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LondonTraveller

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Everything posted by LondonTraveller

  1. I definitely second this: do not ever consider the UK, with the possible exception of the Farjos. My advice: go to Brussels and visit Dr Bisanga at BHR.
  2. I highly recommend Dr Bisanga's BHR clinic. Natural hairlines, good growth rate and the 'customer experience' is second to none.
  3. Language should not be a problem in Belgium and Dr Bisanga at BHR Clinic. Dr B. has been trained in the USA and his lead technician (Leonard) is American. Plus Brussels is very 'international' and English is almost a third official language.
  4. I second all comments made here about BHR. Very good and natural results- Outstanding customer service. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
  5. Hello there. My understanding is that the best doctors in Europe including the UK are: 1. Dr Bisanga 2. Dr Devroye and possibly Drs Farjo/Feriduni. (Incidentally, I had a procedure with the first two, but this is pure coincidence...)_
  6. Hey there I second this- By all means avoid Wimpole. Please also consider continental Europe (Belgium): 1. Bisanga 2. Devroye
  7. I had one consultation with said doctor before settling in the end for Dr Devroye for my first procedure. The consultation lasted 5 minutes and he recommended 800 grafts!!. This would have ended up in disaster. What I cannot believe is that a physician who in the opinion of educated patients and peers produces sub-par work still holds prestigious posts in professional associations. I almost fell for that myself, since I thought that a mediocre practitioner would not be chosen for these positions. But it turns out these honorific titles actually mean very little (It is similar to membership of professional associations where you only have to pay to be listed and is not evidence of profesionalism/quality of work). Said physician also advertises in free newspapers given to commuters saying that 'he has pioneered a new method of HT using follicular units'. Whereas we all know that the true pioneers in this field are Rassman and Bernstein who first described the FU technique in a medical journal in 1995. Also, a true professional does not need to advertise that way, they get referrals through word of mouth. I write all of this as I am quite upset to have read the unfortunate experiences of a number of UK patients at that clinic. I am surprised that the UK medical authorities remain passive. Are any of you aware of any past or present legal action launched against this clinic? So the lesson to be learned is: For UK patients, with the possible exception of the Farjos, the best place to get a HT are: - 'Heathrow airport' (for North American doctors) - 'Eurostar train stations' (for doctors in Belgium). And that's all there is to it!
  8. Hi If you are in the UK, I would recommend Drs Devroye and Bisanga both in Brussels - less than 2 hours from London by Eurostar.
  9. I have reproduced here my post placed in error in the wrong section of the forum. As you may remember, I had a 1,788 FUT with Dr Devroye in January 2008. I posted pics for a few months after the procedure then stopped. The reason for that is that the result sort of fell short of my goals. I definitely felt that the hairline was still a bit too high. I am not sure it is a case of hair greed. So I went to second doctor, Doctor Bisanga in Brussels who recommended an additional 2,000 grafts for what would still be a conservative hairline for my age(39). I went ahead in April 2009 and got 2,012 grafts which will give me a total count of 3,800 FU. The immediate question is then of course why didn't I go back to the first doc? Well, I have to say that I was very pleased with his approach, ie being professional and showing great care and attention. But the following factors came into play: - He was markedly more expensive than the second. - He did not draw a hairline before the procedure that we would have discussed and agreed. - Dr Bisanga is well known in the HT world for his great and natural looking hairlines. - My postop after the first procedure was very unpleasant: acute pain in the donor area and nausea(the latter because of the prescribed medication, Tramadol). I need to say that the same pain happened during the second procedure so it is a personal physiological matter unrelated to the doc. It is fair to say that in Europe Dr Devroye and Dr Bisanga are your best bets (Bill will probably add Drs Farjo and Feriduni who are part of the coalition). I wanted to add this post to be totally transparent. I need to say I don't have a good quality digital camera so please do not demand to see detailed and extensive views of the work..... If it is really necessary, I will see what I can do. All in all, a big improvement after the first procedure, in particular in the ever so important forelock area and I am pleased with it, but more work was needed in my opinion in the temporal areas. The only criticism I would have about the first doc is that he did not make it clear that, given the extent of my loss, 1,400 grafts (what was paid for and agreed at the pre-op consultation) would not be enough to reach my goals. Please remember that in the preop pics, hair is combed forward and hides areas of loss.
  10. I have reproduced here my post placed in error in the wrong section of the forum. As you may remember, I had a 1,788 FUT with Dr Devroye in January 2008. I posted pics for a few months after the procedure then stopped. The reason for that is that the result sort of fell short of my goals. I definitely felt that the hairline was still a bit too high. I am not sure it is a case of hair greed. So I went to second doctor, Doctor Bisanga in Brussels who recommended an additional 2,000 grafts for what would still be a conservative hairline for my age(39). I went ahead in April 2009 and got 2,012 grafts which will give me a total count of 3,800 FU. The immediate question is then of course why didn't I go back to the first doc? Well, I have to say that I was very pleased with his approach, ie being professional and showing great care and attention. But the following factors came into play: - He was markedly more expensive than the second. - He did not draw a hairline before the procedure that we would have discussed and agreed. - Dr Bisanga is well known in the HT world for his great and natural looking hairlines. - My postop after the first procedure was very unpleasant: acute pain in the donor area and nausea(the latter because of the prescribed medication, Tramadol). I need to say that the same pain happened during the second procedure so it is a personal physiological matter unrelated to the doc. It is fair to say that in Europe Dr Devroye and Dr Bisanga are your best bets (Bill will probably add Drs Farjo and Feriduni who are part of the coalition). I wanted to add this post to be totally transparent. I need to say I don't have a good quality digital camera so please do not demand to see detailed and extensive views of the work..... If it is really necessary, I will see what I can do. All in all, a big improvement after the first procedure, in particular in the ever so important forelock area and I am pleased with it, but more work was needed in my opinion in the temporal areas. The only criticism I would have about the first doc is that he did not make it clear that, given the extent of my loss, 1,400 grafts (what was paid for and agreed at the pre-op consultation) would not be enough to reach my goals. Please remember that in the preop pics, hair is combed forward and hides areas of loss.
  11. Hi As you may remember, I had a 1,788 FUT with Dr Devroye in January 2008. I posted pics for a few months after the procedure then stopped. The reason for that is that the result sort of fell short of my goals. I definitely felt that the hairline was still a bit too high. I am not sure it is a case of hair greed. So I went to second doctor, Doctor Bisanga in Brussels who recommended an additional 2,000 grafts for what would still be a conservative hairline for my age(39). I went ahead in April 2009 and got 2,012 grafts which will give me a total count of 3,800 FU. The immediate question is then of course why didn't I go back to the first doc? Well, I have to say that I was very pleased with his approach, ie being professional and showing great care and attention. But the following factors came into play: - He was markedly more expensive than the second. - He did not draw a hairline before the procedure that we would have discussed and agreed. - Dr Bisanga is well known in the HT world for his great and natural looking hairlines. - My postop after the first procedure was very unpleasant: acute pain in the donor area and nausea(the latter because of the prescribed medication, Tramadol). I need to say that the same pain happened during the second procedure so it is a personal physiological matter unrelated to the doc. It is fair to say that in Europe Dr Devroye and Dr Bisanga are your best bets (Bill will probably add Drs Farjo and Feriduni who are part of the coalition). I wanted to add this post to be totally transparent. I need to say I don't have a good quality digital camera so please do not demand to see detailed and extensive views of the work..... If it is really necessary, I will see what I can do. All in all, a big improvement after the first procedure, in particular in the ever so important forelock area and I am pleased with it, but more work was needed in my opinion in the temporal areas. The only criticism I would have about the first doc is that he did not make it clear that, given the extent of my loss, 1,400 grafts (what was paid for and agreed at the pre-op consultation) would not be enough to reach my goals. Please remember that in the preop pics, hair is combed forward and hides areas of loss.
  12. Hi As you may remember, I had a 1,788 FUT with Dr Devroye in January 2008. I posted pics for a few months after the procedure then stopped. The reason for that is that the result sort of fell short of my goals. I definitely felt that the hairline was still a bit too high. I am not sure it is a case of hair greed. So I went to second doctor, Doctor Bisanga in Brussels who recommended an additional 2,000 grafts for what would still be a conservative hairline for my age(39). I went ahead in April 2009 and got 2,012 grafts which will give me a total count of 3,800 FU. The immediate question is then of course why didn't I go back to the first doc? Well, I have to say that I was very pleased with his approach, ie being professional and showing great care and attention. But the following factors came into play: - He was markedly more expensive than the second. - He did not draw a hairline before the procedure that we would have discussed and agreed. - Dr Bisanga is well known in the HT world for his great and natural looking hairlines. - My postop after the first procedure was very unpleasant: acute pain in the donor area and nausea(the latter because of the prescribed medication, Tramadol). I need to say that the same pain happened during the second procedure so it is a personal physiological matter unrelated to the doc. It is fair to say that in Europe Dr Devroye and Dr Bisanga are your best bets (Bill will probably add Drs Farjo and Feriduni who are part of the coalition). I wanted to add this post to be totally transparent. I need to say I don't have a good quality digital camera so please do not demand to see detailed and extensive views of the work..... If it is really necessary, I will see what I can do. All in all, a big improvement after the first procedure, in particular in the ever so important forelock area and I am pleased with it, but more work was needed in my opinion in the temporal areas. The only criticism I would have about the first doc is that he did not make it clear that, given the extent of my loss, 1,400 grafts (what was paid for and agreed at the pre-op consultation) would not be enough to reach my goals. Please remember that in the preop pics, hair is combed forward and hides areas of loss.
  13. Hi To add my two pence again... I have been using Finasteride 1.25mg every day for some years. I have decided 6 months ago to add minoxidil 5% to my daily regimen. However, as we all know with Minoxidil applications twice a day there are: 1. Compliance issues (busy lifestyle) 2. 'Messiness and greasiness' issues. Do you think that a single application at night can be effective? Some physicians indicate that this is a viable option, considering minoxidil's half life...
  14. No, I confirm. This is also on Dr Devroye's website (coalition member)post op instructions. I also asked him also specifically at the pre-op consultation because I had spotted this on the website and this had surprised me, as it surprised you... But anyway, I was not bothered because I doubt I would been able to sleep...
  15. If I may add my two cents (or two pennies??) After I had my procedure, Dr Devroye asked me to spray with saline the following night every 20 minutes (no sleep allowed if you follow the guideline stricly) And I did so. I have however never heard of another doctor, coalition member or not who recommends this. From my own research,I understand this helps with crusting. And for me it worked: I did not have any crusting at all. The only sign that I had had the procedure was a slight redness. This contrasts with the experience of crusting that most patients seem to go through. I submit that the main benefit of the saline spray in my case was the post-op cosmetic appearance. With regard to the 'wound care' referred to by the medical specialists on this thread, I would say that I was far more preoccupied with the wound in the donor area than the 'wounds' in the recipient. I started to shampoo extremely gently on day 2. I took great care to keep the donor clean and free of blood and used a small soft toothbrush for this as I knew that this promoted healing. No saline on donor though. As I said, just my two pennies.
  16. Calv Very pleased with my procedure so far (carried out on 23.1.07) Professional throughout: before, during and after... A most recommended address for European patients.
  17. Hi there Here are a few pics showing the results so far at 9 months. I hope to see the hair mature and thicken more over the next few months- I am overall satified. Donor area is OK too.
  18. Hi there Here are a few pics showing the results so far at 9 months. I hope to see the hair mature and thicken more over the next few months- I am overall satified. Donor area is OK too.
  19. Sometimes when I see a balding celebrity in the UK media or elsewhere I wonder why they go for an awful hair system or do nothing. Maybe they are happy with their hair as it is. Maybe they are afraid of a procedure being noticeable. But if the situation troubles them, then it is true that being able to afford a successful procedure and getting such a procedure are two different things. Possibly they or their people do not have the time or the inclination to do the required research. I was thinking looking at a well known actor here in the UK (think "Alfie") who tried voodoo treatments for the loss that bothers him (he has even consulted an infamous HT Clinic in London's West End): nothing replaces careful research. In my case, I certainly do not have a bulging bank account but I was willing to put in dozens of hours of work to find out what I wanted and needed- and I got it (through this site and Dr Devroye).
  20. Sometimes when I see a balding celebrity in the UK media or elsewhere I wonder why they go for an awful hair system or do nothing. Maybe they are happy with their hair as it is. Maybe they are afraid of a procedure being noticeable. But if the situation troubles them, then it is true that being able to afford a successful procedure and getting such a procedure are two different things. Possibly they or their people do not have the time or the inclination to do the required research. I was thinking looking at a well known actor here in the UK (think "Alfie") who tried voodoo treatments for the loss that bothers him (he has even consulted an infamous HT Clinic in London's West End): nothing replaces careful research. In my case, I certainly do not have a bulging bank account but I was willing to put in dozens of hours of work to find out what I wanted and needed- and I got it (through this site and Dr Devroye).
  21. Hi Mak Actually at A&E I produced the letter that my GP had generously written an hour before and it took two nurses 20 minutes to remove the sutures... I half jokingly apologised to consume NHS (public)resources for my own cosmetic little procedures - The doctor and nurses there were OK- I told them to be careful because I did not want the tricho closure to be damaged. Needless to say my GP was less then enthusiastic when I exposed the problem to him initially- He tried to have a go but I guess the trichophytic closure was too much for him! So he handed me over to the hospital docs. Ouch.
  22. Hi From my experience, blood work (1) and sutures removal (2) can be a problem for UK patients going abroad for their HT. Personally, I ended up asking my GP for (1) and going to ER (A&E) for (2) as my GP did not know how to remove them (!) But I am sure there would have been better solutions. So out of curiosity and to help future patients, how did you UK guys manage these 2 issues? Spex have you got any tips?
  23. Hi From my experience, blood work (1) and sutures removal (2) can be a problem for UK patients going abroad for their HT. Personally, I ended up asking my GP for (1) and going to ER (A&E) for (2) as my GP did not know how to remove them (!) But I am sure there would have been better solutions. So out of curiosity and to help future patients, how did you UK guys manage these 2 issues? Spex have you got any tips?
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