FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS  

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 first 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.  

Follow up appointments are 20-30 minute appointments that occur at any time after the first appointment. For some patients, follow up appointments occur every 3 months and for others they occur every 12-18 months. The frequency of the follow up depends on the type of diagnosis.

FREQUENCY OF FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS

The recommended frequency of follow up can be found in the following link. These are general guidelines.

Typical Follow up Appointment Frequency

In general, appropriate follow up intervals area as follows:

Androgenetic alopecia - every 9-15 months

Alopecia areata, receiving steroid injections - every 2 months for injections, every 6-8 months for full evaluation

Alopecia areata, not requiring injections (i.e on oral medications or DPCP) - every 4-6 months

Chronic Telogen Effluvium  - every 1-2 years

Acute Telogen effluvium - every 6 months

Scarring alopecia, receiving injections - every 3 months for injections, every 6 months for full evaluation

Scarring alopecia, not requiring injections - every 4-6 months. 

Tinea capitis - three months after first appointment 

Trichotillomania - variable, typically every 6 months. 

Children with genetic syndromes - typically seen every 2-5 years.

DETAILS OF REMOTE FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS

A follow up appointment is a 20-30 minute appointment which allows Dr. Donovan to assess the effectiveness, safety of the current treatment and to plan additional treatments or modifications to existing treatments. 

A typical follow up will involve assessment of one or more of the following:

• 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.

• 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.

• As reviewed above, follow up appointments range in intervals from 3 months 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  (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 syndromes may be seen every 2-5 years.

FEES

$ 750 + tax

Frequently Asked Questions about Follow up Appointments

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. What is the difference between a follow up appointment and a steroid injection appointment?

A follow up appointment is a 20-30 minute in depth appointment with Dr. Donovan to review progress and any changes in the treatment plan. A steroid injection appointment is a 5-10 minute appointment just for steroid injections and performed by Dr. Donovan or his nurses.  

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?

Brief follow up appointments in the first 4 months have reduced fees as seen in the chart below:

The fee for all follow up appointments is $ 750 + tax.

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.