Dr. Gary S. Hitzig, M.D., F.A.A.C.S., is a board-certified hair transplant surgeon recognized for his pioneering contributions to the field of hair restoration. His journey began during his surgical residency at Cornell Medical Center in New York, where he experienced significant hair loss and unsuccessfully tried various hair growth remedies. In 1974, he underwent his first hair transplant, which yielded disappointing results. However, his fortunes changed in 1975 when an attending physician at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Institute introduced him to new hair transplant techniques, leading to a successful procedure. Inspired by this transformation, Dr. Hitzig devoted his career to hair restoration starting in 1976. He balanced this passion with his residency in pediatric reconstructive urology and an associate attending role in Plastic Surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, training residents in hair transplant surgery. By the mid-1980s, he was also running a training program for dermatology residents at New York Hospital.
Throughout his career, Dr. Hitzig has performed over 30,000 hair restoration procedures in New York, NYC, and Long Island. Known for his innovative approach, he pioneered the use of Infrared Coagulation in hair transplant surgery and patented the “Hitzig Linear Punch.” His research and techniques have been published in prestigious journals such as Dermatologic Surgery and the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Hitzig’s achievements include presenting a Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Norman Orentreich, serving as the Medical Advisor for the American Hair Loss Council, and authoring articles on scalp camouflage and linear grafting. As a full fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery since 1986, he co-chaired the 1996 Hair Symposium in NYC and was a featured speaker at the 1997 Simposio Internacionale of Cosmetic Surgery in Santiago de Cali, Colombia. His consumer book, “Help & Hope for Hair Loss,” has gained international recognition, and his patented Hitzig Linear Punch is now globally manufactured and sold to surgeons.
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