Dr. Robert Bernstein
Founder and lead surgeon·Bernstein Medical - Center for Hair Restoration
New York, United States
Background
The clinic states it was founded by Dr. Robert M. Bernstein in 2005 in midtown Manhattan.1 Per its own account, Bernstein joined the New Hair Institute in 1995 to develop his approach to follicular unit transplantation.2 A second board-certified physician, Medical Director Dr. Christine M. Shaver, also performs FUT and Robotic FUE.1
Procedures and techniques
The practice offers FUT, FUE (including Robotic FUE with the ARTAS system), hair transplant repair, and eyebrow transplants.4 In FUT, the surgeon excises the donor strip and technicians dissect it into follicular units; recipient sites are made by Bernstein personally, working around existing hair so it need not be shaved.5 Grafts are placed by the surgical team, since the clinic says the ARTAS robot cannot place grafts.4 Most donor wounds are now closed with staples rather than sutures, which the clinic says causes less follicle injury, and for patients who wear their hair very short, Bernstein performs a trichophytic closure, trimming one wound edge so hair grows through the scar line.4 The clinic favors completing as much of a restoration as possible in one large first session.6 A second session, if wanted, is advised only after 10 to 12 months, once the first transplant reaches styling length and donor laxity has improved.4
Pricing
Surgical pricing is not published; the clinic says cost depends on graft count and is set at consultation.7 A physician evaluation costs $250, with biopsies, injections, or lab work billed separately.7 Insurance is not accepted, though a form is provided for patients to submit to their own insurer, and financing is available through CareCredit.7
Booking and aftercare
Patients submit history forms online in advance, or arrive 15 minutes early to complete them on-site.8 The consultation is with a board-certified physician directly, which the clinic says means no consultants or salespeople, runs about half an hour, and includes a video densitometer exam of hair density and miniaturization.8 Payment is due at the end of the visit.8
Credentials and memberships
Bernstein is a Fellow of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, confirmed independently through the ISHRS's own directory.10 He is also listed in the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery's diplomate directory.9 The clinic states he is board certified in dermatology, has served as an ABHRS exam board Examiner, holds Fellow status with the American Academy of Dermatology, and belongs to the American Academy of Aesthetic and Restorative Surgery, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.3
Sources
Facts on this page were compiled from these pages, checked July 2026. Archived copies are kept for every citation.
- 1. https://www.bernsteinmedical.com/
- 2. https://www.bernsteinmedical.com/about-us/bernstein-medical-timeline/
- 3. https://www.bernsteinmedical.com/about-us/dr-bernstein/
- 4. https://www.bernsteinmedical.com/hair-transplant/
- 5. https://www.bernsteinmedical.com/hair-transplant/fut/procedure/
- 6. https://www.bernsteinmedical.com/hair-transplant/basics/graft-numbers/
- 7. https://www.bernsteinmedical.com/consultations/fees/
- 8. https://www.bernsteinmedical.com/consultations/about-consults/
- 9. https://abhrs.org/diplomates/
- 10. https://ishrs.org/doctor/8771/
What patients say on reddit
24 people shared their experience with Dr. Robert Bernstein across 46 reddit threads between 2013 and 2026. Every graft count, price and verdict is linked to the original thread.
- u/u/SadGrowth1389 patientsurgery 2026
- Very happy with the process source ↗
They report booking with Bernstein/Shaver and choosing FUE in 2026; the final graft count and cost are not stated. They said they were “very happy with the process,” while stressing it was still too early to see results. No complications or aftercare experience were reported.
1 thread they wrote in
- Jan 2026 Will this length cover FUT scar? ↗
- 2,000 grafts
- Overall very good results source ↗
- Improved self esteem and quality of life source ↗
- NYC surgeons are expensive source ↗
- Good-enough everyday-person result source ↗
BowzaMan reported having two FUE procedures with Robert Bernstein, at about 2,000 grafts each and $12–20K per procedure, over roughly 12 years. He characterized Bernstein’s results as “7/10, overall very good,” with significant improvement to his self esteem and quality of life, while viewing him as a good option for a good-enough everyday-person result.
-
Kochero75 reported being under Dr Bernstein’s care and, later, receiving yearly follow-ups in NYC; they did not report having a Bernstein transplant. They characterized Bernstein as ethical for discouraging surgery they felt was not appropriate, but said his work did not look like what they wanted.
3 threads they wrote in
- female 1,700 grafts surgery 2024
She reported being 28 days post-op from a 1,700-graft FUT procedure with Dr. Robert Bernstein in 2024, costing probably around $15-20k. She said she was happy she did it, while stressing she could not yet speak to final results. She reported black eyes for about 10 days and said staff had not warned her about them.
1 thread they wrote in
- Nov 2024 Woman looking for HT advice ↗
-
Classic-Question7 reported two consultations with Dr. Robert Bernstein but no surgery. They said Bernstein advised finasteride and waiting at the first consultation about 20 years earlier; at a second consultation about five years before the thread, Bernstein declined to operate because of low density.
1 thread they wrote in
- Feb 2024 Thoughts on getting a ht? ↗
- NW6 2,500 grafts
In June 2021, this NW6 user was considering FUT with Robert Bernstein after both Bernstein and Bloxham suggested 2,500 grafts. They did not report having surgery with Bernstein, a result, or complications. They said they felt more comfortable talking to Bloxham, but considered Bernstein more experienced with advanced Norwood hair loss cases.
- u/u/No_Cicada7394 patient
- Very unimpressive results source ↗
u/No_Cicada7394 reports having had two transplants, without stating whether both were performed by Robert Bernstein. They characterize the results as “very unimpressive” and state, “DR Bernstein was NOT GOOD.”
1 thread they wrote in
- May 2025 NYC surgeons are so disappointing. ↗
- u/u/Pale_Tell_9627 consideringmale
In March 2021, the 26-year-old male reporter was considering options in NYC and said he had been working with Dr. Bernstein; he did not report surgery, cost, technique, or results. He characterized the doctors as extremely knowledgeable and easy to talk to, with pricing he considered reasonable for the area.
1 thread they wrote in
- u/u/ThrowAway-eh-yeah patient38 yo NW6 2,450 grafts surgery 2021
- Confident in Bernstein's screening. source ↗
- Hair transplant should look good. source ↗
- Acute anxiety after surgery. source ↗
At age 38, the user reported having a 2,450-graft FUT with Dr. Bernstein in September 2021, characterized as Norwood 6. Two days after surgery, they reported acute anxiety but said, “I think my hair transplant should look good.” They described confidence in Bernstein's suitability screening and plan, while noting Bernstein advised a second transplant might be needed for coverage or density.
1 thread they wrote in
-
- Both have been prenominal source ↗
As of December 2023, they were a diffuse thinner who had met Dr. Robert Bernstein personally and expected their own transplant “next month or so.” They characterized Bernstein and Dr. Shaver positively, saying, “Both have been prenominal.”
1 thread they wrote in
-
The user reports having gone to Dr. Robert Bernstein in New York; no surgery date, graft count, technique, price, or photos were stated. They said the office did a good job on their mustache, but it did not work over a scar they were trying to conceal, and they were looking for another doctor.
1 thread they wrote in
- Apr 2023 Doctor in NY/NJ ↗
-
The user saw Dr Robert Bernstein in NYC to obtain a 1 mg finasteride prescription; no hair-transplant procedure is reported. They described Bernstein as “very informative,” but said he “doesn't have the greatest bedside manner.”
1 thread they wrote in
To see more reviews and get the full picture: