Founded in 1996, The British Association of Hair Restoration Surgeons (now British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery – BAHRS) published its Constitution, setting its objective as to ‘promote the understanding and reputation of hair restoration surgery in the United Kingdom’.
Today, the hair transplant market has grown into a formidable economy as demand has continued to grow.
But, as the popularity has grown, so has the level of malpractice.
Illicit clinics have continued to mislead the public and prey upon them. Unfortunately, cosmetic practice continues to be one of the few areas of medicine and healthcare that is massively unregulated in the UK and the rest of the world.
Because of this, those interested in undertaking a hair transplant procedure are urged to research the background of the clinics and surgeons they are considering.
Below are some of the most important things to look out for.
The following terminology should be avoided by patients;
- cosmetic surgeon
- cosmetic doctor
- cosmetic physician
Cosmetic medicine and surgery are recognised practices; however, they are not medical terms.
The BAHRS prefers to refer to its practitioners as a ‘Hair Transplant Surgeon’ rather than ‘Hair Transplant Doctor’.
As well as terminology, it's essential to check the legitimacy of before and after shots of their previous work. Of course, this could easily be faked so look out for giveaways such as different lighting, angles and locations in the photos.
When speaking with a clinician, ask them technical questions about hair transplants
Do you dissect grafts using a stereo-microscope?
Are all the technicians experienced with using this type of equipment?
Do you work with a single-bladed knife to extract from the donor area?
If you are still not convinced, then it is perfectly reasonable to ask to speak with former patients or colleagues.
An Introduction to Dr Shamalak, Head Surgeon at Crown Clinic
Dr Shahmalak is widely renowned within the hair transplant industry. He established Crown Clinic in 2007 after a distinguished career in general surgery and has a reputation as a responsible, skilled and experienced professionals.
After completing his initial training in 1990, he moved to the Republic of Ireland to take up a post as a Senior House Officer in General Surgery before becoming a Specialist Registrar in general surgery.
He became a member of the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) in 1995 before moving to the UK in 1996 where he worked as a general surgeon in the NHS for 15 years.
In 2005, he began working privately as a hair transplant surgeon. Today he is a leading consultant, working to an exceptionally high standard. His procedures involve the use of 8x magnification and can include up to 3,000 grafts per session.
If you like to arrange a consultation with Dr Shahmalak or find out more about his skills and experience as a hair transplant surgeon contact us today on 0345 2 100 300.