Dr. Mark Unger
Dr. Mark Unger operates a Toronto-based practice dedicated exclusively to hair transplantation. He completed his medical training at the University of Toronto, his postgraduate training at the University of Ottawa, and a fellowship in hair restoration with the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). A member of the ISHRS with two decades of clinical experience, he served as an editor for the 5th edition of Hair Transplantation, the leading textbook in the field, and as a contributor to the 6th edition. Dr. Unger is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, where he provides both didactic and clinical teaching for postgraduate residents in plastic surgery and dermatology.
A central principle of Dr. Unger’s practice is that no single technique is appropriate for every patient. To ensure truly individualized care, he has taken care to learn and offer a full range of modern surgical options—including FUE and FUT, shave and non-shave approaches, and both short-hair and long-hair transplantation. His philosophy is to tailor the therapy to the patient rather than tailoring the patient to the therapy, selecting the method that best fits each individual’s goals.
Dr. Unger offers the same thoughtful approach as his father and mentor, Dr. Walter Unger—one that balances short-term objectives with long-term planning to ensure durable, natural results that continue to look appropriate throughout a patient’s life.
Publications
High Pressure, Low Risk: Managing Hypertension as a Symptom, Not a Crisis. International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) 33rd World Congress, Berlin, Germany, October 2025.
The Youth Pill That Ages You: Testosterone Therapy’s Empty Promises and Vanishing Hairlines. International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) 33rd World Congress, Berlin, Germany, October 2025.
Principles in Hair Transplantation, Dermatology Resident Rounds, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, March 2024.
Strauss M, Quan RSA, Hyman T, Ishaky L, Kalvari D, Hecker-Teper M, Newmarch T, Unger M, Orkin A. Development and implementation of the Compassionate 1 Curriculum: an educational initiative to improve the delivery of care to patients receiving involuntary orders for mental health emergencies. CJEM. 2025 Apr 23.
Unger M. I’m an emergency room physician. I’ve seen what a functioning health care system needs and it’s not more downloading to pharmacies. The Toronto Star. August 1, 2024.
Unger M. Ontario’s health care system faces a knockout punch unless immediate action is taken. The Toronto Star. August 3, 2022.
Unger WP, Unger M. Planning Principles: Good Short- and Long-Term Planning in Hair Transplantation. In: Shapiro R, Unger RH, eds. Hair Transplantation 6th ed. New York: Informa USA, 2023, pp.134-142.
Principles in Hair Transplantation, Dermatology Resident Rounds, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, March 2024.
Principles in Hair Transplantation, Dermatology Resident Rounds, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, June 2021.
Unger, W., Unger, R., Unger, M. Hair Transplantation and Alopecia Reduction. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, 8th ed. Goldsmith, LA., Katz, SI. et al (eds.). New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012.
Wesley, C., Unger, R., Rosenberg, M., Unger, M., Unger, W. Factors influencing postoperative hyperesthesia in hair restoration surgery. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 10(4) (2011), pp 301-306.
Unger, W., Unger, R., Unger, M., Shapiro, R. Hair Transplantation 5th ed. Co-editor. New York: Informa USA, 2011.
Knudsen R, Unger M. Complications in the postoperative period. In: Unger WP, Shapiro R, Unger RH, Unger MA eds. Hair Transplantation 5th ed. New York: Informa USA, 2011, pp. 419-422.
Unger, M. The surgical suite. In: Unger WP, Shapiro R, Unger RH, Unger MA eds. Hair Transplantation 5th ed. New York: Informa USA, 2011, pp. 505-510.
Unger, W., Unger, R., Unger, M. Hair Transplantation and Alopecia Reduction. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, 7th ed. Wolff, K., Goldsmith, LA., et al (eds.). New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007.
Unger, W., Unger, R., Unger, M. Hair Transplantation. In: The Atlas of Cosmetic Surgery, 2nd ed. Kaminer, Dover, Arndt, et al (eds.). London: Elsevier, 2009, pp. 365-398.
Watanabe, H., Unger, M., Tuvel, B., Wang, B., Sauder, D.N. Contact hypersensitivity: the mechanism of immune responses and T cell balance. J. Interferon Cytokine Res 22 (2002) pp. 407-412.
Tambeur, L., David, T., Unger, M., Armstrong, S., Ivanov, J., Webb, G. Results of surgery for aortic root aneurysm in patients with the Marfan syndrome. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 17 (4) (2000), pp. 415-419.
Goodwill, D., Unger M., Sauder, D.N. Pemphigus vulgaris: patient information packet. (1998).
