Ask the clinic for its exact requirements, then provide clear, unedited current photographs and the history you can confirm. A typical starting set shows the front, both sides, top/crown and back/donor area. The clinician decides whether those images are enough to begin a review.
Make the first set easy to understand
- Use even light and sharp focus; show the area clearly rather than hiding it with styling.
- Label front, left, right, crown and back/donor views.
- Keep filters, retouching and AI concepts out of an actual-appearance set.
- State when the photographs were taken and whether they show your current appearance.
- Follow any additional instructions from the clinic; this checklist does not establish clinical image quality.
Prepare one concise, honest history
Useful initial questions include your age, goals, approximate duration of hair loss, recent progression, family history, past or current hair-loss treatment and previous transplant or operations. Clinics may also ask about conditions, medicines, allergies and scalp or skin issues.
Use the information you know. Say unsure where needed, and confirm medical details with your clinician. You do not need to guess a diagnosis, estimate your own graft requirement or upload unrelated medical records to begin comparing the process.
Choose the recipient before sharing
Check the clinic's identity, the named reviewer and the approved upload or email channel. Understand who can access the information and how to request deletion. Share the selected images and necessary history rather than a public folder of personal files.
In the Hairline Desk workspace, storing a photo or exploring an illustration is separate from sending it to a clinic. Clinical information should be shared only for the recipient and purpose you approve.
Ask what the reply represents
Find out whether the reply is from a coordinator or a clinician, whether it is a preliminary estimate and what examination or consultation is still required. A complete upload is progress, not a completed clinical consultation.
For a written-first process, request the anticipated reply time and whether a later call or in-person examination is mandatory. This helps you choose a path that fits your preferences without assuming the provider can waive its clinical steps.
Sources & scope
Published by Hairline Desk, a service of Inova Platforms, Inc. This is editorial education and planning information, not a clinician-reviewed treatment recommendation. Your clinical team determines suitability, treatment and individual recovery instructions. Sources checked November 1, 2026.
- American Academy of Dermatology: hair transplantation
Candidacy, continuing hair loss and the variable time to visible results.
- ISHRS: before you choose a surgeon
Questions about who performs the surgical stages and professional responsibility.
Our checklists and comparisons are our own planning approach. How we source and publish · Report an error or ask a question.