About Our Consultations

Scheduling a Consult

To schedule an in-person hair loss consultation, you may either fill out the Consultations form or call us at (212) 826-2400. Our front office staff will do their best to accommodate your schedule and assist you with general questions.

Before Your Consult

Prior to your hair loss consultation, it is necessary to provide basic information and medical history. Since Bernstein Medical uses a paperless system, you can submit this online at your convenience. If you do not have an opportunity to do so in advance, please plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled consultation. At that time, our staff will provide you with an iPad or, if you prefer, paper forms.

Patients often ask if they need to bring anything to their appointment (e.g. photos of you with a full head of hair, photographs of your mother’s father, or hair samples). It is not necessary to bring anything with you to your appointment.

Consultation with the Doctor

Your evaluation will be with one of our board-certified physicians. We do not have consultants or salespeople. The doctor will listen to your concerns regarding your hair loss, take a careful history, and ask you about your expectations for hair restoration and other pertinent information. You will have plenty of opportunity in the consult to ask any questions that you may have about your hair loss and its treatment.

Densitometry

The doctor may examine your scalp using a video densitometer. This device magnifies your scalp and allows the doctor to see naturally-occurring groups of hairs called follicular units. The densitometer is connected to a computer display, which enables you to visualize your scalp as the physician explains your hair loss in detail.

Through this device, we can determine your hair density (the number of hairs per square centimeter) and the degree of miniaturization of those hairs. In miniaturization, healthy full-thickness hairs, which are susceptible to the hormone DHT, shorten and thin over time and eventually disappear. The degree of miniaturization can be an indicator of future hair loss. It is important to determine if there are signs of miniaturization in the donor area (in the back of the scalp) when considering hair transplant surgery.

Diagnosis & Discussion

After you are examined, the doctor will diagnose your hair loss and offer specific treatment recommendations, which may include medical, surgical, and/or topical treatments. It is important to note that physicians at Bernstein Medical will only recommend treatments based on what they think are your best options taking into account your age, and your present and anticipated degree of hair loss.

Treatment Options

If medical treatment is appropriate, Propecia (finasteride), Rogaine (minoxidil), laser therapy, and other options will be discussed in detail. If you are a candidate for hair restoration surgery, the doctor will explain the differences between the two major hair restoration procedures, follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE), and suggest which one would be best for you. Robotic technology for FUE will also be discussed. You will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions about these procedures. Together with the doctor, you will develop a master plan that is tailored to address your current and future needs.

Conclusion

The hair loss consultation should take about half an hour. Upon leaving your consult you will have a much better understanding of the causes of your hair loss, its state, and specific courses of treatment. Printed information will be provided when appropriate. Payment for the consultation is expected at the conclusion of the consult. Medical insurance is not accepted, however, our staff will provide you with a form that you can submit to your insurance carrier.

If would like to set up an appointment, you may fill out our Consultations Form or call us at (212) 826-2400.