The results of the annual survey of members of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery are out and they shine the light on a profession that is growing is size, scope and expertise.

 

A total of 176 ISHRS members responded to the ISHRS 2011 Practice Census, resulting in a margin of error for the sample within +/- 6.4 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. The survey was conducted by Relevant Research, Inc., an independent third party that was hired by ISHRS.

 

We'll just pull out a few of the findings that we think are of particular value for the hair loss community to be aware of.

 

1. A trend that we have been reporting on for the past year -- the normalization of hair restoration with more openness and acceptance -- appears to be accelerating. Just over half (56.4%) of members said their patients would be ‘more likely’ to discuss their hair restoration as they were in 2008, while more than one-third said they would be ‘just as likely’ to discuss their hair restoration surgery as they were in 2008. Only 7.4% responded that their patients would be ‘less likely’ to discuss their hair restoration procedures as they were in 2008. This is great news for those experiencing hair loss because it indicates that there is no reason to feel ashamed of doing whatever you feel is best to regain your confidence.

 

2. Members reported that most patients (85.4%) sought treatment due to genetic hair loss, followed by reconstructive needs (7.2%) and post-cosmetic surgery needs (5.0%).

 

3. As Dr. Arocha predicted in late 2010, members said they expected the next technological leap in hair restoration to involve cloning. The most common predictions for the next technological leap in hair restoration included cloning / stem cells / cell therapy / cell growth / tissue engineering (54.3%), followed by mechanization / FUE / nano surgery / automation (28.6%) and prevention (2.9%). Other responses included ‘improved storage solution’ and ‘pharmaceutical treatment.’

 

4. Based on the survey findings, the ISHRS estimates that there were a total of 101,252 hair restoration surgical procedures (hair transplants) performed in the United States in 2010. Scalp hair transplants were the most common, of course, with a total of 94,343 procedures performed. The second most common procedure was eyebrow transplant,  with 3,931 performed.

 

5. On average, about half (50%) of members performed 1,000 to 1,999 grafts per session to achieve the desired hair restoration result. The average number of grafts performed per session was 1,842 and the median was 1,800.

 

6. Relatively smallish sessions like that might be the reason tha the average number of prcedures performed to achieve the desired hair restoration result was 2.1. Arocha Hair Restoration typically tries to perform all the work in a single session, which is more cost-effiient for the patient. The survey fund that the median was 1.0 procedure and more than half (57%) of members reported performing an average of one procedure to achieve the desired hair restoration result.

 

7. The average age of the youngest hair restoration patient at ISHRS member practices in 2010 was 22 years old, with the majority (89.1%) of youngest patient ages being between 18 to 30 years old. The average age of the oldest hair restoration patient at ISHRS member practices in 2010 was 65 years old, with the majority (89.5%) of oldest patients being between 50 to 80 years old.

 

8. The majority of first time hair restoration patients were between 30 and 49 years old (83%). On average, first time hair restoration patients were 38 years old.

 

If you have an interest in what is happening in hair restoration field, you will surely find plenty of interesting and valuable information in the ISHRS 2011 Practice Census.

 

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