New Doctors

[chucky]

Hi all

 

Does anyone know when a new doctor comes on the scene how long he is trained by a top doc before he is considered good enough to work on his own.

 

Also when training this doc does he start off by doing work with the training docs techs who will be vastly experienced or does he have his own techs training along side him. Or do they go to the new location and start off fresh as I suppose hiring and training them in another location would be costly. I can see if the new doc is staying at the same clinic with his trainer doc and using the same experienced techs you can feel comfortable with them.

 

But it seems the work and results can be quite different if they had to start with a whole new inexperienced team. I've heard it can take years to properly train techs. I can't imagine there being many experienced techs out of work as their docs will treat them like gold.

 

I was also wondering when people start referring/recomending patients to some of the new doctors what they take into consideration ie own experience,someone they know or what they read on the forums etc as new docs will keep emerging some good some poor.

 

Thanks Bri.

[chucky]

Hi all

 

Does anyone know when a new doctor comes on the scene how long he is trained by a top doc before he is considered good enough to work on his own.

 

Also when training this doc does he start off by doing work with the training docs techs who will be vastly experienced or does he have his own techs training along side him. Or do they go to the new location and start off fresh as I suppose hiring and training them in another location would be costly. I can see if the new doc is staying at the same clinic with his trainer doc and using the same experienced techs you can feel comfortable with them.

 

But it seems the work and results can be quite different if they had to start with a whole new inexperienced team. I've heard it can take years to properly train techs. I can't imagine there being many experienced techs out of work as their docs will treat them like gold.

 

I was also wondering when people start referring/recomending patients to some of the new doctors what they take into consideration ie own experience,someone they know or what they read on the forums etc as new docs will keep emerging some good some poor.

 

Thanks Bri.

[Dewayne]

Chucky,

 

I don't know about ht doctors, but I have a client who was an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist but left and went to a one-year fellowship in plastic surgery and came back - and now will give you a face lift and boob job. He's got a partner but that one specializes in vains.

 

Another internist client of mine did say that most plastic surgeons go through a much more thorough training program than this doc did.

 

But, I think there is some flexability.

[beachair]

veins...

[wylie]

Originally posted by beachair:

veins...

 

Freudian slip, no doubt

[chucky]

Hi Dewayne

What i suppose i was trying to put across is how many of you guys would feel comfortable going to a newish doctor who was trained by a top doc and then went out on his own without the other doctor monitoring his work and his experienced techs.

 

Every doctor has to start somewhere but the general feeling is go to a well established doctor.

 

Any comments guys and girls.

[Bill - Seemiller]

Chucky,

 

Are you referring to the hair transplant industry in general or how physicians are recommended on this site?

 

Unfortunately, there is no hair transplant industry "standard" and physicians can often appear out of thin air without any references of training or where there technicians came from.

 

In recommending physicians in this community however, we take experience (physician and tech), training, and physician rapport very seriously. A physician interested in recommendation must have properly trained and experienced staff, be regularly using up to date techniques (quality follicular unit transplantation) and have to provide evidence of consistent quality through pictures, etc.

 

But as you know, even when we present physicians for recommendation here on this community, it often takes time for patient members to feel comfortable with them to recommend them. Those who don't use the internet as heavily for promotion end up being forgotten and sometimes even questioned as to whether or not they are on par with other leading physicians. That is why what can't be found online, must be sought offline. Patients considering a clinic who aren't as visible online are encouraged to consult with the physician and get a referal list to speak to, view photos of, and meet with their patients if possible.

 

Personally, I wish more of our recommended and Coalition physicians would get more involved in our community. Pat and I regularly encourage them to, but some simply don't have or make the time.

 

Bill

[Dewayne]

Originally posted by wylie:

Originally posted by beachair:

veins...

 

Freudian slip, no doubt

 

You guys are so vein! (lol)

 

We should start a list of words often misspelled on forums;

 

Firstly - is that a word?

loosing - isn't it losing?

vains - duh on me?

 

Most of the time I'm typing very fast and when the wife comes through I tend to hit 'Post Now' instead of proofreading it like I should....

[JoDirt]

Chucky

If a new doctor is on the scene, you can ask about his background and research with his mentor doctor to question about his works. I went with a new doctor but i fired off tons of questions to him about hair which i got from this forum, and based on that I knew he was very knowledgeable in hair transplant. also regarding techs, some techs work as contractors, because the money is a lot better being a contractor than stationing at one clinic. One of the tech that helped with my HT is a contractor for two very prominent coalition doctors on this forum.

I'm a contractor too inthe high tech field and make more money than full time employee in a company, just i get no benefits. =(

[chucky]

Hi Bill

No i`m not asking about doctors being recomended on here,just doctors in general in the hair transplant industry.

 

As some will be trained by top docs from wherever and some will receive training from say a sub par doc.

 

I was just interested to see anyones opinion on when or why they would consider a new doctor who appears as every doctor has to start somewhere.

 

 

Jodirt

 

Thanks for that as i can see your point and i did not think there would be many techs sub contracting out.

 

Thanks Bri.

[Dewayne]

I'll add this about the plastic surgeon (e,n&t doc) that I know, as I go to his clinic, which is mostly a spa specializing in facials, etc. along with some plastic surgery now; for him to laser a small tattoo I have on my ankle from college.

 

The young ladies working there look at all have let him do their tits when he got back, so maybe he practiced on them. But, my point is he went and trained for a year and came back ready to do it.

 

While he is a good doctor, with a good rep., I'd say my choice would be the top guy. My wife is getting her eyes fixed and she's going to the best one around. I suppose for 25% less she could go to this doctor. I'm not saying he wouldn't do excellent, but still he hasn't been doing it long.

[Dr. William Lindsey]

I am intrigued by this thread. My background is Ear Nose and Throat in which I did my residency. After that I, like many doctors-probably the fellow you are discussing-did a one year American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship. Now there are lots of fellowships, and doctors, like everyone, learn at different rates. At the end of my year, I submitted 1974 op notes--thats a ton of experience. Nevertheless, most doctors, me included, learn the most in the first 20 cases that they do completely by themselves. So I will say that it is prudent to go to someone who has a few years "under his belt". Having done 2800 facelifts, 2000 eyelids, 450 noses, 300+ hair transplants, I can say that I am significantly better than I was in 1996 when I just completed my fellowship.

 

However experience isn't everything. Times change, and so do procedures. For example, I learned just at the end of minigrafts and small plugs which worked well for my fellowship director during his 20 years of experience. However, now, we do true follicular unit grafting and use custom made 0.7mm blades to create sites for the grafts, which are dissected by staff using Mantis microscopes only.

 

So in picking doctors to consult with, look at a variety of things. One should be how much experience they have had, another is whether they have evolved their technique over the years, another is results you see at their office or posted on sites like this, and finally, the doctor ought to be someone you think has an honest and realistic approach to the services he offers.

 

We try to put forth an open and honest approach to potential patients, but recognize that some patients will NOT be candidates. They may have unrealistic expectations, other medical issues, or occasionally not enough donor hair for the treatment they need.

 

We would rather NOT do surgery until both the patient and doctor are prepared, than to sell someone something that is not appropriate for them.

 

So, do research on sites like this, check out the doctors' sites for before and after pictures, and go for consultations with the doctor in person.

 

Good luck,

 

Dr. Lindsey www.lindseymedical.com

[NervousNelly]

Dr. Lindsey,

 

I wondered about your response on this thread. For a physician to do 300 HT's in 12 years is really not demonstrating a lot of experience in my opinion. Here you state 300, but on your website you mention that you have over 1000 satisfied patients? Not to put you on the spot, but this sites main purpose is for public accountability of physicians. Welcome to the forum.

[Guest Martin E.Tessler M.D.]

Let me comment on the previous posts

1. It is critical to train with a reputable, up-to-date physician who performs many surgeries.

 

2. A good surgeon can learn the technical aspects of doing hair transplant surgery in a one year period.

 

3. What they can't learn quickly is what to do or not to do on a broad range of patients. The experience of doing many cases over many years and having the opportunity to see the results years later is critical.

 

4. Our staff is a very important element in our ability to get the results that we achieve. It takes a long time to train a new staff person. They must work regularly to keep their skills intact, as we all do.

[Dr. William Lindsey]

NN,

 

Thanks for the welcome. To review my comments in other blogs, I did very few hair transplants while I was on faculty as an assistant professor at the University of Virginia and subsequently George Washington University. I was mainly a reconstructive surgeon. But after going into private practice in 2001 I began to increase my hair practice. Dr. Tessler's comment is correct that a new surgeon doesn't have the experience to know how to avoid problems and may not have seen his results "grow in". Dr. Tessler's comments also address staffing requirements. To get back to your query, it took me several years to get 1. consistent staffing and 2. consistent calls for hair work. Now I feel that we have reached the point where we have EXCELLENT staff using all microscope dissection, and a track record of highly satisfied patients--some of whom post on this and other sites. Lastly, I proudly acknowledge the large volume of facial plastic surgical patients that I have worked with and include them as satisfied patients. And I have stated that I am transitioning to focus on hair, now that the staffing, track record, and business demand is allowing.

 

You brought up a valid issue, one that I have addressed elsewhere as well on this and 2 other sites. I hope that this helps.

 

Dr. Lindsey Reston, VA

[Dr. Alan Feller]

All hair transplant practices talk a good game. Almost all claim to be "the best" or "pioneering". However, I find a very precious few actually post thier RESULTS on a regular and ongoing basis.

 

All the very worst clinics in the world PRIOR to internet exposure tauted their "experience", "credenitals", and "training". And these clinics produced some of the most pitiful results in the history of the hair transplant industry. These clinics, in fact, had a strangle hold on the field until independent clinics with a drive to excel broke their monopoly through consistent use of the internet.

 

Consistent posting of patient results along with full transparency is the modern measure of an HT clinics worth. That's the whole purpose of this site and ones like it.

 

Credentials and training are necessary to obtain licensure and a basic level of competence, but thanks to the internet they are no longer enough. NOW, doctors have a positive duty to participate on forums such as this one to demonstrate the level and CONSISTENCY of their skills.

 

MOST HT clinics shutter at this reality and shy away. Why do you think this is?

[chucky]

Thanks to all the doctors who have taken time to reply to this post.Not forgetting the members who have posted as well.

Its good to see what the doctors think and have to say on certain issues and questions.

 

Again many thanks.