The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) recently issued a warning to patients regarding the increasing number of hair transplant procedures being performed by unqualified doctors and untrained personnel.
Specifically, the ISHRS describes this as a growing global epidemic, with procedures often carried out in unauthorized facilities that not only fail to meet basic hygiene and safety standards, but also pose a serious risk to public health.
The Society further explains that this troubling phenomenon is becoming more common in countries where legislation is lax regarding ethical and proper medical practices, and where regulatory oversight is either weak or non-existent, allowing such illegal operations to continue unchecked.
Low-Cost, Mass Hair Transplants – What’s Really Behind Them?
The seriousness of this issue becomes even more evident when we consider that it affects a large number of people around the world who are seeking solutions to hair loss.
In response, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) launched a global awareness campaign aimed at informing the public and protecting individuals from the hidden risks that can lie behind what may seem like a “simple” hair transplant procedure.
This initiative is coordinated by two dedicated committees, comprised of internationally recognized experts in the field of hair restoration, including Dr. Paul T. Rose, MD, JD (a globally renowned, multi-award-winning physician with extensive research and publications), and Dr. Robert S. Haber, MD.
According to the ISHRS, individuals considering hair transplant surgery should be especially cautious of the following:
- Doctors and advertisements that use misleading marketing language suggesting that hair transplantation is “non-surgical,” “scar-free,” “non-invasive,” or offers an “unlimited number of grafts.” Such claims are often deceptive and medically inaccurate.
- Doctors without proper credentials. A growing number of clinics assign hair transplant procedures to unlicensed, non-medical staff. While some doctors publicly display certifications, they may delegate the actual procedure to unauthorized individuals, putting patients’ health—and even lives—at serious risk. As a result, many patients don’t even know who will be performing their surgery, and often, it’s not someone they personally selected or approved.
It is important to highlight that this critical issue, which concerns thousands of Greek patients as well, is being actively addressed by the Communications & Public Education Committee and the Ad Hoc Committee on Issues Pertaining to the Unlicensed Practice of Medicine. These committees are taking concrete steps with the primary goal of raising awareness and exposing the truth behind low-cost, mass-market hair transplant procedures.
More specifically, the Ad Hoc Committee on Issues Pertaining to the Unlicensed Practice of Medicine focuses on complications and risks arising from procedures performed by unqualified or non-medical personnel.
Notably, among the ten members of this committee, there is only one Greek hair transplant surgeon, Dr. Konstantinos Anastassakis, MD, PhD, who actively contributes to this important international initiative.
Dr. Konstantinos Anastassakis – The Greek Chair of the ISHRS Ambassadors for Patient Safety Subcommittee
The appointment of Dr. Konstantinos Anastassakis by the ISHRS is far from coincidental. He is one of the most vocal voices internationally against hair transplant procedures performed by non-physicians, consistently highlighting the serious risks these pose to patients.
Dr. Anastassakis is a strong advocate of the ISHRS’s mission and one of its most active members worldwide. Among his many initiatives is the “APOKATASTASI” pro bono program, which offers free corrective procedures to patients who have undergone poor-quality hair transplants in the past.
He also leads ongoing educational efforts, regularly publishing informative articles, newsletters, visual content, and over 200 educational videos, answering common questions and addressing concerns related to hair transplantation.
His work has gained international recognition, culminating in his appointment as ISHRS Ambassador and Chair of the ISHRS Ambassadors for Patient Safety Subcommittee. In this role, he informs the ISHRS on legal and regulatory issues related to hair restoration surgery, and actively reports on unethical or illegal practices carried out by non-medical personnel.
Dr. Anastassakis is also the first hair transplant surgeon in Greece to bring attention to the issue of misleading advertising in the field of hair restoration, and to openly condemn procedures being performed by unlicensed, non-medical individuals.
He emphasizes:
“At the ISHRS, our members are internationally recognized hair transplant surgeons, and we are committed to properly informing the public about their options.”
He further warns:
“Choosing to undergo a hair transplant in a country where procedures are carried out by unlicensed, non-medical staff—who illegally perform medical procedures—puts patients’ safety at serious risk.”
As a member of the ISHRS Communications & Public Education Committee, Dr. Anastassakis explains:
“Our goal is to educate the public about ethical and medically sound hair transplant practices.”
He also points out that:
“It often starts with a combination of desperation due to hair loss, brainwashing from misleading ads, and the overwhelming urge to ‘save money at all costs’.”
Dr. Anastassakis continues:
“The FUE hair transplant technique has been promoted as the new solution that is supposedly ‘non-surgical,’ ‘painless,’ ‘bloodless,’ ‘suture-free,’ and ‘scar-free.’ And people believe these claims.”
But, as he clarifies:
“That’s simply not true. These are exaggerations at best—and outright lies at worst. And I say this officially, as a representative of ELAMAT (Hellenic Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) and as a board-certified hair transplant surgeon (Diplomate) of the ABHRS (American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery).”
The Misleading Terms You Should Watch Out for in Hair Transplant Advertising
According to Dr. Anastassakis, terms such as “painless,” “no scars,” “no incision,” “no touch,” “no cutting,” and “non-invasive” are prohibited in hair transplant advertising by the only globally recognized scientific bodies, the ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) and the ABHRS (American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery).
Those who promote FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) using such misleading claims are deliberately downplaying the seriousness and medical nature of the procedure. Their goal, as Dr. Anastassakis explains, is to discourage patients from raising concerns, especially when they realize that their procedure is being performed by a nurse or assistant—not a licensed physician.
In Greece, consumers are constantly exposed to “miracle techniques,” as well as false claims of “expertise and specialization” coming from unrelated sectors, such as weight-loss centers or wig shops. Additionally, unrealistically low prices are often used to lure in patients, ultimately undermining the value and safety of hair transplant procedures.
But the most critical issue for any patient considering a hair transplant in Greece is to verify whether the person performing the procedure is actually a licensed doctor—and whether they hold the proper credentials and specialization in hair restoration.
Choose your hair transplant surgeon with extreme care.
Hair Transplantation: A Highly Specialized Procedure Where There Is No Room for Error
Hair transplantation is a highly complex and technically demanding procedure, where there is absolutely no margin for error from start to finish. Every single follicular unit that is transplanted must survive and grow—or it is lost forever.
If the procedure is not performed correctly, any hair follicles that fail to grow are permanently destroyed. In practical terms, this means that if the wrong choices are made early on, no amount of money can fix the damage later, because donor follicles are limited and cannot be replaced once lost.
That’s why the decision must be made calmly and wisely, long before choosing whose hands you will entrust with your procedure.
So, will you choose a clinic where non-specialized or unqualified doctors perform surgery at a so-called “bargain” price?
Or will you choose a certified and highly specialized hair transplant surgeon—someone who will personally perform your procedure and deliver results that will last a lifetime?
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