Dr. Pawlinga: Expert Hair Transplant Surgeon in Latham NY
Dr. Pawlinga's Story
Dr. Pawlinga’s journey into medicine began from the ground up. He started his career in healthcare as an orderly and steadily advanced through the nursing field, becoming first a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and then a Registered Nurse (RN). His dedication to patient care eventually led him to pursue medical school and become a physician.
The moment that inspired Dr. Pawlinga to take that next step came from a personal experience. Prior to attending medical school, he underwent a hair transplant procedure himself. The transformation had a profound impact on his life and confidence. Experiencing those results firsthand inspired him to help others achieve the same life-changing improvement.
After completing medical school, Dr. Pawlinga completed specialized training through an ISHRS-approved fellowship and further worked for another 12 years under the physician who performed his own hair transplant, doctor Michael Beehner MD, founder of Saratoga Hair Transplant Center and one of the pioneers of Hair Transplantation. Dr. Pawlinga still remains deeply grateful for Dr. Beehner’s mentorship, guidance, and generosity throughout his training.
For more than 20 years, Dr. Pawlinga has dedicated his career exclusively to hair restoration. As an independent contractor, he has traveled across the United States performing hair transplant procedures and gaining extensive experience with cases of all levels of complexity. Over the years, he has had the privilege of working with a wide range of patients—from everyday individuals seeking renewed confidence to country music artists, public figures, actors, and professionals from many walks of life.
Despite the variety of patients he has treated, Dr. Pawlinga believes every case carries the same importance. Helping people regain confidence and feel better about their appearance is what motivates him every day. He truly loves what he does and looks forward to every opportunity to help someone change their life for the better.
Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing, SUNY Polytechnic Institute – Utica/Rome, NY
- Doctorate of Medicine, Ross University School of Medicine – Dominica, WI
- Residency Training, St. Clare’s Hospital – Schenectady, NY
- Hair Transplantation Fellowship – Saratoga Hair Transplant, ISHRS, Saratoga Springs, NY
Meet Dr. Pawlinga
Dr. Christopher Pawlinga is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and is also an active member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). Dr. Pawlinga has practiced the art and science of hair transplantation as a full-time hair transplant surgeon for over 20 years performing thousands of hair transplant procedures. Having trained with and worked alongside some of the industry’s most experienced, well-regarded physicians, he has honed his surgical skills and has distinguished himself in the field of hair transplantation surgery.
Not only is Dr. Pawlinga a hair transplant surgeon, but he is also a patient. After completing his undergraduate studies at the SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, NY, and earning his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine, he was experiencing hair loss and became a hair transplant patient. This life-changing procedure sparked an interest in the field of hair restoration. Immediately following Family Practice Residency training at St. Clare’s Hospital in New York, and after becoming board certified in Family Medicine, he began his specialty training in Hair Transplantation Surgery and completed one of the few sanctioned fellowships in hair transplantation surgery.
Dr. Pawlinga is passionate about treating hair loss in patients, from a medical perspective as well as from an aesthetic one. “I wanted to be a hair transplant surgeon about a year after my procedure because I was so impressed with the results, and wanted to help other people going through what I went through” notes Dr. Pawlinga. “That’s when I realized the power of hair transplants,” he adds. For Dr. Pawlinga, the most satisfying aspect of being a hair transplant surgeon “is seeing a patient come back in 12 months, incredibly happy with their results, and hearing how it has changed their lives. That makes it all worth doing. Hair loss can be very emotional and I am a patient so I understand their needs. I truly love what I do so this isn’t work for me. I haven’t worked a day of my life in the last 18 years. It’s all I do, and I do it exclusively, and I do it at the absolute highest level.
