A follow up appointment by a physician skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of hair loss is recommended by a specific date recommended by Dr. Donovan. This date can be found in the consultation note. This is to ensure safety and to ensure that the outlined treatment plan is helping in the expected manner. This follow up appointment need not necessarily be conducted with Dr. Donovan but should be conducted with a physician who can properly evaluate the current treatment plan previously outlined by Dr. Donovan and properly evaluate the progress of treating the particular type(s) of hair loss that were previously diagnosed. If this future follow up appointment is not provided by Dr. Donovan, we ask all patients to kindly have the consultation note from the other provider sent to us by the other physician or clinic after the appointment so that we might include this in the patient chart. If patients have questions about any aspect of their consultation with Dr. Donovan, we invite them to contact us with their questions. Follow up questions and follow up issues are handled according to our formal clinic policies. Dr. Donovan would be only too pleased and honored to answer any and all questions within the six weeks following any appointment provided they meet the general criteria. This can be done by emailing questions to our office. There are no associated fees for questions that are emailed to our office and all questions are promptly answered within 3 business days. Some patients elect to set up one more brief telephone appointments (BTA) with Dr. Donovan within the first three months to discuss issues and questions with Dr Donovan directly and this can also be arranged. Generally speaking, a follow up appointment is required by anypatient if one of more of the following three scenarios are true: 1) there is a further worsening in the patient’s hair loss condition or changes in the patient’s health at any time that requires them to review again with Dr Donovan 2) there is a need for the patient to stop any current medication previously recommended by Dr. Donovan or there is a new to discuss with Dr. Donovan to possibility of adding new medications to the treatment plan or 3) it has been more than 3 months since the patient’s last regular appointment (i.e. the three month interval has expired). Provided it is appropriate and safe to do so, Dr. Donovan will renew any prescription or prescriptions that were previously prescribed by him without the need for an appointment up until the date of the recommended follow up appointment. This date can be found in the section above. After that time, a prescription renewal will notbe provided by Dr. Donovan without the patient having an in person or remote follow up appointment. Remote appointments can be conducted via phone, skype, FaceTime. A proper and thorough consultation is needed to ensure the effectiveness and safety of continuing to use prescribed medications and to determine whether a modification of the treatment plan is needed.
A follow up appointment is 20-30 minute private consultation with Dr. Donovan which is more detailed in nature. It allows Dr. Donovan to review the progress made to date and to make changes in the overall treatment plan. For some patients, this follow up may be done remotely via phone or skype if an in person consultation is not possible.
The follow up appointment typically involves a full review of medications, side effects, progress to date, dermatoscopic scalp and review of any blood tests. In some situations, the follow up appointment may be conducted by phone, Skype or FaceTime for patients living far from the centre. This method of follow up is generally ONLY possible for patients with androgenetic alopecia, hair shedding abnormalities and patients with scarring alopecia and alopecia areata who are under the primary care of another physician or who do not require trichoscopic evaluation (magnification) by Dr. Donovan in the clinic. The follow up appointment may also involve a modification of treatment plan as appropriate, including more aggressive treatments in those not responding and removal/reduction of treatments (where appropriate) for patients showing improvement.
1. How far apart are my visits with Dr. Donovan ?
Follow up appointments range in intervals from 1 month to 3 years, depending on the primary diagnosis of the patient's hair loss. Patients with androgenetic alopecia are typically seen every 12-15 months. Patients with scarring alopecia and alopecia areata are typically seen for full review every 4-6 months (steroid injections may be performed in between appointments every 2-3 months for some patients). Patients with hair shedding issues are typically seen every 6-9 months. Children with genetic syndrome may be seen every 2-5 years.
2. If I'm just coming in for a 'steroid injection' what should I tell the office when booking ?
If you are coming in for a steroid injection appointment, let us know. These appointments are short 5 minute appointments and we'll make sure we have you in and out of the office with minimal delay. Be sure to let us know that you are coming for steroid injections. If you would like to review your treatment plan with Dr. Donovan and have a more detailed discussion about your medications, a follow up appointment rather than a steroid injection appointment is more appropriate.
3. Do I need to come in for a follow up or can it be done by phone?
For some types of hair loss, a phone call follow up is acceptable. Please check with our office if this is possible for you specifically and your type of hair loss. Dr. Donovan will likely ask for an update on your photos.
4. What is the fee for a follow up appointment?
follow up appointments are $ 750. Reduced fees are available if it’s been less than 4 months since the last appointment.
5. I was started on a treatment by Dr. Donovan and I did not see results. Do I still pay a follow up fee if I wish to see Dr. Donovan?
Yes, there is a fee for all follow up appointments with Dr. Donovan. The fees charged by the clinic are for Dr. Donovan's professional medical advice, not for outcomes. Please note that fees apply regardless of results. We practice hair medicine using the most up to date methods with the best evidence for treating hair loss. However, we don't promise results and never have. At the time of your appointment, Dr. Donovan will inform you of the chances (likelihood) of success. For example, if a medication has a 40 % chance of increasing hair density, 40 % of our patients will be pleased with their hair growth and 60 % will not. The same follow up fees apply to each patient. Follow up fees are for Dr. Donovan's professional medical advice, not for outcomes.
