LasVegas2Orangecounty

Dr Meshkin mention that FUT would yield more growth. Dr Meshkin mention that FUE would have a 50% success rate in my case. Decided on FUT/FUE for 1500 grafts. He did mention about the safe-donor area as well. Future hairloss possible After looking at Post op surgery pictures, I felt less than 1500 grafts were placed. Somewhere around 700-800 grafts. I calculate the number of FUE scabs minus the total of implanted scabs. I arrived at number of FUT and FUE implanted with some simple calculation. Accuracy---Very Accurate. Dr Meshkin's office refunded the difference. 65-70% from FUT and 30-35% from FUE from my calculation. So Dr Meshkin charged me for the 800 grafts.. (combination of FUT/FUE).....but insist 1500 were placed. Informed Consent provided? Yes. Risk and benefit discussed. Yes. I proceeded forward with all information provided. But if the risk outweights the benefit, should the surgeon even performed the procedure? Fast Forward 1 year later: After reviewing the pictures, was there some growth? Sure. How many of the FUT/FUE survived? Not much as you can see from the pictures. Out of the 1500 (according to the provider), what you see is probably in the range of 100-150 grafts maybe. It's not worth evening counting. Even if we did FUT completely, would the results in my case be any different? Probably not... Remember, the original 65-70% was FUT. So I have to correct myself, and say there was some growth. Compare pre and post pic. Nevertheless, Dr Meshkin did his best in my case. Dr Meshkin has achieved fantastic results in with other patients. I'm not here to crucify anyone. Just presenting the facts. FULL Transparency. Someone coming across this thread, will have something to think about. I have friends that are ENT, Plastic, OMFS, etc...etc.. They have all experience cases that just didnt turn out right. Does it make them a horrible surgeon? Absolutely not. Every provider has different philosophy regarding treatment. With that said, here some final pictures. I will stop by Dr Meshkin office when I'm back in the area..for him to take look. In closing, my case could have been the extreme outlier. Given that other patient's have had stellar results with Dr Meshkin... One should only look at my case and understand that even with the best surgeon, the end result may not be desirable. The only thing to do is to refund the patient's money, let another provider manage this patient (which Dr Meshkin has done). One case with less-than-desirable result does NOT make the surgeon a bad surgeon. Multiple patients with the same outcome, THEN YES. So far, I am the only patient with sub-par results with this provider on this forum. I hope the next patient that sees Dr Meshkin for surgery will post pictures of fantastic results that will trump my case.....and it will demonstrate his ability as surgeon. For the future HT candidate, use this post to educate yourself...before you take the plunge for surgery. It has definitely been a learning experience for me. I wish you the best Dr Meshkin. Thank you for reviewing my case...and taking the appropriate course of action. Thanks to all the members and moderators for taking the time to read my post!

The picture that Dr Meshkin post was the day of surgery. I had just cut my hair short...anticipating FUE procedure. Haircut completely 7-10 days prior. I went with 1/2 guard....in pictures The picture(two pictures on the bottom row) I posted in the original post was about 7-8 weeks of hair growing prior to surgery. When the hair is long..it tends to conceal and receding area. Dr Meshkin pictures are accurate. My are accurate as well.

I requested FUE. He mention (which he wrote on my paperwork) FUE has only a 50% success rate. He recommended FUT. He saw i was hesitant about FUT..so he recommended FUT/FUT for a higher success rate. 1500 graft per provider. Just got off the phone with Dr Meshkin. Relay my concerns. We discuss my medical hx. SH. Family HX. He provided two options: full Refund or another session. I elected the full refund. I may do another session, FUE only, in the future....or just live with what I have.. Yes, I now have a FUT and FUE scar.....so that's a risk with all elective procedure. We both reach an agreement. Full refund. Which is fair thing to do. I appreciate the support from all the members. Thanks again

Gram, This was my first and only Hair restoration procedure. Virgin scalp.

The surgery was completed by Dr Michael Meshkin in Newport Beach, CA. He is on the recommended physician list. Date of Surgery 14 Feb 2014. Is FUT/FUE at the same time the standard of care? Asymmetrical incision line? 1500 grafts per the provider. I say no more than 700-800 grafts Donor grafts are gone forever.

Thanks 1966kph! I spoke with surgeon today. He is going over my pictures. Pre-op, after surgery, and the recent pictures in my first post. I will be posting the surgeon name by tomorrow. I know his office manager has post before and after pics here before. I hope this never happens to anyone else. He should never do this procedure..... Full Transparency. I will be requesting a full refund..once he views my pictures..and digest the information....he will realize that this case was an ultimate failure...resulting in loss time, money, and disfigurement/scar...with no gain. So I will have the final answer by next week...which is a fair time frame. Thanks for the support

Yes. He's the surgeon, so I felt he knew what was best for me. He was pushing more of FUT. I prefer FUE. He recommended FUT/FUE procedure. I concur...believing it was the best option. He executed the procedure. Looking back, I dont even think this is consider the standard of care.

I didnt mean for you to do it. That;s how I arrived at the number 700-800 graft. I did exactly that in my after surgery pic (counting dots)....and why I called out the surgeon on that. =-)

He wasnt able to tell me. More FUT than FUE looking at the pic after surgery. I counted the FUE scab from the donor site...subtracted from the possible placement of 700-800 (although he claim 1500). 300 FUE/400 FUT.

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He was pushing for FUT. I prefer FUE. That's when he proposed FUT/FUE. Looking back, I should have walked out when he proposed this procedure, versus undergoing the procedure. If this is not the standard of care, it should have not been offer.

I'm waiting for the surgeon to respond to my email. After that I will named the surgeon. And go from there. I have lost all confidence in this surgeon's ability.

Yes. 1500grafts.. I but believe no more than 700-800 was placed

I think nothing survived..and lost native hair as well. +FUT /FUE scar. The last 2 pics on the bottom row...are my starting out pictures before any surgeries. Pre-op pics.

Hi Wazaam I dont want put the surgeon's name out there yet. Still waiting for a reply from the office. The surgeon is based out of Southern California. Thanks