Incorporating Trichology into the Hair Replacement Clinic

million people, there are only two certified trichologists that I am aware of. There are also no dermatologists specializing in hair loss, and most dermatologists and family doctors brush off their patients' hair loss concerns, leaving their patients frustrated and helpless.

Consequently, our phone rings constantly with people wanting to book appointments with the trichologist. Many people want to see a trained hair loss professional — a trichologist — before deciding on treatments or procedures. This is because many do not understand or believe that their hair loss is simply genetic. And, it may not be.

to answer their questions and prescribe the proper treatments more effectively.

Many of the people I see do not believe the cause of their hair loss is genetic. So having the tools and expertise to convince them is helpful. And it’s more than just looking at the scalp through a microscope. You need to be able to explain to your patient what you are seeing. You need to know all of the symptoms of the many hair loss conditions and be able to translate those into proper diagnoses.

By John Ranney, Owner, Freedom Clinic, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Trichology is a branch of dermatology concerned specifically with the hair and scalp. While there are many concerns about the hair and scalp, hair loss is one of the most important areas of trichology.

The problem with modern-day dermatology is that while education in the area of hair loss may take place in a dermatologist’s training, few dermatologists actually practice diagnosing and treating hair loss once they become licensed dermatologists. This creates a distinct need for trichologists specializing in hair loss and other scalp concerns.

In my market in the greater Toronto area of Ontario, a population of over 6

There are several important benefits that trichology can bring to the hair replacement clinic. Being a trained and certified trichologist brings a wealth of knowledge into your studio. Now, you are able to properly recognize and understand the various causes of hair loss, the stages people are at, and what can be expected of their response to treatments. Questions like: Should I use laser therapy on my patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia can be properly answered. There is nothing more frustrating and possibly misleading, than not being able to honestly answer a patient’s question due to a lack of knowledge.

Being a certified trichologist adds legitimacy to your studio. You are now more respected not only by other professionals in the industry but also by the patients you are treating. They trust you more, and rightly so, because your training allows you

Trichology allows you to add more services to your studio. Treatments and related products for scalp issues other than hair loss are an entirely new revenue stream. And the initial consultation itself can be a paid consultation since your goal here is to inform the client of their condition and then the possible solutions. In the past, we did so many consultations where the client only wanted to know the cause of their hair loss, and may not have had any intention of doing anything. These consultations can be billed as “Detailed Scalp Analysis” or something similar, thus becoming a new source of revenue. In our clinic, we charge $175 ($125 U.S. dollars) for this type of consultation.

A trichology consultation is different from a consultation for the purchase of a hair system or other specific service. It is important to differentiate this prior to meeting your client. In your trichology consultation,