a small percentage
of women lose hair in the way that a man does, those women can be good
candidates for surgery.

When can I go back to work? We generally recommend taking a minimum of
three days off work after the first session. For subsequent sessions, that time can
be adjusted according to your experience. Some patients return to work the day
after surgery. Is the surgery painful? We go to great lengths to minimize discomfort
throughout the procedure. New local anesthetic techniques are used that work
well, and our patients are awake and chatting with us during the entire procedure.
Although we prescribe strong pain medicine for use at home, most patients find
they do not use much at all.

How does Dr. Haber stay active in his field? Dr. Haber is an active member of
the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, the largest organization of
hair surgeons in the world, has served as President during 2002-2003, and has
lectured and/or organized educational workshops during each of the Society's
annual meetings. Dr. Haber also lectures regularly at the meetings of the American
Academy of Dermatology, and has presented his techniques at the Ohio
Dermatological Association annual meeting, and is regularly invited to lecture to
surgeons throughout the world.

	Robert Haber M.D. has been carefully reviewed and granted membership in the Coalition based strictly on his high level of integrity, skill, experience and quality results.
	Robert Haber M.D. and his clinic are highly recommended by the Hair Transplant Network as an outstanding source for surgical hair transplants.
	Robert Haber M.D. is a member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
	Robert Haber M.D. s a member of the American Hair Loss Association