Time to skimp?
Will you be okay if your store has sold out of your brand of bread and you are forced to toss the store brand in the cart instead? Yes, you will. If you don’t enjoy the taste as much, it likely won’t ruin your year. Your sandwiches will be slightly different until the loaf is gone. It is a simple low-risk decision.
But what about a more meaningful decision of who should perform your hair transplant procedure? How can you tell you’ll be getting quality? Hint – it’s not in the price alone.
Experience
Everyone has a first day on the job. A new surgeon does not mean they are a bad surgeon at all. It simply means it’s too soon to tell and they have yet to face challenges and the opportunities to be tested. Surgery is not the best field to learn by being tossed in the fire to see how you perform.
A surgeon who has been on the job for a decade, however, has seen just about every curve ball in the arsenal and remains in business because all the obstacles have been overcome. The workflow is down pat, the results are solid, and there is more time for a personal approach where a client’s questions can be answered by the surgeon instead of someone else on staff.
Price
In the area of hair transplant, there is almost always a direct correlation between price and the level of satisfaction. If the price is higher, it usually means the office simply has the most up-to-date equipment and training. There are not many who would be able to survive in the industry if they had high prices accompanied by terrible reviews or bad word of mouth. They would cease to bring in new business and eventually would have to close the doors.
The most costly options in a given city are usually ones with very high office rent located in a wealthy part of the city, with overly expensive furniture designed for clients who don’t mind paying more. Some people end up paying double to be serviced by a “celebrity” doctor or to be picked up in a limo, but the results are rarely the same or better than an experienced and well-reviewed doctor. In other words, sitting on a designer sofa in the waiting room may be nice for the short amount of time spent on it, but is it worth paying double when it has nothing to do with the actual procedure and success?
On the flip side, there is no “Amazon Choice” or “Made in China” option to save a few dollars on. Trust me that no one says, “I went to get my hair transplant at that new place that was $100 cheaper.” It’s not a thing. That would be a high risk, low reward experience if you gambled on something this important. You will find the best reviewed offices are not boutique and are not high discount, but ones with doctors who are experienced and have the results to show.
Word of Mouth
Asking others about hair transplant is not the same as asking about a product. We’re more likely to ask someone’s opinion (or even post the question on social media) about a restaurant recommendation for Mexican food, for example. While you don’t mind if everyone knows you eat chimichangas, you are likely not as forthcoming with sharing that you’d like to get a hair transplant. Most of us are trying to recover what Mother Nature has shorted us and we don’t care for the world to know our secret. Premature hair loss has always had a social stigma attached to it for some reason, although it’s out of our control.
Thankfully, people are more willing to share now than in the past, and word of mouth can come from close friends, co-workers, or family members who are proud of their results that have made them feel better about themselves. It has turned more into a badge of honor than with previous generations.
It’s In The Details
Modern medical offices have changed in the past couple decades. When you visit the doctor, you are more likely going to be seen by the “next available doctor” regardless of whether or not it’s the same person you saw last time or the time before. Offices now resemble an assembly line for the sake of efficiency and seeing the most patients possible in a given day. This turns out to be convenient for the practice, but not for the individual seeking treatment. We end up explaining our medical situation over and over to new faces and it becomes frustrating.
Additionally, there are offices where the technicians perform 100% of the procedure instead of the doctor. This may be cheaper, but is illegal.
At my office, your procedure will be performed by my staff and me. I do not share an office with other doctors for several reasons. I can transplant hair professionally, but I cannot transplant the knowledge and experience to another doctor/partner. There is no crossing the fingers hoping to see Dr. Williams. You will see me without any luck being involved.
Conclusion
Be wary of those who advertise like some mattress stores. You know the ones – “This week only, going out of business, low prices.” Those stores are usually there for years with the same bright signage and cheap tricks. An office advertising extremely low rates is forced to see many more clients in a day in order to recuperate costs and the results will likely appear rushed as well.
The time for clipping coupons is at the grocery store, never for medical procedures. Please take your time with this very important life decision and do not be swayed by flashy marketing. More often than not, you truly get what you pay for.If you have any questions about hair restoration or hair loss, or would like to schedule a consultation, contact us to schedule an appointment.
