Renowned Physicians Participated in the ISHRS FUE Workshop
The world’s leading hair transplant surgeons gathered in Istanbul for the ISHRS FUE Cadaver Hands-On & Live Surgery Regional Workshop.
This prestigious event was held under the auspices of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) and is recognized as one of the most significant global workshops in the field of hair transplantation.
Beyond the growing popularity of the FUE technique in recent years, a major focus of the workshop was on the alarming trend of FUE procedures being performed by non-physicians.
To address this issue, discussions centered around the following key solutions:
- Continuous training and specialization of medical professionals
- Intensive public awareness and education
Through these initiatives, ISHRS and its members aim to safeguard patient health and significantly reduce the incidence of poor outcomes in hair transplant procedures.
The only Greek physician invited to speak and teach at this high-level conference was Dr. Konstantinos Anastassakis, MD, PhD.
We took the opportunity to speak with Dr. Anastassakis, who shared his insights on the event and on the FUE method—arguably the most popular hair transplantation technique in recent years.
Q: Tell us a few words about the conference in Istanbul.
Dr. Anastassakis:
This is a unique Live Surgery Workshop, as it is exclusively dedicated to the Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) technique. It spans three full days of lectures, hands-on training, and live surgeries, meaning real hair transplant procedures performed on actual patients.
The main goal, of course, is to provide in-depth training and specialization for physicians and medical staff in this advanced and highly demanding technique.
Q: What is your role in this workshop?
Dr. Anastassakis:
The organizers have honored me with the responsibility of delivering lectures and serving as a coordinator during the workshop.
The event has a strong educational focus, and I am truly honored to have been selected to train fellow physicians in the proper and ethical practice of the FUE technique.
Additionally, as part of the lecture sessions, I am participating with three presentations:
«Hairline design & Live demo»
This session focuses on the design of the frontal hairline—commonly referred to as the “hairline.”
I explain the key principles behind proper hairline design, emphasizing the aesthetic, anatomical, and technical factors that must be considered to achieve a natural and harmonious result.
«Principles of Safety and Long-Range Decision Making»
This presentation highlights the critical importance of patient safety during hair transplant procedures, as well as the vital role of long-term strategic planning in achieving successful and sustainable results.
Establishing a long-term strategy is essential to avoid one of the most common issues in hair transplantation—often caused by lack of experience or proper training: the progression of hair loss while the donor area has been depleted, leaving no sufficient grafts available to restore cosmetically significant areas.
You’ve probably seen individuals with a shaved head and a visible scar on the back—right?
These are classic examples of patients who have fallen victim to poor surgical planning and lack of foresight.
«Recipient Site Planning, Instrumentation and Creation, Graft Placement»
This presentation focuses on the planning and creation of recipient sites—the tiny incisions in the recipient area where follicular grafts are implanted.
Each of the thousands of sites must be crafted with precise variation in depth, angle, direction, and orientation, so that the transplanted hairs grow in a way that perfectly mimics the patient’s natural hair.
And this is exactly where the artistry of the surgeon comes into play: replicating nature with the same precision and sensitivity as a painter or sculptor recreates it in their work.
Q: Doctor, which technique do you personally prefer?
Dr. Anastassakis:
First, let me clarify a common misconception—the “myth” that I do not support the FUE technique is completely false. FUE is an excellent method and a powerful tool in the hands of the modern hair restoration surgeon. However, it should not be applied indiscriminately to every patient. It must be used selectively, in cases where it can truly deliver a natural and aesthetically optimal outcome.
At my clinic, I perform all three techniques: FUE, FUT, and Body Hair FUE, consistently achieving outstanding results.
The key to success lies in selecting the right technique for each individual patient, based on their specific needs and long-term goals.
Q: What is behind the growing popularity of the FUE technique?
Dr. Anastassakis:
To be perfectly honest, the main reason behind the rising popularity of FUE is misleading and aggressive marketing, often driven purely by financial motives. Many clinics, both abroad and in Greece, promote FUE using deceptive claims such as “scarless,” “non-invasive,” “no shaving,” or “bloodless” procedures—none of which reflect the reality of medical practice.
In many of these centers, it is often unclear whether licensed physicians are actually performing the procedures, or whether they are even legally authorized to do so.
These so-called “clinics” offer dangerously low-cost packages with fixed pricing for everyone, promising to transplant as many grafts as possible in a single day using the FUE method—without proper medical evaluation, customization, or safety protocols.
Tragically, we recently witnessed yet another death resulting from complications after a hair transplant procedure performed in such a center.
Unfortunately, over the past decade, both in Greece and internationally, we have seen a dramatic rise in FUE procedures being performed by non-physicians—a deeply troubling and dangerous trend.
Equally alarming is the fact that many of these operations are carried out in non-medical environments, where even basic hygiene and safety standards are not observed.
Q: How does the hair transplant surgeon community address the issues you described?
Dr. Anastassakis:
Over 1,100 hair transplant surgeons from 70 countries worldwide, coordinated by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), are actively engaged in a comprehensive campaign aimed at educating patients and the public about the so-called “black market” in the hair transplantation industry.
This illicit market must be combated by all available means.
At the core of this problem lie illegal clinics that advertise low-cost procedures but lack the qualified medical staff and adequate facilities necessary to safely perform these surgeries.
Continuous vigilance from the scientific community is essential in order to inform and educate the public about the real scientific facts and standards in modern hair transplantation.
Only through this process can patients make well-informed choices, ensuring that their hair transplant results bring them satisfaction and confidence
About Dr. Konstantinos Anastassakis, MD, PhD:
Head and Neck Surgeon, specialized in Hair Restoration Surgery.
Member of the Board of Directors, ABHRS; Member of ISHRS; President of ELAMAT (Hellenic Academy of Hair Transplantation & Restoration).
For more information or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Konstantinos Anastassakis, MD, PhD, please contact his clinic at: Alexandras Avenue 57, Athens Appointments available daily by appointment only Phone: +30 210-8011000
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