Richard Chaffoo, MD

We offer hair loss patients the most comprehensive, science-based practices available for the medical and surgical treatment of hair loss. We are also involved in cutting-edge clinical and basic science research on novel methods to treat hair loss through our association with a local biotech company that has created a unique cloning process of hair follicles in an animal model. We are continuing this research to ultimately create such an option for patients who would otherwise not be candidates for hair restoration.

Our practice is a boutique practice that focuses on individual patient care. We are a small practice and not a large group practice. Our referral network is primarily from physicians and previous patients so reputation is important to us.

Ethical, detailed, passionate.

I was told by my family physician that being a physician is a privilege, a message I have tried to apply to my surgical practice for my entire professional career. It is the patients, their families, and their stories which I am grateful to know and share a small portion of their lives with that makes the profession of medicine very humbling and satisfying.

Our hair restoration practice is the only practice in the U.S. under the direction of a triple board-certified plastic surgeon and a board-certified dermatologist. Patients will receive the most comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical and surgical hair loss treatment. We are also a Center of Excellence, where physicians from across the U.S. who are interested in hair restoration will travel to observe our techniques and receive training in advanced techniques, including robotic hair restoration.

My practice is limited to aesthetic plastic surgery with a special focus and interest in Hair Restoration procedures. We provide the latest technology for FUE, or follicular unit extraction, using the latest cutting edge robotic technology and the most advanced semi automatic and manual FUE devices available today. Our practice has the greatest variety of Hair Restoration devices so that we can provide individualized treatment plans for each specific case. Since we aren’t limited to one device we can choose the device or devices which are most appropriate for each individual patient.

My journey to perform Hair Restoration surgery is the same as my journey to become a plastic surgeon. Hair Restoration is simply a procedure or group of procedures and not a separate specialty. The same education certification skill sets training and expertise that I developed as a plastic surgeon or what I use in my hair restoration practice. They are one in the same and are inseparable.

I became interested in medicine as a teenager after doing volunteer work in our local hospital. I was struck by how dedicated the physicians were and how exacting and challenging surgery was a specialty. I became interested in aesthetic plastic surgery during my first residency in head and neck surgery. 

While I was fascinated by surgical procedures designed to remove cancers, I was captivated by the artistry and creativity needed to reconstruct complex deformities of the head and neck. My “right brain,” or creative side, is likely based upon DNA. My mother was an artist and my father a symphony conductor. I played the cello in his symphony orchestra and remember his dedication as the symphony conductor and master of a complex musical instrument. Aesthetic plastic surgery speaks to my creative side

I have several hobbies, but perhaps a surprising one is my interest in the martial arts. I have a third-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, Korean karate. Much like surgery, training in the martial arts is a lifelong pursuit with many corollaries to surgical training. Both require discipline, focus, and persistence to achieve consistency and excellence. The journey never completely ends.

I have completed nine years of surgical training following graduation from an MD medical school. My surgical training included A residency in head and neck surgery followed by a one-year post graduate fellowship and facial plastic surgery at Stanford university medical center. Following this I completed a plastic and reconstructive surgery residency program which included aesthetic plastic surgery. During my many years of surgical training I was also fortunate to receive training in the latest methods of Hair Restoration Surgery by several National leaders in the field. 

As a plastic surgeon we are trained in the entire field of aesthetic or cosmetic plastic surgery from head to toe. We are the only surgical specialty that has such extensive education certification and training. This education and training is also what sets us apart from others who do Hair Restoration surgery. Plastic surgeons are uniquely qualified to evaluate and perform cosmetic plastic surgery on the entire body.

 I bring my skills, education training expertise and aesthetic Eye to each Hair Restoration procedure much as I do when I am evaluating and treating patients for face lifts rhinoplasty breast and body contouring surgery. Hair Restoration is simply another aesthetic plastic surgery procedure that is within my armamentarium.

 In addition I am a key opinion leader for Hair Restoration Surgery. I am a recognized expert both nationally and internationally with these procedures. I educate, train and teach physicians in Hair Restoration who visit our La Jolla office from around the globe. In addition I frequently lecture both nationally and internationally at various surgical specialty societies regarding Hair Restoration. I am an author of a textbook written for the public on hair loss.

Finally I am a medical Director for Stemson therapeutics, a local biotech company involved in the research and treatment of hair loss for men and women. Our company which is based in La Jolla is the first company to clone human hair follicles and grow them in an animal model. Our basic research is focused on creating a surgical solution for hair loss that is a novel regenerative medicine approach where we will create hair follicles de novo in an unlimited number avoiding harvesting hair follicles from the donor area in patients. We suspect that this will revolutionize the field of Hair Restoration in the next 10 years.

The chairman of my surgery department left a profound and lasting impression upon me. He was a graduate of the US Naval Academy and a very patient centered physician. He instilled into all of his residence the importance of putting the patient first and doing the right thing as a US naval officer. Even after leaving the US Navy, he lived by that code as a civilian physician.

Our center is a high-end state of the art practice located on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital, which is considered the premiere private hospital in San Diego County. We are located within the Ximed Medical Building which represents private practices that are amongst the finest in the city. In addition, we have 2 additional locations to serve our patients’ needs in both Newport Beach and Beverly Hills.

Each hair loss patient is seen personally by one of the physicians, not a consultant as in many offices. The consultation is very informative and educational, not a sales pitch. Each patient receives a customized treatment plan for their hair loss including evidence-based medicine and not pseudo-science or hype. The doctors will provide each patient with a copy of their recently published consumer book on hair loss. Each of the doctors is not only an author but an educator and researcher in the field of hair restoration.

I encourage each patient to review our website, my book on hair loss, and the various forms available online prior to the consultation. If the initial consultation is done virtually, patients are encouraged to send standard photos of their hair loss via email prior to the consultation.