Here is part 1
from Konior, Bisanga, Shapiro, Josephitis, Ferreira, Turan, Gur, and Ahmad.
Dr Steven Gabel
Q: Do you offer FUT, FUE, or both?
A:
At the Gabel Center, I offer both FUT (linear strip excision) and FUE (follicular unit excision) to my patients, tailoring the harvesting method to best meet their individual needs and goals. The decision-making process is nuanced and considers various factors, but generally, if a patient prefers the option to keep their hair short in the back of the scalp or is younger in age, I typically recommend the FUE donor harvesting method. This personalized approach ensures that each patient receives the treatment that aligns with their lifestyle, aesthetic goals, and long-term hair restoration success.
Q: Size of your surgical team? (Who are they—technicians, doctors, etc.?)
A:
I have a dedicated team of six professionals who assist me in delivering exceptional care during procedures. This team includes one physician (a dermatologist), two pre-med students with aspirations to attend medical school, and three highly experienced medical assistants who have been integral to the practice for 18 years, 10 years, and 9 years, respectively.
Our practice is located in Portland, Oregon, and I, Steven Gabel, MD, have been specializing in hair restoration surgery since 2003. Notably, my first documented FUE case was performed in 2004, granting me one of the longest and most comprehensive histories of FUE donor harvesting in the field. This depth of experience, combined with a skilled team, ensures our patients receive the highest standard of care.
Q: Background and years of experience for each of your team members?
A:
As above. The dermatologist does not do cases independently—she assists me in all of my cases.
Q: How often do you introduce new members to your team?
A:
I had one medical assistant go to medical school last year, and the prior one went to optometry school four years before that. I do not have much turnover, and I encourage them to seek higher education for their long-term career if desired.
Q: How much training do new team members undergo before joining your surgical team? What is the criteria for allowing them on your team?
A:
There is no formal "hair restoration surgical assistant training program" available. When I hire a new team member, they spend weeks observing procedures before being permitted to work with live tissue. Our training process is extensive and begins with practicing on non-living materials to develop proficiency in microscope use and precision cutting. For example, we recently used pickles to simulate grafts, requiring them to practice cutting thousands to ensure accuracy and consistency. Once they demonstrate the necessary skills, they are gradually introduced to live tissue under the close supervision of an experienced technician.
Q: Does the doctor use full-time technicians and staff? Are contractors or temporary technicians used during peak times or holidays?
A:
All of my staff work solely for my company. I do not hire outside technicians to come in and do the cases as needed—that could compromise the quality of the results. All are full-time employees of my company receiving a competitive hourly salary and a full range of benefits offered by the company.
Q: Who performs FUE excisions?
A:
At the Gabel Center, I, Steven Gabel, MD, personally perform 100% of all FUE excisions. As the physician, I take full responsibility for every critical step of the procedure and never delegate these essential tasks to my assistants. My hands-on approach is the cornerstone of our practice, and it is this unwavering commitment to excellence that draws patients from across the country to seek care at the Gabel Center.
Q: Who creates recipient channels?
A:
I make 100% of the recipient sites. That is a critical step in the hair restoration process, and I do not delegate any of the critical steps of the procedure to the assistants.
Q: Who sedates patients?
A:
In my clinic, we use oral sedation such as Valium on 97% of the patients. It is very rare for a patient to require more sedation than that. I also administer acetaminophen and ibuprofen at the same time, which studies show have a significant analgesic effect and help diminish any pain from the injections.
Q: What sedatives are used?
A:
As above, in most cases, we use oral Valium. Rarely do we require a narcotic during cases.
Q: How many patients do you see per day?
A:
At the Gabel Center, we prioritize unparalleled patient care by operating on only one patient per day. On surgery days, my sole focus is on that patient—I do not schedule consultations or other appointments. As the physician, I, Steven Gabel, MD, personally oversee and perform every critical step of the procedure. From meticulous planning, injections, extractions/strip harvesting, recipient site creation, and placing the majority of the grafts, I am with the patient every step of the way. Placing grafts is a responsibility I have upheld with every patient since the inception of my practice, ensuring precision, consistency, and exceptional results.
Q: Experience with curly and Afro-textured hair?
A:
Yes.
Q: Do you use microscopes?
A:
Throughout my entire career as a hair restoration surgeon, I have maintained an unwavering commitment to quality and precision. Every single graft extracted during a procedure is meticulously examined under a microscope to ensure its integrity. If trimming is required, the grafts are expertly processed and carefully categorized into single-, two-, three-, and four-hair grafts. These are then accurately counted and logged into our master electronic system, which is displayed on a monitor in the operating room for me to see at any given moment. This system allows me to have real-time insights into the total number of grafts extracted, their precise distribution, and even the performance metrics of each assistant involved. This level of detail ensures optimal outcomes for every patient.
Q: Do you use loupes?
A:
Yes: 4.5 to 6.0 magnification.
Q: Experience with patients requiring extensive body or beard hair due to weak donor areas or extensive hair loss?
A:
Yes; we do quite a bit of body hair FUE harvesting. In fact, I recently wrote a book chapter on body hair FUE extraction, which was published this past June 2024.
Q: Do you accept patients with diffuse thinning?
A:
I evaluate 100% of the patients who come to the clinic. I then determine the best treatment options for them including medical and surgical treatment. Not every patient who comes to the clinic for a consultation is a surgical candidate.
Q: What is your post-op plan? Any in-person post-op care?
A:
Our postoperative care regimen at the Gabel Center is comprehensive and designed to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients. After surgery, every patient returns to our clinic for a thorough scalp washing, where both the donor and recipient areas are carefully cleaned by the staff. During this visit, we dedicate approximately 45 minutes to reviewing detailed postoperative instructions to ensure the patient is fully informed and confident in their recovery plan.
Following this, I personally inspect the donor and recipient areas, making any necessary adjustments to the grafts to optimize healing and results. Patients then undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy in our chamber, which reaches 4.4 psi, allowing them to breathe 95% oxygen for 1.5 hours. This therapy is repeated for the first 2 to 3 days after surgery to promote faster healing and reduce inflammation. Finally, patients return on the 7th postoperative day for a follow-up inspection and a meticulous cleaning to ensure everything is progressing as planned.
This personalized and detail-oriented approach reflects our commitment to excellence and patient care at every stage of the hair restoration journey.
Q: Graft insertion method: Forceps or pen? Instrument type? (Choi, manual, etc.)
A:
At the Gabel Center, we rely on forceps for graft placement, a method that has consistently delivered exceptional results. As noted earlier, I, Steven Gabel, MD, personally place the majority of the grafts during each procedure. In addition, I have one highly experienced staff member who assists with graft placement. She has been with the practice for nearly a decade and has honed her skills to a master level, ensuring precision and consistency in every case. No other staff members are involved in graft placement, allowing her to maintain this exceptional standard of expertise. Thanks to this meticulous approach, I consistently observe excellent growth outcomes on both sides of the scalp, with no discrepancies or issues once the grafts have fully grown in.
Q: Is there anything else you would like prospective patients to know?
A:
At the Gabel Center, we take a patient-focused, quality-driven approach to hair restoration. We are not a high-volume clinic; instead, we dedicate our time and resources to just one patient per day. This ensures that the entire Gabel Center team is singularly focused on achieving the best possible outcome for each individual.
As the physician, I am deeply involved in every case, personally performing each critical step of the procedure. Unlike most clinics, where graft placement is often delegated, I take pride in placing the majority of the grafts myself for every patient treated in our Portland, Oregon office. This hands-on approach is rare among physicians and exemplifies my commitment to excellence.
Additionally, we do not employ salespeople or consultants. I personally conduct every consultation, offering thorough, individualized recommendations for both medical and surgical treatment options. This level of personalized care and attention is what sets the Gabel Center apart, ensuring that every patient receives the highest standard of expertise and care.
Q: What questions should I include in the next version of this survey?
A:
- What treatment options do you typically recommend for patients?
- Do you treat conditions that are not suitable for hair restoration?
- How often do you attend conferences to stay up on the latest technology or advancements in hair restoration surgery?
- What leadership positions have you held or currently hold? Currently, I am the President of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery/International Board of Hair Restoration Surgery.
Dr Raghu Reddy
Q: Do you offer FUT, FUE, or both?
A:
FUE.
Q: Size of your surgical team? (Who are they—technicians, doctors, etc.)
A:
4 members—a consultant (Dr. Reddy), a junior doctor, and two technicians.
Q: Background and years of experience for each of your team members?
A:
Consultant (Dr. Reddy) - 18 years.
Q: How often do you introduce new members to your team?
A:
Not often.
Q: Does the doctor use full-time technicians and staff? Are contractors or temporary technicians used during peak times or holidays?
A:
We use full-time technicians.
Q: Who performs FUE excisions?
A:
Dr. Raghu Reddy.
Q: Who creates recipient channels?
A:
Dr. Raghu Reddy.
Q: Who sedates patients?
A:
Dr. Raghu Reddy.
Q: What sedatives are used?
A:
Xylocaine.
Q: How many patients do you see per day?
A:
1 patient per day. One daily session is around 8-10 hours, and we do around 1,800 grafts max in one day.
Q: Experience with curly and Afro-textured hair?
A:
The doctor and the team have experience with curly and Afro-textured hair.
Q: Do you use microscopes?
A:
No.
Q: Do you use loupes?
A:
Yes.
Q: Experience with patients requiring extensive body or beard hair due to weak donor areas or extensive hair loss?
A:
We extract within reason from the beard.
Q: What is your post-op plan? Any in-person post-op care?
A:
We provide patients with reading material for their post-op care and keep a thorough follow-up.
Q: Graft insertion method: Forceps or pen? Instrument type? (Choi, manual, etc.)
A:
Choi implanter pens.
Q: Is there anything else you would like prospective patients to know?
A:
We always prefer quality of grafts rather than quantity of the grafts.
