Choose a hair transplant surgeon by verifying six criteria: ISHRS membership, board certification, documented before-and-after results, independent patient reviews, consultation quality, and years of dedicated experience. Skipping any of these checks increases your risk of a poor outcome from a procedure that costs thousands of dollars and cannot be easily reversed.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
The Six Selection Criteria
1. ISHRS Membership
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) is the only global medical society dedicated exclusively to hair restoration. ISHRS membership requires that the physician be licensed to practice medicine and involved in hair restoration. It is not a guarantee of skill, but it signals that the surgeon has committed to the specialty and participates in continuing education.
| Credential | What It Tells You | How to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| ISHRS Fellow (FISHRS) | Highest ISHRS distinction, demonstrated expertise | ishrs.org/find-a-doctor |
| ISHRS Member | Active member, meets basic criteria | ishrs.org/find-a-doctor |
| ABHRS Diplomate | Board certified specifically in hair restoration | abhrs.org |
| Board Certified (Dermatology) | Specialty training in skin and hair conditions | abms.org |
| Board Certified (Plastic Surgery) | Surgical training with cosmetic focus | abms.org |
Non-ISHRS surgeons can still be excellent, but the membership provides a verifiable starting point. If a surgeon claims membership, check the ISHRS directory. Fake credentials are more common than patients expect, particularly at high-volume international clinics.
2. Board Certification
Board certification means the surgeon completed an accredited residency program and passed specialty examinations. For hair transplant surgeons, relevant certifications include dermatology, plastic surgery, facial plastic surgery, or the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS).
A surgeon who is board certified in an unrelated field (general surgery, emergency medicine, family medicine) may lack the specialized training in scalp anatomy, hairline design, and follicular unit biology that dedicated hair restoration surgeons possess.
3. Before-and-After Portfolio
A surgeon's portfolio is the most direct evidence of their skill. Here is what to look for and what to be skeptical about.
Strong portfolio indicators:
- Minimum 20-30 cases displayed
- 12-month post-op photos (not just immediate post-op)
- Consistent lighting, angles, and camera distance across photos
- Patients with similar hair loss patterns to yours
- Close-up shots showing hairline detail and naturalness
- Cases across different Norwood stages
Red flags in portfolios:
- Only showing post-op day 1 photos (scabs and implanted hairs look impressive but say nothing about growth outcomes)
- Inconsistent photo conditions (different lighting can make the same head look dramatically different)
- Very few cases displayed despite years of practice
- Stock photos or photos with heavy filters and editing
- No photos of cases similar to your specific pattern
4. Patient Reviews
Independent reviews on platforms the clinic does not control provide the most honest assessment of patient experience.
| Platform | Reliability | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| RealSelf | High | Detailed reviews with photos, ratings by category |
| Google Reviews | Medium-High | Volume of reviews, response to negative reviews |
| Trustpilot | Medium | Clinic response patterns, review age |
| Reddit (r/HairTransplants) | Medium | Unfiltered patient experiences, long-term updates |
| Clinic website testimonials | Low | Cherry-picked, potentially fabricated |
Read negative reviews carefully. Every surgeon has some unhappy patients. The question is whether complaints involve skill-related issues (poor hairline design, low density, graft failure) or service-related issues (wait times, communication). A surgeon with hundreds of positive reviews and a handful of complaints about scheduling is a different risk profile than one with repeated mentions of poor growth outcomes.
5. Consultation Quality
The consultation is your best opportunity to assess the surgeon's approach, communication style, and honesty. A quality consultation should include these elements.
What a good consultation covers:
- Thorough examination of your scalp (donor density, recipient area, hair caliber)
- Honest assessment of what is achievable in one session
- Discussion of long-term hair loss progression and how the transplant plan accounts for it
- Clear explanation of the technique they recommend and why
- Transparent pricing with no surprise fees
- Realistic timeline for results
Warning signs during consultation:
- The surgeon does not examine your scalp in person or via high-quality photos
- Graft count is guaranteed without proper examination
- No discussion of future hair loss or long-term planning
- Pressure to book immediately or lose a "special price"
- The person conducting the consultation is a sales representative, not the surgeon or a qualified medical professional
6. Years of Experience and Team Size
Experience matters in hair transplant surgery because the learning curve is steep. A surgeon who has performed 500+ procedures has encountered a wider range of scalp types, donor conditions, and complication scenarios than someone with 50 procedures.
Ask directly:
- How many years have they focused exclusively on hair restoration?
- How many procedures do they perform per week?
- Do they personally perform the extraction and implantation, or do technicians handle portions of the procedure?
- How large is their surgical team?
A surgeon performing 1-3 procedures per day with a dedicated team of experienced technicians typically delivers better outcomes than a surgeon who dabbles in hair restoration alongside other cosmetic procedures.
Comparing Multiple Surgeons
Get at least 3 consultations before committing. Create a comparison framework.
| Evaluation Criteria | Surgeon A | Surgeon B | Surgeon C |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISHRS member? | |||
| Board certified? | |||
| Years in hair restoration | |||
| Procedures per week | |||
| Recommended graft count | |||
| Technique (FUE/FUT/DHI) | |||
| Total cost | |||
| Portfolio quality (1-10) | |||
| Consultation thoroughness (1-10) | |||
| Reviews score (1-5) |
If graft count recommendations vary by more than 30% between surgeons (for example, one says 2,000 and another says 3,500), dig deeper. The divergence may indicate that one surgeon is over-prescribing for revenue, or that another is being conservative to protect the donor area.
Domestic vs. International Surgeons
Choosing between a local surgeon and a clinic abroad (Turkey, Thailand, India) adds another layer of evaluation. International clinics at $1-2 per graft offer massive cost savings, but vetting requires additional diligence since you cannot easily visit the clinic in advance.
For international clinics, apply the same six criteria plus: verify the clinic has JCI accreditation or equivalent, confirm the named surgeon (not just the clinic brand), and request video consultations before committing.
For a detailed comparison of FUE and FUT techniques and how they affect your surgeon choice, see the FUE vs FUT comparison. To understand your hair loss stage before your consultation, review the Norwood scale guide.
Starting your surgeon search? Upload a photo at myhairline.ai/analyze for a free AI assessment of your Norwood stage and graft estimate to bring to your consultations.
FAQ
What qualifications should a hair transplant surgeon have?
A qualified hair transplant surgeon should hold board certification in dermatology or plastic surgery, maintain active ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) membership, have at least 5 years of dedicated hair restoration experience, and be able to provide a portfolio of before-and-after results with 12-month follow-up photos.
How do I verify a hair transplant surgeon's credentials?
Verify ISHRS membership at ishrs.org/find-a-doctor. Check board certification through the American Board of Medical Specialties (abms.org) for US surgeons. Review the surgeon's profile on RealSelf, Google Reviews, and Trustpilot for independent patient feedback. Ask the clinic directly for their medical license number and verify it with the relevant state or national medical board.
How many consultations should I get before choosing a surgeon?
Get at least 3 consultations from different surgeons before making a decision. This allows you to compare graft count recommendations, pricing, technique approaches, and communication styles. Significant variation in recommended graft counts (more than 30% difference) between surgeons is a signal that further evaluation is needed.