Mission and Philosophy
At the Gabel Center, our mission and philosophy is to provide our patients with a safe and comprehensive treatment plan to obtain the best results in hair transplant surgery. Dr. Steven Gabel and his team are committed to the pursuit of excellence and dedicated to improving the quality of life of our patients. He employs the latest technology and procedures so that you get the results you want and have a pleasant and stress free experience. These commitments to patient care are not only shared by Dr. Gabel, but are the guiding principles of his entire staff. We are committed to treating patients with the utmost respect and strive to provide all of our patients with individualized, attentive service and compassionate care.
The decision to pursue hair restoration surgery is a big step, but it’s just the beginning. You must also choose the right surgeon to perform your surgery, and that can be a confusing task.
There are eight essential qualities that should be a part of your decision process:
Board Certified
Dr. Gabel is a board-certified surgeon in three medical categories. First and foremost, he is a member of the board of directors of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgeons. Dr. Gabel also has extensive surgical training specifically focused to the head and neck. He is a member of the American Board of Otolaryngology, and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. These boards were established to improve the quality of medical and surgical treatment to the public. This was done by examining each doctor for professional expertise in their specialties. These boards develop standards of qualification and issue certification to candidates who meet these qualifications. To achieve this certification, a candidate must demonstrate the highest standards of training, knowledge, and expertise in their specialty. This is determined by a process of peer review and a rigorous standardized written and oral examination.
Exclusive Membership
There are two organizations devoted exclusively to the field of hair restoration surgery: the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians and the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons. After an extensive evaluation process, Dr. Gabel was accepted into both of these elite and prestigious organizations. Dr. Gabel is the only U.S. physician in the Northwest accepted into these organizations.
Dr. Gabel is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). Members of the American College of Surgeons are referred to as “Fellows.” The letters FACS (Fellow, American College of Surgeons) after a surgeon’s name mean that the surgeon’s education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence and ethical conduct have passed a rigorous evaluation and has been found to be consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the College.
Experience
Dr. Gabel has been practicing hair restoration surgery since 2001 and consequently has successfully treated hundreds of patients. Dr. Gabel regularly contributes relevant articles on hair restoration to scientific journals and has edited a textbook devoted to the art and science of hair restoration surgery.
Updated Techniques
Dr. Gabel is an active member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons and also regularly attends and lectures at the international meetings. Additionally, one member of his staff is was actively engaged in the international meetings as the Chairman of the Surgical Assistants meeting in 2014 in Malaysia. Additionally, she was selected to teach current techniques at the international and regional meetings throughout the year. In 2018, Dr. Gabel was a featured speaker at Haircon in Chennai, India, where he spoke on transgender hair restoration, the repair of prior transplants using the follicular unit excision method (FUE), and computerized, real-time graft analysis. Recently he also spoke at the ISHRS Annual Meeting in Hollywood, CA on the topic of transgender hair restoration.
Licensed
Dr. Gabel is licensed and in good standing to practice in the states of Oregon and Washington. Furthermore, he has no prior or pending actions against him.
Compassion and Rapport
It is the goal of the Gabel Center to provide our patients with superior attention and care. The Gabel Center is not part of a large national chain; as the only physician in the office, Dr. Gabel is focused on providing the finest care for our patients. He personally conducts all of the consultations, listens to his patients, and works to address their concerns, providing a sense of confidence and trust.
Ethics
The Gabel Center is devoted exclusively to the practice and treatment of hair loss and hair restoration surgery. Dr. Gabel considers the physician-patient relationship to be the cornerstone of any successful treatment plan, therefore, Dr. Gabel does not employ sales people – also known as “consultants.” These people are usually seasoned sales veterans who receive a percentage of every procedure sold. Other than confusing the patient-doctor relationship, they also represent an unnecessary extra expense that most people can do without. Dr. Gabel personally conducts all consultations, and is involved in all surgical procedures from the start to finish.
In the field of hair restoration surgery, it is rare for the hair surgeon to be involved throughout the entire case. At many clinics, the surgeon does not place grafts. Dr. Gabel places the majority of the follicular unit grafts with his staff and is very involved in each phase of the procedure. He feels it is the surgeon’s responsibility to be involved from start to finish. As a result, he has placed thousands upon thousands of grafts throughout his career.
Results
The bottom line when choosing a physician to perform a procedure are consistent, superior results. Dr. Gabel’s extensive training and expertise in the field has proven throughout the years that he is able to obtain only the finest results. In addition, he has been vetted and accepted into the two prestigious organizations devoted to finding the best physicians for hair restoration. He has also presented his results in several public Internet forums. This showcase of his work is proof of the results he is able to obtain with his patients.
