While serving as a surgical resident at Cornell Medical Center, in New York, Dr. Gary Hitzig had already lost a significant amount of his hair. He had previously spent most of his summer earnings trying every hair growth remedy on the market. In 1974 he underwent his first hair transplant surgery. The results were less than successful. In late 1975, Dr. Hitzig learned of new techniques for hair transplant surgery from an attending physician at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Institute and had his transplant redone successfully. Thrilled and fascinated by the possibilities of hair transplantation surgery, Dr. Hitzig committed his professional time and practice to hair restoration in 1976.