Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, MD Hair Restoration Surgeon | Charlotte, North Carolina
- Diplomate, American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS)
- Past President, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), 2011
- Fellow, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (FISHRS)
- Platinum Follicle Award, ISHRS – awarded for outstanding scientific contribution to hair restoration surgery
- First accepted IAHRS (International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons) member in the Carolinas
- Only Hair Transplant Mentor-recommended surgeon in North Carolina and South Carolina
- Three ISHRS research grants
- 25-plus years of surgical hair restoration experience
About Dr. Jerry Cooley, MD
Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, MD has practiced surgical hair restoration in Charlotte, North Carolina for over 25 years. Every procedure performed at Cooley Hair Center – FUE, FUT, PRP therapy, scalp reduction, and CVG repair – is personally performed by Dr. Cooley. No surgical step is delegated to physician assistants or technicians.
Dr. Cooley served as President of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) in 2011 and holds the Diplomate designation from the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS), a professional credential specific to hair restoration surgery. He was awarded the ISHRS Platinum Follicle Award in recognition of his scientific contributions to hair restoration surgery, and has received three ISHRS research grants.
As a hair loss patient himself, Dr. Cooley brings a patient's perspective to every consultation. His approach centers on patient education first: understanding the cause and pattern of a patient's hair loss before recommending a treatment, and setting honest expectations about what surgical and non-surgical options can and cannot achieve.
Cooley Hair Center serves patients from across the Carolinas and from across the country and internationally, many of whom travel specifically for Dr. Cooley's surgical expertise and the clinic's record on natural-looking results.
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS) – Diplomate. The ABHRS evaluates physicians for its Diplomate designation in hair restoration surgery. Diplomate status requires passing a comprehensive written and oral examination covering surgical technique, patient safety, and clinical outcomes. Dr. Cooley is an ABHRS Diplomate.
International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) – Fellow (FISHRS) and Past President (2011). The ISHRS is the global professional organization for hair restoration surgeons. Dr. Cooley is an active ISHRS fellow and served as its elected President in 2011.
International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS) – First accepted member in the Carolinas. The IAHRS is an independent consumer organization that vets and lists hair restoration surgeons based on ethical standards and patient outcomes.
Hair Transplant Mentor – Only recommended surgeon in the Carolinas. Hair Transplant Mentor is an independent resource that evaluates and publicly recommends hair restoration surgeons based on surgical quality and patient experience.
American Hair Loss Association (AHLA) – Endorsed. The AHLA is a patient advocacy organization that endorses hair loss specialists who meet its standards for clinical practice and patient education.
Dr. Cooley's Approach to Patient Care
Dr. Cooley develops a personal relationship with every patient before recommending a treatment plan. His philosophy: patients who understand the facts about hair loss and what restoration can realistically achieve are more likely to be satisfied with their outcomes. That means honest conversations about candidacy, technique trade-offs, expected timelines, and the limitations of both surgical and non-surgical approaches.
As a hair loss patient himself, Dr. Cooley has experienced the psychological weight that hair loss can carry. That personal context shapes how he listens to patients and how he explains options.
Third-party recognition
Joe Tillman, founder of Hair Transplant Mentor and an independent hair restoration patient advocate, has reviewed and recommended Dr. Cooley as one of the select group of surgeons in the Hair Transplant Mentor network.
Visit our results gallery to view before and after photos of Cooley Hair Center patients.
BEFORE & AFTER GALLERY
Research, Publications, and Recognition
Research and publications
Dr. Cooley has authored peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters on surgical hair restoration, stem cell treatments for hair loss, and hair follicle cloning. He served as the head United States consultant for Intercytex Ltd., a British biotech company that conducted clinical trials toward a hair cloning treatment. His current research collaboration with HairClone continues that work, focusing on hair follicle banking and regenerative approaches to hair loss.
Awards and recognition
ISHRS Platinum Follicle Award (2008) – awarded by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery for outstanding scientific contribution to the field
Named to the Apes to Gentleman Best Hair Transplant Doctors in the World list (2026 edition)
ISHRS President, 2011 – elected by the global membership of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
Education and Training
- Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, top honors
- Internship: Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
- Residency: University of Maryland, Department of Dermatology, Chief Resident
- Undergraduate: Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois – Magna Cum Laude
Board certification: American Board of Dermatology (dermatologist, board-certified). In addition to his ABHRS Diplomate designation, Dr. Cooley is a board-certified dermatologist, providing a medical foundation that informs his approach to scalp health, hair follicle biology, and non-surgical hair loss management.
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS) – Diplomate. The ABHRS is the only board certification body specific to hair restoration surgery. Diplomate status requires passing a comprehensive written and oral examination covering surgical technique, patient safety, and clinical outcomes. Dr. Cooley is an ABHRS Diplomate.
International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) – Fellow (FISHRS) and Past President (2011). The ISHRS is the global professional organization for hair restoration surgeons. Dr. Cooley is an active ISHRS fellow and served as its elected President in 2011.
International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS) – First accepted member in the Carolinas. The IAHRS is an independent consumer organization that vets and lists hair restoration surgeons based on ethical standards and patient outcomes.
Hair Transplant Mentor – Only recommended surgeon in the Carolinas. Hair Transplant Mentor is an independent resource that evaluates and publicly recommends hair restoration surgeons based on surgical quality and patient experience.
American Hair Loss Association (AHLA) – Endorsed. The AHLA is a patient advocacy organization that endorses hair loss specialists who meet its standards for clinical practice and patient education.
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