I only had one first hair transplant experience, with Dr. Joel Kassimir in NYC. I recall
he has a checkered reputation on this site. At any rate, in my first two visits, he did (almost) all of the work you described himself. After the third visit, he took care of surgically removing the strips, but his nurses started doing the rest. I can't complain about the results except it's turn (after 10 years) for a fix-up. Hence my concern. I guess your message is to have more limited/relaistic expectations regarding what the "head honcho" takes care of!
I'm also older (64) and hesitate whether enhancements at my age would make much of a difference.