The American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery requires that its diplomates take an oral exam as part of their certification process. Here, Dr. Sara Wasserbauer breaks down what’s expected from board-certified hair restoration surgeons.SHOW MORE
Return to OverviewWHEREAS, the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS) is a surgical certifying board organized to examine physicians in the area of hair restoration surgery; and
WHEREAS, the ABHRS is a surgical certifying board organized to promote the safe practice of hair restoration surgery;
NOW, THEREFORE, the ABHRS has established the following policy: As a Diplomate of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery, I pledge myself to…
The ABHRS Guidelines For Truth in Representation And Advertising have been established to help members avoid what can be universally considered as misleading or unacceptable messages.
We have encouraged ABHRS/IBHRS members to review their individual as well as group practice websites and marketing materials to assure that misleading or ambiguous language as defined in the following infractions are not included. Members of the public who are seeking professional services from a hair restoration surgeon should consider these terms as “red flags”. If they are used in a doctor’s marketing material or website, the consumer should beware.
The following issues/concepts are considered misleading or inappropriate:
Specifically, the surgical act of creating extraction incisions for removal of live tissue, whether during follicular unit transplantation (FUT), or follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedures, is a non-delegable act, and must be performed by the physician of record. In addition, the creation of incisions for placement of grafts is also non-delegable, and must be performed by the physician of record. Evidence of unlicensed, non-physicians performing surgical procedures clearly outside of legally enforceable standards of care is in clear violation of ABHRS ethical guidelines.
The use of the following, or similar terminology that misrepresents the physical realities of high quality hair transplant surgery:
Diplomates of the ABHRS must display their ABHRS Logo on websites and marketing materials in an unambiguous manner that does not imply ABHRS certification of other, non-ABHRS-affiliated hair transplant surgeons with whom they may be in practice. This is clearly outlined in the ABHRS Truth in Representation and Advertising document.
I have read and agree to the aboveThe ABHRS endorsement is a highly recognized, significant academic benchmark which represents hard work, dedication, academic excellence, and, most importantly, personal and professional integrity. As a diplomate, you deserve to protect your high achievement by actively controlling the appropriate use of the logo in association with your surgical practice. In order to avoid ambiguity, when the logo is used in conjunction with the website or marketing materials of a medical practice, hospital, or clinic that also employs hair transplant surgeons who are not ABHRS diplomates, the following guidelines should be adhered to when displaying your ABHRS status via the logo:
1. If the ABHRS Logo is used in a general sense across all pages of the website, then on the "Parent" or "Main" page, the following MUST be stated: "Dr. X (or Drs. X and Y) is/are the only hair transplant surgeon(s) in our practice who is/are diplomates of the ABHRS." -OR- "Our practice proudly recognizes Dr. X (or Drs. X and Y) as a Diplomate(s) of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS)" 2. If the ABHRS Logo is used only in conjunction with the "Bio" or "About" page specifically pertaining to the Diplomate himself/herself, it does not need to be clarified in general as above in #1.
Our goal at the ABHRS is to promote the practice of high-quality, state-of-the-art hair transplantation surgery, conducted within the strictest ethical guidelines, as a standard of care represented in our diplomates for the sole benefit of our patients. To that end, we strive for transparency in representation for the benefit of our patients, so that they may make solid, informed choices when selecting their surgeon for this very personal elective procedure.
I acknowledge the importance of the issues presented above, and, in addition, understand that the ABHRS logo is a Federally and Internationally protected trademark, and agree to protect my rights to use this logo by agreeing to abide by.
AFFIDAVIT REGARDING ROLE OF HAIR SURGEON DURING SURGERY
Affiant (Surgeon) sworn hereby certify to the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery that:
(insert surgeon name) upon oath, duly
By agreeing to this affidavit, you are both attesting that all procedures under your care will follow these guidelines, and all marketing information you provide potential patients are in accordance with these guidelines.
ALERT REGARDING MISLEADING AND IMPROPER MESSAGING
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (“ISHRS”) understands the importance of the public being informed about hair restoration surgery and the causes and scientifically proven therapies for hair loss, and recognizes many patients are misled by false or confusing messages marketed by hair restoration surgeons.
Accordingly, the ISHRS developed the Improper Messaging list below to help: (i) protect patients seeking hair restoration surgery by providing a list of items that should raise red flags; and (ii) its members avoid prohibited, improper, potentially misleading, and/or confusing messages and advertisements.
IMPROPER MESSAGING
A. Misrepresenting Credentials and Violating Intellectual Property Rights. The following publications are fraudulent, mislead the public, and violate various state and federal laws:
1. Inaccurate Credentials. Incorrectly claiming to be certified by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (“ABHRS”) or claiming to be a member or Fellow of the ISHRS, and otherwise stating or suggesting any expertise in hair restoration surgery that is false.
2. Misrepresenting Board Certification. Members should identify their specific medical specialty certifying board when marketing their board certification in the public domain. Members may not claim to be board certified by the ISHRS, or to make an inference of the same. Language such as “board certified hair restoration surgeon” is not acceptable.
3. Misrepresenting Photographs. Publishing photographs of other physicians’ patients in any manner that states or suggests they are patients of the publishing practice.
4. Copyright/Trademark Violations in General. Republishing or otherwise representing the photographs, publications, tradenames, logos, or other trademarks of another practitioner without permission in violation of the owner’s copyrights and/or trademarks.
5. ISHRS Trademark Violations. Republishing or otherwise representing the ISHRS’s photographs, publications, name, logos and other trademarks in any manner inconsistent with the ISHRS’s Trademark Use Policy (e.g., use of Fellows Logo by non-Fellow members; use of Members Logo by anyone other than Full Members; any individual using the ISHRS’s Logo).
B. Improper Use of Staff. The following practice may mislead the public and violate various state and federal laws.
6. Unauthorized Practice of Medicine. Unlicensed, non-physicians performing surgical procedures.
7. Lack of Informed Consent. Non-physicians participating in hair restoration procedures without the patient’s informed consent.
C. Misleading Language. Use of the following terms and phrases in marketing by a hair restoration surgeon may mislead the public and violate various state and federal laws.
8. “Scarless surgery”
9. “No incision”
10. “No touch”
11. “No cutting”
12. “Cloning”
13. “Hair multiplication”
14. “Non-invasive”
15. “Eliminates the need for additional procedures”
16. “Pain free”
17. “Guaranteed results”
18. “Unlimited grafts”
19. “No risk”
Dec 2, 2019
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