NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (Dec. 2, 2025) – Hoag continues to advance the standard for patient-centered care with the launch of Styled for Surgery, a first-of-its-kind program that transforms the traditional surgical experience by integrating professional hairstyling into pre-operative planning.
In traditional brain surgeries, the portion of patient’s head would be shaved in the operating room to make space for the incision. Styled for Surgery, however, prioritizes maintaining the patient’s physical appearance following surgery. Prior to surgery, the patient meets with a hair stylist and receives a custom haircut designed to ensure their incision would blend seamlessly. This helps preserve each patient’s sense of identity and confidence during recovery.
Developed by Ezequiel Goldschmidt, MD, PhD, a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon who specializes in brain tumors at Hoag’s Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute and the Hoag Family Cancer Institute, Styled for Surgery is offered at no cost to patients, thanks to generous donor support.
“At Hoag, we understand that healing after brain surgery isn’t just physical; it’s emotional too,” said Dr. Goldschmidt. “By coordinating incision planning with a patient’s natural hairstyle, we can minimize visible impact, helping our patients heal with comfort, confidence and dignity.”
The day before surgery, Dr. Goldschmidt will mark a patient’s incision site. Then patients consult with Loni Kohlmyer, a Hoag patient image specialist and professional hair stylist who collaborates with the Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s Oncology Support Services team, to plan a hairstyle that shows as much or little of the incision site as preferred.
“Patients often worry about how they’ll look and feel after surgery,” said Kohlmyer. “Styled for Surgery helps them maintain a sense of identity and control during recovery. When they look in the mirror, we want them to see themselves and feel empowered.”
ABOUT HOAG
Hoag is a nonprofit, regional healthcare delivery system in Orange County, California. Delivering world-class, comprehensive, personalized care, Hoag consists of 1,800 top physicians, 18 urgent care facilities, 13 health & wellness centers, and two award-winning hospitals. Hoag offers a comprehensive blend of healthcare services that includes seven institutes providing specialized services in the following areas: cancer, digestive health, heart and vascular, neurosciences, spine, women’s health, and orthopedics through Hoag’s affiliate, Hoag Orthopedic Institute, which consists of an orthopedic hospital and five ambulatory surgical centers. Hoag is the highest ranked hospital in Orange County by U.S. News & World Report and the only OC hospital ranked in the Top 10 in California, as well as a designated Magnet® with Distinction hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). For more information, visit hoag.org.
