Key takeaways
- A hair restoration consultation is a medical evaluation first. Its main job is to find out why you are losing hair.
- Expect questions about your history, a close scalp exam, and possibly blood work, before any treatment is recommended.
- Bringing a medication list, a timeline of your hair loss, and a few older photos makes the visit more useful.
- Options may range from medication and in-office treatments to a robotic-assisted hair transplant, depending on your diagnosis and donor hair.
- Cost depends on the treatment, the number of sessions, and ongoing maintenance. Ask for a written estimate before you commit.
A hair restoration consultation, sometimes called a hair replacement consultation, is an evaluation to figure out what is causing your hair loss and which options, if any, make sense for you. At Gold Skin Care Center's Global Center for Hair Restoration, that evaluation comes before any treatment recommendation. You should leave with a clearer diagnosis, a sense of your options, and no pressure to decide on the spot.
Here is what typically happens, how to prepare, and what to ask about cost.
What happens during the consultation
Your history
Expect questions about when you first noticed hair loss, whether it came on gradually or suddenly, and whether it runs in your family. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, how long you've had hair loss and how quickly it developed are important clues to the cause. You'll also be asked about recent illness, surgery, childbirth, stress, weight changes, and medications, since all of these can affect hair.
A close look at your scalp and hair
Your provider will examine your scalp, hairline, part, and crown, and may look at your nails and other areas with hair loss. A gentle pull test shows how your hair is growing and whether it breaks easily. Some providers use a magnifying instrument called a dermatoscope for a closer look at the scalp and follicles.
Possible tests
If a medical cause such as a vitamin deficiency, hormone imbalance, or thyroid problem is suspected, blood work may be recommended. Less often, a small scalp biopsy helps confirm the diagnosis. Not everyone needs testing.
Your diagnosis and options
Once the likely cause is clear, your provider will explain it and walk you through the options that fit. If a hair transplant is a possibility, part of the discussion is whether you have enough healthy donor hair and whether your pattern of loss is a good match for the procedure.
Who you'll see
Care at the Global Center for Hair Restoration is provided under the supervision of board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michael H. Gold, who founded Gold Skin Care Center in 1990. The practice's clinical team includes physician assistants and a nurse practitioner, and you can meet our providers before your visit. If it matters to you who performs your evaluation, ask when you book.
How to prepare
A few minutes of preparation makes the consultation far more useful:
- A medication and supplement list, including anything you started or stopped in the past year
- A rough timeline of when you first noticed thinning or shedding, and whether it has changed
- Family history of hair loss, if you know it
- Older photos that show your hair a few years ago, which can help your provider judge how quickly things are changing
- Recent lab results, such as thyroid or iron tests, if you have them
- Your goals, whether that's slowing shedding, filling in a specific area, or understanding what's happening
Wear your hair the way you normally do so your provider can see your usual part and hairline. New patients can download the new patient paperwork and complete it ahead of time.
Options you may discuss
What's recommended depends on your diagnosis, how advanced your hair loss is, and your goals. Many plans combine more than one approach. Options at the Global Center for Hair Restoration include:
- Medical management with prescription and topical treatments. Some FDA-approved hair loss medications, such as topical minoxidil, typically take four to six months to show a visible difference.
- PRP hair therapy, which uses a concentrate of your own platelets. PRP is not FDA-approved for hair loss, and study results vary, so it's worth discussing realistic expectations.
- Light and laser treatments, including the Revian Red light cap, LaseMD Ultra, and FoLix by Lumenis.
- ARTAS® robotic hair transplants, a robotic-assisted follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure that moves individual follicles from a donor area to thinning areas. Candidacy depends on your donor hair and pattern of loss.
For a deeper look at how to weigh providers and treatments, see our guide on how to choose a hair restoration dermatologist.
Understanding cost
Hair restoration costs vary widely, and an honest estimate depends on what your evaluation finds. The main factors are:
- The type of treatment. Medication, in-office sessions, and a transplant differ greatly in cost.
- The number of sessions. PRP and light or laser treatments are usually done as a series.
- The size of the area treated. For a transplant, this relates to how many follicles are moved.
- Maintenance. Hereditary hair loss is ongoing, so many plans include follow-up treatment or long-term medication.
Before you commit to anything, ask for a written estimate of the full plan, including any maintenance. If you want to know whether a consultation fee applies, ask when you book.
After the consultation
You don't need to decide during the visit. A good plan should make sense to you, with clear expectations about timing, risks, and recovery. Many treatments take months to judge, and follow-up visits and photos help track progress over time.
Dr. Gold also leads the Tennessee Clinical Research Center, which has conducted clinical studies on hair loss among many other conditions. Research participation is voluntary, depends on eligibility, and is separate from routine care.
What to do next
If you've noticed thinning, a widening part, a receding hairline, patchy loss, or more shedding than usual, a consultation is the first step. Request an appointment and select "Hair Restoration" as your service of interest, or call (615) 383-2400.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a consultation before starting hair restoration treatment?
Yes. Treatment depends on the cause of your hair loss, and some causes, such as a thyroid problem, a nutritional deficiency, or alopecia areata, are treated very differently from hereditary thinning. The consultation is where that cause is identified.
Is there a fee for a hair restoration consultation?
Consultation fees vary by practice and by visit type. Ask the office when you book so there are no surprises.
Will I need blood work?
Not always. Blood tests are usually recommended when your history or exam suggests a medical cause, such as a thyroid problem, low iron, or a hormone imbalance.
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Results vary, and every treatment carries risks. An appointment with a board-certified dermatologist or qualified dermatology provider is the best way to learn which options are right for you.
