Regulations &
Licensing
Know who can legally perform your hair transplant, what protections exist, and how regulations vary by location.
US Federal Overview
Hair transplant regulation in the United States is primarily governed at the state level through individual state medical boards. There is no single federal agency that ensures physician competency specifically in hair restoration. The FDA regulates devices (e.g., ARTAS robotic system received 510(k) clearance in 2011) but does not regulate practitioner skill or technique.
Who Can Legally Perform Hair Transplants
Any licensed MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) can legally perform hair transplant surgery in the United States, regardless of their specialty training. There is no federal requirement for specific hair restoration training or board certification.
The 'practice of medicine' clause allows any licensed physician to perform hair transplants. The most critical quality-determining steps (graft extraction, recipient site creation, graft placement) are often delegated to unlicensed technicians with no minimum training requirements in most states.
Professional Organizations
Largest professional society for hair restoration; publishes ethical standards, position statements, and continuing education
The only board certification specifically for hair restoration surgery
Invitation-only organization of elite hair restoration surgeons who personally perform procedures
State-by-State Regulations
California
Medical Board of California
Texas
Texas Medical Board
Florida
Florida Board of Medicine
New York
New York State Education Department / Office of the Professions
Georgia
Georgia Composite Medical Board
Arizona
Arizona Medical Board
Illinois
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Ohio
State Medical Board of Ohio
New Jersey
New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine
Virginia
Virginia Board of Medicine
International Regulations
Turkey
Turkish Ministry of Health
Turkey is the world's largest destination for hair transplant medical tourism, performing an estimated 500,000+ procedures annually. The government has implemented increasingly strict regulations in response to safety concerns and incidents at unlicensed clinics.
United Kingdom
Care Quality Commission (CQC) — England; Healthcare Inspectorate Wales; Healthcare Improvement Scotland
The UK has relatively strong regulation of hair transplant clinics, particularly in England where CQC registration is mandatory for any clinic performing surgical procedures.
Mexico
$2,000 to $4,500 USDCOFEPRIS (Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk)
Mexico is an increasingly popular destination for hair transplant medical tourism, particularly for patients from the United States. Clinics should be certified by COFEPRIS.
India
$800 to $3,000 USDNational Medical Commission (NMC) / State Medical Councils (SMCs)
India is a major destination for hair transplant medical tourism with costs significantly lower than Western countries. The NMC issued guidelines in 2022 on aesthetic surgery and hair transplant procedures.
South Korea
$3,000 to $8,000 USDMinistry of Health and Welfare / Korean Medical Association
South Korea is known for its advanced medical technology and is a growing destination for hair transplant tourism, particularly from other Asian countries.
Thailand
$2,000 to $5,000 USDThai Medical Council / Ministry of Public Health
Thailand is a well-established medical tourism destination with JCI-accredited hospitals offering hair transplant services.
Facility Accreditation
Facility accreditation ensures that outpatient surgical facilities meet established standards for patient safety, infection control, emergency preparedness, and quality of care. While not universally required for hair transplants performed under local anesthesia, accreditation is increasingly recommended and may be required in certain states.
The most commonly referenced accreditation body for hair transplant clinics. AAAHC accreditation demonstrates that a facility meets nationally recognized standards for quality and safety.
The gold standard for hospital accreditation; also accredits ambulatory surgery centers. More rigorous and expensive than AAAHC.
Specializes in accrediting office-based surgery facilities. Commonly used by cosmetic surgery practices.
Approved to accredit office-based surgery practices in several states including New York (approved June 2025).
When procedures are performed using moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia
When procedures are performed using only local anesthesia or minimal sedation (most hair transplants)
Informed Consent Requirements
Informed consent is a legal and ethical requirement for all surgical procedures including hair transplants. The specific requirements vary by jurisdiction but generally include the following elements.
Standard Elements
- ›Nature and purpose of the proposed procedure
- ›Risks and potential complications (infection, scarring, poor growth, numbness, shock loss)
- ›Benefits and expected outcomes (realistic expectations about density, coverage, timeline)
- ›Alternative treatments (medication, PRP, SMP, hair systems, doing nothing)
- ›Risks of alternative treatments
- ›Identity and qualifications of the person performing the procedure
- ›Who will perform each step (surgeon vs. technician — increasingly required)
- ›Recovery timeline and post-operative care requirements
- ›Financial obligations and refund policies
- ›Right to withdraw consent at any time
Hair Transplant-Specific Disclosures
- ›Number of grafts planned and realistic density expectations
- ›Technique to be used (FUE vs. FUT/Strip) and associated scarring
- ›Donor area limitations and long-term implications
- ›Possibility of needing additional procedures in the future
- ›Shock loss (temporary shedding of existing hair)
- ›Timeline for results (6-12 months for full growth)
- ›Graft survival rate expectations
- ›Need for ongoing medical therapy (finasteride/minoxidil) to maintain non-transplanted hair
- ›Risks specific to the technique (linear scar for FUT, dot scarring for FUE, over-harvesting risks)