Dr. Marco Barusco Applauds Push to Educate Patients of Dangers of Unlicensed Technicians Performing Hair Restoration Surgery
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons (ISHRS), a not-for-profit medical association focused on medical and surgical outcomes excellence in the field of hair restoration, recently issued a consumer alert warning patients of the risk of having hair restoration surgery performed by an unlicensed technician.
Dr. Marco Barusco, a board-certified surgeon with Tempus Hair Restoration, applauds this push to educate patients of the importance of working with a licensed physician or licensed allied health professional practicing within the scope of their license.
A growing number of spas and medical offices are using unlicensed technicians to perform all or some aspects of hair restoration surgery.
This puts patients at risk for misdiagnosis, unnecessary or ill advised surgery which jeopardizes patient safety and outcomes. There may also be a risk that unlicensed technicians may not be covered by malpractice insurance.
ISHRS strongly recommends that only a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant practicing within the scope of his or her license perform hair restoration surgery.
“As new technology has become available to make hair transplantation easier, more and more practices are leaning on the technology to do the surgeries instead of using a licensed health care professional,” said Dr. Barusco.
“This type of practice is not only irresponsible, but can have debilitating consequences for a patient. A licensed practitioner with a specialty in hair restoration has the specialized training to handle all aspects of a surgical procedure. “
The ISHRS and Dr. Barusco recommend that patients ask the following questions when considering a hair transplant to ensure patient safety and best hair restoration results:
1. Who will evaluate my hair loss and recommend a course of treatment? What is their education, training, licensure, and experience in treating hair loss?
2. Who will be involved in performing my surgery, what role will they play, and what is their education, training, licensure, and experience performing hair restoration surgery?
3. Will anyone not licensed by the state be making incisions or harvesting grafts during my surgery? If so, please identify this person, explain their specific role and why they are legally permitted to perform it.
4. Is everyone involved in my surgery covered by malpractice insurance?
Tempus Hair Restoration medical director, Dr. Barusco has been specializing in hair restoration surgery for the past 16 years. He was recently appointed to the University of Central Florida College of Medicine faculty as Assistant Professor of Surgery.
He has trained many surgeons in the art and science of hair restoration surgery with his Hair Restoration Physician Training Program, an intensive, private workshop designed to expose a training physician and one of his or her assistants to all aspects involved in the successful treatment of hair loss, both medically and surgically.
Tempus Hair Restoration has six Florida locations in Port Orange, Orlando, Tampa, Maitland, Jacksonville and Lake Mary. TempusHair.com
