How To Become A Hair Transplant Surgeon- Part 1

What Is The Specialty Of A Transplant Surgeon?

Specializing in diagnosing and treating problems related to hair loss, a hair transplant surgeon is one person in great demand for women as well as men. To be an expert in this field, training helps them get an upper hand. To perform hair treatment surgeries, along with training a high degree of technical and artistic skill is required.

The following steps help them go through the process to be a successful hair transplant surgeon:

1. Develop An Interest To Become Surgeon

Firstly, find and meet successful hair transplant surgeons working in the field for quite some time, with experience guiding you with more details on the subject. It helps you decide whether to become a hair transplant surgeon when you take the help of a knowledgeable surgeon. 

2. Enter The Medical Field

To make a career as a hair treatment surgeon, firstly you need to clear high school with a medical diploma in hand. As it helps let you learn about subjects of biology, chemistry, and physics, the medical diploma helps you academically. With a high score or good grades are required as the heavy competition is always present between aspirants becoming a doctor or physician.

• The undergraduate undergoes 4 to 5 years of following training and testing, once they enter medical college for a degree of MBBS, BAMS, etc.
• Get the fundamental subjects of Anatomy, Physiology, Histology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, professionalism as well as medical ethics that are taught earlier during the college years.
•  Physically examine and diagnose the diseases through the study of medicine by conducting medical histories of patients.
• Manage patients working in clinical rotations, under the supervision of doctors.
• Get to study surgery, pediatrics, internal medicine, psychiatry, gynecology and obstetrics.

Some of the Things Learned in Medical College

• Gaining clinical and community work experience.
• Dealing with issues similar to health, disease, population, etc.
• Communication skills.
• Getting more involved in prevention and care.
• Making innovation in health care and sciences with the help of technology.
• Does the research needed on affairs related to the medical field.

Specialty And Residency

• The personal interests, clinical experiences as well as other factors, are considered as the undergraduate chooses the specialty e.g. Anesthesiology, Pediatrics, Neurology, that helps them become a specialist and not remain a doctor to complete the graduate degree.
• As they opt for the specialty, the experience is gained through applying a residency program, where the residency program positions available in the college or search elsewhere colleges/hospitals.  
• This specialty program period of 2 years helps doctors gain experience working alongside other health practitioners as well as get exposed to the different communities, patients and cases over the subject opted and getting paid too.
• The doctors receive the certification on the chosen field to be finally known as MD or DO once all the education and training is completed.
•  After the certifications, MD or DO doctors go for medical license working with an authority in the respected field. 

3. Hair Transplant Surgery Training

Eligibility

It is easy to be a hair transplant surgeon as any licensed physician can practice as they can diagnose the whole body in surgery rather than just taking into account the head. It is easy for physicians to study this subject as with a good understanding of medical knowledge physicians gain enhanced surgical knowledge for a better understanding of performing the surgery. Just apply to hair transplant college or institute join fellowship that guides with good coverage on the transplant training. 

Training Overview

They learn following aspects of hair transplant procedures and methods while training the physician undergoing a series of programs:

• Understanding the reasons for hair loss (in male/female).
• Learn the detailed subjects on the physiology, anatomy and blood supply of the scalp and hair follicle.
• Learn how to avoid the unwanted blood loss during surgery and the blood supply to the areas of treated case.
• Lymph drainage.
• Principles of suture.
• Preparing the recipient site & slit formation.
• Incision or excision for the minimal scarring post-surgery.
• Learns more about natural hairline designs.
• Knows more about anesthesia combination.
• Instrumentation.
• Learning about follicular extraction.
• Follicle transaction Rates.
• Placement of the grafts with many techniques.
• Does temple hair angling.Measures the hair densities.
• Evaluates the patient.
•  Follows the aftercare surgery

Various Hair Transplant Techniques Learned During Training

• The removal of hair follicles needed for hair transplanting using different techniques like strip harvesting is called Harvesting.
• When hair follicles are to be extracted, the surgeon removes some tissue from the skin and these follicles removed with the help of clinical members before a transplanting surgery to be performed known as Follicular Unit Transplantation.
• Surgeons with the understanding of hair follicles taken from the scalp with no removal of tissue where the removed follicles show the difference between FUT and FUE, referred to as Follicular Unit Extraction.
• Also, the doctors learn to remove hair from other parts of the body, like the chest, back, shoulders, legs, only in case the donor’s head hair quantity is insufficient to use in a surgery called Body Hair Transplant.
• Lastly, robotic arms and cameras assist the surgeon during the surgery to operate in speed, known a Robotic Hair Transplantation. 

Course Segment/Period

• Consisting of provisional / foundation program, the course along with a hands-on training approach, custom made courses, with advanced study of surgery treatment and techniques.
• Including theory, tutorials, demonstrations, and practical sessions briefing the physician the course helps recognize what to do in surgery.
• Ranging from weeks to months to a year the training period can go longer based on the learning, artistic and working ability of a physician.
• Physicians are awarded a certificate of recognition by the concerned training institute that can also offer a job to help expand surgery practice. 

Wrapping Up The Discussion 

Through full observation and performance in clinical classes or operations, doctors receive practice on patients. The use of various surgical tools and instruments required during surgery can be learned with live surgical procedures with hands-on practice in workshops helping doctors do presentations with a debate giving their review after learning new facts. Adding more knowledge to the current hair transplantation surgical procedure also discussing different medical tools, technical equipment used gives the surgeon confidence doing the job. 

He then adds more knowledge to the current hair transplantation surgical procedure. While we discuss the different medical tools, technical equipment that is used during hair transplant procedures, it's sure to give the surgeon the confidence to do the job.