John P. Cole, MD

John P. Cole, MD

Atlanta, Georgia

In 1990 John P. Cole, MD, became a pioneer in total follicular unit hair transplantation and microscopic dissection, focusing on transforming hair restoration surgery from cosmetically unacceptable results into aesthetically pleasing results. In 1998 Dr. Cole became one of the first diplomats of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS) and later served on both the examination committee and board of directors of the ABHRS. Dr. Cole led the Newcomer program of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRR) in 2000 and 2001. In 2002 Dr. Cole chaired the 10th annual meeting of the ISHRS in Chicago, IL. Collectively, Dr. Cole has chaired 13 major international conferences, and Dr. Cole has also been a scientific director for more conferences devoted to FUE than any other physician.

Dr. Cole received his first patent for innovative surgical instruments in 1998 and has acquired six additional patents from the USPTO since then, along with numerous patents-pending devices. In 2003 Dr. Cole pioneered the successful methods of performing follicular unit extraction or FUE hair restoration and began developing the instruments necessary to perform FUE. Dr. Cole also began teaching FUE to other physicians in 2003 and continues to train physicians how to perform FUE. Today FUE is the most popular hair restoration surgery procedure globally, and FUE still depends on the basic principles and mechanisms described by Dr. Cole in 2003. In 2003 Dr. Cole opened the first FUE clinic in Europe and, in 2007, the first FUE clinic in Asia. In 2005 Dr. Cole developed the first complex motion profile device, including oscillation, for FUE. Dr. Cole filed patents on all significant alterations in punch designs for FUE in 2006. Manufacturers continue to copy these designs. In 2013 Dr. Cole became the 20th recipient of the Gold Follicle from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. In 2014 Dr. Cole opened an FUE training center with Dr. Ozgur Oztan in Ankara, Turkey. In 2019 Dr. Cole received the second Lifetime Achievement Award from FUE Europe, which made him the first to receive both a Gold Follicle Award and Lifetime Achievement award.

Dr. Cole entered the field of regenerative medicine in 2007. In 2015 Dr. Cole developed a means to lyse platelets to achieve five times the concentration of high molecular weight proteins compared to standard activated PRP with calcium gluconate or thrombin. In 2016 Dr. Cole brought topical finasteride to the United States after success in the clinic he helped establish in Rome, Italy. Dr. Cole is a strong advocate for adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells to treat hair loss.

Dr. Cole remains one of the strongest proponents of FUE and a leader in regenerative medicine for hair loss. Dr. Cole is currently editing the first textbook related to regenerative medicine for hair loss. In addition, he serves as vice president for the Academy of Regenerative Medicine and Surgery Society (AIRMES). He has authored numerous papers and chapters related to regenerative medicine and hair restoration surgery. Dr. Cole currently practices hair transplant in Atlanta, GA, and New York, NY.