ISHRS Prepares for Sixth Annual World Hair Transplant Repair Day on November 11

The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) is marking its sixth annual World Hair Transplant Repair Day on November 11, 2026. The initiative aims to raise awareness about unlicensed black-market hair transplant clinics and connect affected victims with specialists offering pro bono corrective procedures.

Global Campaign and Resources

Part of the ISHRS's 'Fight the Fight' awareness campaign, the initiative provides educational tools in more than a dozen languages. These resources include blog posts, patient case studies, FAQs, and a comprehensive guide to help patients choose qualified surgeons.

• Campaign Website: HairTransplantRepairDay.org connects individuals with volunteer ISHRS member physicians.
• Participation Growth: Since its inception in 2020, participating volunteer doctors have grown to approximately 100 worldwide.
• New Slogan: The campaign introduces the motto "Safe Hair Transplant Surgery Starts Here" alongside new digital ads.

Understanding the Risks

According to ISHRS leadership, underground clinics often lure patients with steep discounts and misleading imagery, leading to permanent physical and emotional consequences. Reported risks include visible scarring, infections, patchiness, and excessive donor-area follicle extraction that proves difficult to correct.

• Survey Findings: The 2025 ISHRS Practice Census noted that 59% of surveyed members reported black-market clinics in their cities during 2024, compared to 51% in 2021.
• Repair Cases: Members reported that an average of 10% of their repair cases in 2024 involved patients from black-market surgeries, up from 6% in 2021.

Practical Verification Steps

Experts urge consumers to research surgeons thoroughly before undergoing any medical procedure. Patients are advised to:

• Verify medical credentials with local licensing authorities.
• Understand which parts of the surgery require a qualified physician versus tasks that can be delegated to trained medical technicians.
• Recognize that legitimate surgeons are licensed, traceable, and accountable.

For more details or to locate a verified specialist, visit www.ishrs.org.