Dr. Steven Gabel
Founder and medical director·Gabel Hair Restoration Center (Gabel Center)
Portland, United States
Background
Dr. Steven Gabel is the founder and medical director of the Gabel Hair Restoration Center in Portland, Oregon 1. The clinic states he has performed hair transplants since 2001 and describes him as the Northwest's most experienced FUE surgeon, with his first FUE case in 2004 1. It states he personally performs all consultations and surgeries, is the only surgeon at his practice, and is not affiliated with an outside franchise 2. It adds that he schedules only one transplant per day to focus fully on that patient 1.
Procedures and techniques
The clinic offers FUT (strip) and FUE donor harvesting 5. It also lists non-surgical options: finasteride, minoxidil, and PRP 8. It describes the implantation approach as microscopic, ultra-refined follicular unit grafting, placing single-hair grafts at the hairline and multi-hair grafts elsewhere for fuller coverage 2. It performs megasessions, defined as more than 3,000 grafts (sometimes over 5,000) in one sitting, calling this a significant time and cost benefit to the patient 4.
Pricing
No procedure prices are published on the clinic's site. Its payment page instead lists accepted methods (Visa, Mastercard, personal checks up to two weeks before surgery, or certified bank checks closer to the date) and financing through Cherry and CareCredit for qualified patients 6. The site states that results are not guaranteed and vary by individual 5.
Booking and aftercare
The clinic considers the in-office consultation essential to treatment planning, and has patients fill out a questionnaire beforehand covering the concerns Dr. Gabel needs to understand 3. For those who cannot attend in person, it offers a virtual consultation by phone or Google Meet, with photographs showing the patient's desired hairline drawn on for reference 3. Before either format, patients are encouraged to think through goals such as more density, a lower hairline, a fuller crown, or repairing a prior transplant, and may bring a friend or family member for support 3.
Credentials and memberships
The clinic states Dr. Gabel is a diplomate of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery, board-certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and board-certified in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 1. It states he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and holds membership in the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians and the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons 2. He is listed in the ISHRS surgeon directory as FISHRS 7.
Sources
Facts on this page were compiled from these pages, checked July 2026. Archived copies are kept for every citation.
- 1. https://www.gabelcenter.com/about-us/about-dr-gabel/
- 2. https://www.gabelcenter.com/about-us/the-gabel-difference/
- 3. https://www.gabelcenter.com/consultations/
- 4. https://www.gabelcenter.com/hair-transplants/megasessions/
- 5. https://www.gabelcenter.com/
- 6. https://www.gabelcenter.com/resources/financing/
- 7. https://ishrs.org/doctor/45931/
- 8. https://www.gabelcenter.com/dr-steven-gabel-portland-oregon/
What patients say on reddit
40 people shared their experience with Dr. Steven Gabel across 73 reddit threads between 2013 and 2026. Every graft count, price and verdict is linked to the original thread.
- 1,800 grafts surgery 2026
- Thrilled with first-year results source ↗
- Office communication was perfect source ↗
- Unequivocal recommendation source ↗
- Crown remains thin in harsh light source ↗
randfunction reports about 2,000 crown FUE grafts in May 2025 and about 1,800 front-hairline FUE grafts in July 2026 with Dr. Steven Gabel; each procedure cost $21,500. At the latest update, two weeks after the second procedure, they said it appeared to be healing well. One year after the first procedure, they said they were thrilled, while noting the crown still looked thin when wet or in harsh direct light; they described office communication and post-op support as perfect.
5 threads they wrote in
- Jul 2026 Dr Gabel, Portland, OR: ~2000 grafts FUE (May 2025) | ~1800 grafts FUE (Jul 2026) ↗
- Jul 2026 Is 1500 enough? Have 1000 scalp and 500 beard grafts left. ↗
- Jul 2026 Dr Gabel - Transplant Quote ↗
- Jun 2026 Looking for US West Coast Surgeon Recommendations (Need advice/more options to reach out to) ↗
- Jul 2025 One year following FUE 2200 units with Dr. Steve Gabel ↗
- NW4–5 2,261 grafts
- Happy with the front hairline source ↗
- Wanted more mid-scalp and crown density source ↗
- Underwhelmed, prompting a second transplant source ↗
Work_Poke_5 reported a 2,261-graft FUE procedure with Dr. Steven Gabel, for which they paid roughly $20k; they described being around Norwood 4–5 when first seeing him. They initially said the result matched the surgical plan and they were happy with the front hairline, but wanted more mid-scalp and crown density. By their latest report, they said they were definitely underwhelmed and that this was a leading reason for seeking a second transplant.
6 threads they wrote in
- Apr 2026 Almost 6 month update from 2nd HT with Dr. Nader ↗
- Nov 2025 Looking for a solid clinic in the Pacific Northwest. Any recommendations? ↗
- Nov 2025 Is Dr. Sahar Nadimi the top hair transplant surgeon in the USA? ↗
- Nov 2025 Dr. Luis Nader - FUE 2,926 grafts ↗
- Apr 2024 6 Month Update - Dr. Steven Gabel - FUE 2,261 grafts ↗
- https://www.reddit.com/comments/178007n ↗
- male 2,200 grafts surgery 2024
- Gabel was amazing source ↗
- Could text recovery questions day or night source ↗
- Shock loss looked truly awful source ↗
- Could not be happier with result source ↗
JeffBezosSnuffFilm reports a 2024 FUE procedure, describing 2,261 grafts at two months and 2,200 units for $20,000 at one year. They say Gabel performed pretty much the entire surgery and characterized him as amazing. They reported substantial shedding, numbness, itchiness, swelling, and an ugly early recovery, but said the result looked natural and opaque around months 4–5 and that they could not be happier at one year.
3 threads they wrote in
- 3V 1,412 grafts surgery 2023
- Yet another great experience source ↗
- Staff were helpful and accommodating source ↗
- They did not rush me source ↗
- Scar became larger and noticeable source ↗
- Highly recommend source ↗
SearchForSymmetry reports three FUT procedures totaling about 4,500 grafts, including a 2010 FUT of about 1,775 grafts for about $7,300, and a 2023 1,412-graft FUE for about $10,000. Their latest update was five months after the FUE, which addressed the crown, an old FUT scar, and center/mid-scalp thinning; they reported shock loss. Across their posts, they characterize Dr. Gabel as excellent and highly recommend him, while noting that their FUT scar became larger and more noticeable after three strips.
6 threads they wrote in
- Oct 2023 1,412 FUE with Dr. Steven Gabel ↗
- Aug 2023 1 day post-op with Dr. Konior ~2k FUE ↗
- May 2023 Curious how those at Norwood 7 are doing post-op ↗
- Feb 2022 Is bosley legit? I feel like maybe I need it? I do hate my hair and no style I can pull off because it looks like crap. I had no idea getting a hair transplant was only 5k. If I knew that I would have done it ages ago. ↗
- Oct 2021 Do you need to be completely stabilised before undergoing a transplant? ↗
- Sept 2021 Split on whether to do FUE or FUT for diffuse thinning ↗
- Norwood 5+ 3,081 grafts surgery 2026
- Cares deeply about patients source ↗
- Focused and direct in consultation source ↗
- Tender scar strained during exercise source ↗
Ok_Win6864 reported a 3,081-graft FUT with Dr. Steven Gabel in February 2026 for gradual Norwood 5+ recession and diffuse thinning; no cost was stated. At their latest update, they were at month 3. They characterized Gabel as especially caring, focused, and direct, including during substantial bleeding and oozing during placement; they also reported a tender FUT scar that exercise strained at just over one month.
1 thread they wrote in
- 2,300 grafts surgery 2025
moarhairs reported a 2,300-graft FUE with Dr. Steven Gabel in early May 2025, costing $22,500 plus flights, hotel, meals, and other expenses. At 37 days post-op, they said they had a good experience and described quick responses to photos during the first 14 days. They said final results still needed time.
1 thread they wrote in
- 1,710 grafts surgery 2023
- Very pleased with early outcome source ↗
- Very responsive over email source ↗
- Favored a natural future hairline source ↗
They initially planned a 2,000-graft FUE procedure quoted at $19,000, then reported 1,710 FUE grafts by Gabel in 2023 for $18.5k. At their five-month follow-up, they said they were very pleased with the outcome so far and characterized Gabel as responsive by email. Their overall judgment was: “I can’t recommend him enough.”
2 threads they wrote in
- u/u/J_clouch patient1,900 grafts
They reported FUE of approximately 1,900 grafts with Dr. Gabel in Portland, targeting hairline loss and a bit of the midscalp; price and surgery date were not stated. At 12 months, they said they were “Very happy with my results after 12 months,” while noting one thinner area that had improved month by month.
1 thread they wrote in
- May 2024 A little over 8 months ↗
- u/u/moarhairs patient2,300 grafts surgery 2025
- Very happy with results so far source ↗
u/moarhairs reports a 2,300-graft FUE transplant with Dr. Steven Gabel in 2025. At about eight months post-op in January 2026, they said they were “very happy with the results so far.” They were considering returning to Gabel for crown work and front touch-ups, with a quoted cost of ~$20k.
1 thread they wrote in
- Jan 2026 Options for second transplant ↗
- u/u/ChoptheCactus patientfemale 1,500 grafts surgery 2022
She reported a September 2022 Individual Trim FUE procedure with Dr. Steven Gabel in Portland, with a little over 1,500 grafts and an all-in cost a little over $15K. Two days post-op, she said she really loved Dr. Gabel and characterized him as professional; avoiding a shaved head was a deciding benefit. No complication or growth result was reported at that update.
1 thread they wrote in
- 2,208 grafts surgery 2024
- Wonderful experience; happy with everything done source ↗
They reported a 2,208-graft transplant at The Gabel Center in July 2024 and posted at day 7 after surgery. They characterized their experience as “wonderful” and said they were very happy with how everything was done.
1 thread they wrote in
- Jul 2024 Scab removal question ↗
- u/u/Work_Poke_5 patientNorwood 3/4
The user reports having their first transplant with Dr. Steven Gabel from a Norwood 3/4 starting point. They called Gabel a “Fantastic doctor” and said they received good results, but wanted more density and planned a second procedure with Dr. Nader.
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