Why a Mohs Surgeon is Best for Hair Restoration
The Surgical Advantage: Why Dr. Spencer Hawkins is a Unique Expert in Atlanta
In the crowded field of hair restoration, patients are often confused by conflicting marketing. You see ads for "robotic" hair transplants, "scarless" procedures, and "guaranteed" results. But there is one credential that stands above marketing buzzwords: Surgical Mastery.
Dr. Spencer Hawkins is the only Double Board-Certified Dermatologist and Mohs Micrographic Surgeon in Georgia who has also completed a formal ISHRS-accredited fellowship in hair restoration.
This unique combination of training—focusing on both scalp health and surgical reconstruction precision—offers patients a level of safety and artistry that is rare in the industry.
The "Double Fellowship" Difference
Most hair restoration doctors enter the field from unrelated specialties like Family Medicine or ER, often taking short courses to learn the basics. Dr. Hawkins took a different path, completing two separate, rigorous fellowships:
- Mohs Micrographic Surgery Fellowship: Completed under Dr. Murray Cotter in Northern Michigan, focusing on the microscopic removal of skin cancer and complex facial reconstruction.
- ISHRS Surgical Hair Restoration Fellowship: A 2-year dedicated training under industry pioneer Dr. Matt Leavitt. Dr. Hawkins was so committed to this "Gold Standard" training that he flew between Boston and Orlando specifically to master complex cases that other surgeons avoid.
Why a Mohs Surgeon Makes a Better Hair Surgeon
Mohs surgery is the most precise form of skin surgery in existence. Dr. Hawkins performs over 30 Mohs cases a week, totaling over 3,000 career surgeries. This high-volume surgical background translates directly to better hair transplant results:
- Microscopic Precision: Dr. Hawkins operates daily using 2.5x surgical loupes. The same eye trained to trace microscopic cancer roots is used to ensure every hair graft is handled with extreme care, maximizing survival rates.
- Reconstructive Mastery: Many clinics market "FUE only" (individual graft extraction) because the surgeon is not comfortable with scalpel surgery. As a Mohs surgeon, Dr. Hawkins is an expert in managing skin tension and flaps. If you need an FUT (strip) procedure for maximum graft yield, his closure techniques are designed to leave the finest possible scar line—something a non-surgeon cannot guarantee.
- Safety & Anesthesia: Hair restoration is surgery. Dr. Hawkins is an expert in lidocaine dosing and toxicity. While complications are rare, you want a surgeon who is comfortable controlling bleeding and managing complex medical issues, not a technician or a doctor from a non-surgical background.
"Medical-First" Philosophy: Avoiding the "Turkey" Trap
A major risk in the current market is the "Mega-Session"—clinics (often overseas or low-quality local chains) that promise 6,000 grafts in one day.
This is often a mistake. Over-harvesting the donor area can leave a patient with a "moth-eaten" look and no options for the future.
As a Board-Certified Dermatologist, Dr. Hawkins treats hair loss as a medical condition first. He is trained to diagnose scarring alopecias (like Lichen Planopilaris or CCCA) that would cause a transplant to fail—conditions that Family Doctors or technicians often miss. He advocates for long-term medical therapy to stabilize hair loss, ensuring that surgery is only performed when it is safe and sustainable for the patient's lifetime.
Who Actually Performs Your Surgery?
At the Hair Medicine Institute, we believe in transparency. In many Atlanta clinics, unlicensed technicians perform the surgical steps.
Dr. Hawkins' Standard:
- Recipient Sites: Dr. Hawkins personally creates 100% of the recipient sites (the holes where hair is placed). This determines the angle, direction, and natural design of your hairline. This is the "art" of the surgery and is never delegated.
- Extraction: Dr. Hawkins personally performs all extractions. We never allow surgical technicians or assistants to cut skin or extract grafts.
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