Dr. Bernardino Arocha

Bernardino A. Arocha, MD is the founder and sole surgeon of Arocha Hair Restoration, based in Houston with satellite offices in Dallas and Austin, Texas.1 The clinic frames his focus on the field as beginning in 2002, citing his own hair loss in his 20s and later transplant as the origin.1 Career totals differ across its pages: the bio page states over 8,000 procedures and 24 million follicles.1 The cost page instead states over 6,000 procedures and 15 million follicles.2

The clinic offers FUE, FUT, ARTAS robotic-assisted FUE, revision surgery, ethnic and facial hair transplants, scalp micropigmentation, and the non-surgical LaserCap LCPRO.3 For FUE it typically uses a punch smaller than 0.9mm, most commonly 0.6mm to 0.7mm, implanting units one at a time to mimic surrounding growth.4 For FUT it scores and removes the donor strip with a proprietary technique, closing in two layers, with scars said to mature over 6 to 12 months.4 A patient testimonial republished on its FUE page, not a clinic claim, credits Arocha with performing every phase himself.4 For non-candidates, it lists alternatives such as minoxidil and finasteride, without published criteria.2

The clinic's price table lists $4,000 to $15,000 for FUE, $4,000 to $10,000 for FUT, $3,000 to $15,000 for facial hair transplants, and $4,000 to $15,000 for revision surgery.2 It states insurance will not help cover the cost.4 Travel costs are not billed by the doctor but should still be budgeted, and payment is accepted by cash, major credit cards, checks, or CareCredit financing.2

Consultations are free, available in Houston or online.3 Virtual options include FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Zoom for patients outside Houston.5 The clinic's guide describes the consultation as reviewing medical history and the scalp and discussing options and goals, after which it schedules the restoration session in a private surgical suite.6 That session is described as taking 6 to 8 hours, and afterward the clinic says tiny scabs form and fall away within about a week as the scalp returns to normal.6 It states its commitment continues after surgery, with long-term follow-up care.5

Arocha is confirmed as an ABHRS diplomate in the board's own registry.7 He is also listed as a Fellow Member in the ISHRS registry, which gives no membership year.8 The clinic's own site separately states he has been a Fellow since 2002.1 It further self-reports membership in the International Board of Hair Restoration Surgery, ASHRS, and AACS.1