The Hidden Dangers of Online Hair Transplant Message Boards
December 11, 2007 | By admin
Were do you get your medical information? We’ll if you’re living in the 21st century and reading this article the answer is probably the internet. As a matter of fact, the world wide web is the most widely used source for medical information both by medical professionals and the lay public.
Did you ever ask yourself where this information came from or if it’s even accurate?
Well if you’re researching surgical hair restoration you should. Just like any other industry selling a product or service, the hair transplant field is a fiercely competitive business. It is a field of cosmetic surgery that is almost completely unregulated. Any doctor who has a valid medical license can claim that they are an expert hair transplant surgeon and market themselves to the unsuspecting public as a “leader” in the field.
For many years large hair transplant chains have been buying the public’s opinion through advertising on late night television. Now a much less expensive, yet more sophisticated marketing vehicle has been created…the online message forum.
Before we go on, it’s important to note that the internet can be a wonderful source of empowering hair transplant information. Information that just a few years ago was unavailable to the general public. Message forums were originally created to foster the free exchange of information among forum users without the confusion of marketing hype. Perspective hair transplant patients were encouraged to ask questions and engage in discussion about anything and everything concerning hair restoration. However there was one problem: Where and from whom was this information coming from?
Answers to questions about delicate and complicated surgeries were being provided by anonymous posters. As these forums grew, the opinions of a few became the gospel to many. Heated discussions about the intricacies of follicular unit transplantation were being discussed by laymen, who in some cases learned what they were writing from the very message forums they were posting on. Even though much of the information being exchanged was the opinion of a few active posters, who may or may not have had any medical background, for the most part these forums were doing some good. Perspective patients were being warned of the less than ethical practices that permeated the field and were being guided to some of the more reputable physicians.
Fast foreword to today. What was once thought to be a safe place to learn about hair loss and hair transplantation has become a breeding ground for gorilla marketers posing as actual patients posting about their life changing experience with one particular hair transplant clinic or another. Post after post is being made by clinic representatives showcasing their clinic’s work followed by either glowing comments from their camp, or critical comments obviously from the camp of their competitors. Of course all of these comments are being made by anonymous posters.
The sad truth is that this once wonderful resource of information for people trying to help themselves, and to learn more about the hair transplant process has become corrupted. The good news is that these message forums can still be very useful, but users just have to learn how to read between the lines and to NEVER take the word of an anonymous poster too seriously.
Even with all the self promotion, much of the information being presented can give you a very good basic education about hair transplantation. The one positive theme of many of these forums is to STAY AWAY form the big chain clinics. So even though these companies have infiltrated the forums, many of the legitimate posters warn users of the potential disastrous consequences of having surgery performed by hair transplant mills.
A good rule of thumb when using hair transplant message forums is to look for The American Hair Loss Association certification seal. 
Also once you’ve done your research check with the AHLA to make sure that the information that you have come away with is accurate, and that physician or clinic you are considering having surgery with is recommended by the American Hair Loss Association.
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I have to agree with this arctce. I researched message forums for over a year before I had surgery. I was swayed by posters from every angle. After using a well known UK hair transplant forum ,I made the decision to go to Dr. Rogers. He was represented on this forum by several posters and I think a consultant. These posters convinced be that he was a world class surgeon. It is now well the past the point that I should have good results and I have nothing. The pain of the surgery was very bad and I fear the outcome will be even worse. I will never trust the opinion of these message forums and will always consider the source
I wish I had found this organization before having surgery. I hope my comments help others.