ISHRS Guidelines for Patients Seeking Hair Restoration Surgery

In the interest of patients undergoing hair transplant and other hair restorative procedures, the ISHRS has issued the following recommendations to help protect patients from getting infected with COVID-19 and inform patients of possible modifications that should be expected in their physicians/surgeons’ practices. Where applicable, local governmental instructions regarding the carrying out of hair transplant practice may supersede the recommendations in this document.

(1) Know your health status
Keep informed about signs of infection, how to avoid infection, what to do if you feel you have become infected, and how to protect others.

(2) Follow personal protection guidelines
You should strictly follow all governmental guidelines for stay at home, social distancing, hand sanitizing, and use of masks/facial coverings.

(3) Look for a clinic that is a “COVID-Protected Facility”

A COVID-protected facility…

• Routinely asks patients for a relevant COVID-19 history of their own health and their contacts. It is important that patients provide accurate information.
• Follows social distancing guidelines by limiting contact of patients with one another whether in consultation or in a procedure and will arrange waiting room seating accordingly.
• Uses suitable equipment/PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) as recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or another equivalent governmental agency.
• Routinely uses relevant health histories and daily temperature monitoring of all clinic staff and patients as part of their strategy to prevent contagion. Additionally, and where available, follows all government guidelines on use of testing to monitor staff.
• In addition to using proper PPE, it uses appropriate cleansing, disinfecting and sterilization procedures throughout the office/clinic. Also, uses proper waste disposal methods for any materials that could be contaminated.
• Assures the public that the staff have received additional training with regards to proper COVID-19 infection control methods
• And perhaps most importantly, the surgeon you have chosen is the one performing the surgical steps of your procedure, rather than delegating it to unlicensed technicians.