Among the many hair loss solutions being offered today, surgical hair transplants are the most likely to restore natural hair regrowth in areas where the follicles have died. But even though transplant procedures are safe, as well as very effective for a high percentage of patients, they are still surgeries and should be considered carefully. Here are three questions you should ask a prospective hair transplant surgeon before you move forward:

What Kind of Transplant Would Be Best for Me?

There are two kinds of transplants that your doctor is likely to offer. The first is follicular unit transplantation, and is the procedure you’re probably more familiar with. In this method, the doctor removes a strip of scalp from the back of your head, divides it into tiny grafts, and then implants those grafts in a bald spot or along a receding hairline. But you should also ask if you’re a good candidate for follicular unit extraction, or FUE. This method harvests grafts individually, generally leaving no visible scarring. It’s sometimes a bit more expensive; however, since transplant procedures are never cheap when performed by a reputable surgeon, it may be worth it.

Will You Be Performing My Surgery?

Sometimes, a hair transplant surgeon won’t actually be the one running a consultation. Instead, a “medical consultant” will walk you through the process. This is particularly common if a practice offers free consultations — a doctor’s time is valuable. The problem is that consultants aren’t medical professionals, so they can’t give you an assessment of what your individual needs and possible results will be. Even if it means paying a consultation fee, it’s absolutely imperative that you sit down with the doctor who would be performing your surgery. Once you ascertain that you’re talking to the right person, you can also ask about education and years of experience performing the procedure in question.

Can You Show Me Photos of Past Patients?

When looking at before-and-after galleries, make sure that pairs of photos are taken from the same angle and with the same lighting so you know you’re comparing apples to apples. Also ask follow-up questions if details aren’t provided along with the photos: How many grafts did this surgery take? Were all these grafts implanted in a single surgery, or did this take multiple procedures? Make sure you have realistic expectations based on the procedure your hair loss doctor has recommended. You don’t want to end up disappointed, especially since you’ll be investing both money and recovery time into the process.

What else would you want to ask a hair transplant surgeon? Are you considering any alternative hair loss treatments? Join the discussion in the comments.