Coalition Surgeons

Falceros - Managing Publisher · #1 **Top** 09-10-2009, 02:36 PM

Dear Forum Members,

As many of you know, we gather as much information as possible about a physician, their staff, technique and track record before they are even considered for recommendation on the Hair Transplant Network. Part of our review process involves getting input from patients and the members of this forum community. To learn more about this review process, click here.

I would appreciate this community's input on the potential recommendation of Dr. Vladimir Panine of River Grove, IL on the Hair Transplant Network. At this time, Dr. Panine is only being considered for recommendation, not the Coalition. To see our standards for recommendation, click here.

Dr. Panine of Chicago Hair Transplant Clinic has over 14 years of experience in surgical hair restoration and performs hair transplant surgery as the primary part of his practice. He and his experienced staff averaging 6 years of experience can perform over 3000 follicular unit grafts in a single session when appropriate for patient.

In addition to a showcase of impressive results, Pat Hennessey, Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network visited with Dr. Panine and observed him and his staff in live surgery last year. After observing Dr. Panine and his staff in surgery, Pat felt that his work was truly state of the art. Unfortunately due to technical issues, the photos taken by Pat during his visit were lost and thus, highlights from Pat's visit have not been posted. However, to see photo examples of Dr. Panine and his staff performing surgery, click here.

Adaptability and flexibility are vital ingredients Dr. Panine includes to produce a successful and natural looking hair transplant. Dr. Panine creates a combination of parallel (sagital) and perpendicular (coronal/lateral) incisions at an appropriate angle to mimic the patient's natural direction of hair growth. Dr. Panine typically densely packs up to 40 FU/cm2 when appropriate depending on the patient's goals and area of baldness. He believes it's better to add additional density in a second procedure to protect the scalp's vascularity and maximize hair growth yield from the first procedure.

Dr. Panine uses minimally invasive techniques to ensure minimal trauma to the scalp and maximum growth yield. Dr. Panine harvests the donor strip using a single blade to minimize transection and uses the trichophytic closure technique exclusively to minimize the appearance of the scar. By using a single running stitch with individual sutures in between, Dr. Panine feels he can minimize tension on the wound and create an optimal scar. Dr. Panine's experienced staff carefully trims all follicular units under microscopes and inserts them into tiny recipient incisions made by Dr. Panine.

Given Dr. Panine's and his staff's extensive experience and dedication to state of the art hair transplantation, I believe he should be considered for recommendation. To view our standards for recommendation, click here.

View some of their patient and surgical photos below:

4152 Grafts in two sessions with Dr. Panine

3059 Grafts with Dr. Panine

3223 Grafts with Dr. Panine

4672 Grafts in two sessions with Dr. Panine

2575 Grafts with Dr. Panine

1495 Grafts with Dr. Panine

2452 Grafts with Dr. Panine

2880 Grafts with Dr. Panine

Surgical Album Demonstrating Surgery ??“ 2790 Grafts

I welcome input and comments from forum members regarding his potential recommendation.

Best wishes,

Bill (Falceros)

TC17 · #2 **Top** 09-10-2009, 02:55 PM

Absolutely. His most recent photos of his work rival the best of the best on this site. He certainly deserves to be recommended, and if he keeps it up, he should be in the coalition.

thanatopsis_awry · #3 **Top** 09-10-2009, 03:22 PM

100%; he's presented some very impressive work in a professional manner, and I have zero reservations about giving a blessing to Dr. Panine's clinic. I only hope that once recommended Dr. Panine continues his level of involvement, as it has definitely been a benefit to the community and potential patients.

TC17 · #4 **Top** 09-10-2009, 03:36 PM

I do have two questions for Dr. Panine that I hope he will answer:

1. Does he perform FUE? And, if so, how long has he been performing it, does he have any examples of his FUE work, what size/type punch does he use, and what does he charge for it?

2. The patient who received 2,425 grafts is listed as a 27 year old Class 3V and Dr. Panine restored his crown. Why? My understanding is that at that age, and with such a large bald crown, the likelihood that the patient will progress to a NW 6+ is very likely. What if the patient runs out of donor and cannot keep up with his hair loss? Even if this was discussed with the patient, and the patient decided he wanted a crown restoration, shouldn't the physician refuse to do something that might endanger the patient down the road?

hdude46 · #5 **Top** 09-10-2009, 05:03 PM

just b/c he has that much loss now does not guarantee he will be a nw6 plus. grant it, it is a good question and there is a good chance he might but nothing is a guarantee. propecia can maintain what he has for a very long time.

aaron1234 · #6 **Top** 09-10-2009, 07:12 PM

I remember awhile back seeing a few iffy results from Dr. Panine. But since then, most if not all his results have been looking really great. And his photo documentation has been thorough as well. I would support his recommendation.

One has to wonder what PGP would have to say...

thanatopsis_awry · #7 **Top** 09-10-2009, 07:24 PM

Indeed, aaron....I was extremely skeptical when first introduced to Dr. Panine, but have been universally impressed since, and agree with you that their documentation is thorough and upper tier in quality.

Falceros - Managing Publisher · #8 **Top** 09-10-2009, 09:55 PM

Aaron,

You're right. I too was iffy about his results when they were first presented. Frankly, Pat and I felt that some of the pictures Stuart initially presented wasn't indicative of the regular work he's performing today.

It was also clear that their photo quality and presentation was less than optimal. Over the last year Stuart took my advice and began taking and presenting better quality and more realistic photos. In my opinion, the kinds of photos Stuart has been presenting recently better demonstrate the artistry and skill of Dr. Panine and his staff today.

All the Best,

Bill (Falc)

Falceros - Managing Publisher · #9 **Top** 09-10-2009, 10:03 PM

TC17,

I can answer some of your questions though obviously Dr. Panine's clinic is welcome to jump in.

Dr. Panine does provide FUE and uses punches ranging between .8mm and 1mm depending on the individual. His FUE procedures typically max out around 700 daily. I'm not sure however, how long he's been providing FUE as an option.

Regarding the restored crown on the patient who received 2452 grafts, it seems like a good move. Obviously, there are always risks of future hair loss however, the number of grafts uses were minimal, and frankly, it doesn't take a lot of grafts in the crown to cover baldness. To create density in the crown however, is another story and requires a significant number of grafts.

That said, assuming this patient has good donor laxity and density, he should be in good shape for subsequent procedures if necessary. Hopefully he's on Propecia and/or Rogaine to help slow down or stop future loss.

All the Best,

Bill (Falc)

rpachigo · #10 **Top** 09-11-2009, 10:28 AM

For some reason, I was wondering why this doctor wasn't recommended last week and lo and behold now he is up for recommendation. I absolutely concur.

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