Check the certifications of hair transplant surgeon before the surgery

Choosing hair restoration clinics Verifying your surgeon's hair restoration accreditations and certifications

Verifying Hair Restoration Surgeon Accreditations and Certifications

Check to see if a surgeon is board certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery. You can verify a doctor’s certification by contacting the American Board of Medical Specialties by telephone at 800-776-2378 or 866-275-2267. You may also want to check with your local library to see if they carry the Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists.

For a fee, you can obtain biographical information from the American Medical Association. For $60, they will provide you with information on four doctors. The AMA also publishes The American Medical Directory which lists the affiliations of its members. To contact the AMA, write to: AMA, Department of Physician Data Services, Dept. P, 515 N. State St, Chicago, IL 60610.

You can also contact the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at 800-635-0635. They will inform you of the members in your area with accredited surgical centers.

You will also want to research the surgical center where the procedure will take place. If the procedure is to take place at a surgical center, first ask who they are accredited by then contact the appropriate association. There are three main associations:

• The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery
  800-545-5222 or 847-949-6058
  
• The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
  847-853-6060
  
• The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
  630-792-5005

Most hair transplants are conducted using just local anesthesia and you remian awake throughout the procedure. However, some forms of hair restoration will involve a general anesthesia and putting you to sleep. If you are to receive general anesthesia, verify that the anesthesiologist is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology, 909-881-2570, or if a nurse anesthetist, call the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, 847-692-7050.