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

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

It has been 1 year MD claim 1500 grafts I called him out on it. Probably no more than 700-800 Combination of Strip and FUE. Completed by recommended MD on this page. Negligence? Technique? Actions? This was a waste of time and money. Now I have a scars with no results. Last two pics are my starting pic. Check my blog for pics after the surgery for comparison as well.

SCAR5! You nailed it! I initially had plan the FUE...even in my email, I mention FUE. Convince me of the FUT...by saying FUE success rate is only "50%" Or do both FUT and FUE... I should have been more firmed. Good thing it's a shorter scar. Nevertheless, i have 2 other scars on my head, oblique and vertical.....due to a skateboarding accident when I was 12 years old.... hahah.. So my head is not sooo perfect. Next procedure, I am going to be firm. Anyone mention FUT..I am getting up and leaving.FUE only from now on.. I may try Drs. Rassman and Pak next..

Thanks for the link Paulygon: You are correct that scab does correlate to the number of grafts place. Some of the scab could have washed away or gotten stuck to the initial pressure dressing. Nevertheless, the number of scab does provide a semi accurate count of the number of grafts place. For example, if only 1400 graft place instead of the 1500, its not an issue. If 1300 graft place...not an issue. Factoring in loss FU and transected FU units.. NO biggies. But when the number is half place, then I have an issue. I know some provider have a FUE machine that does actually provide a visual read out of the number of graft taken/place. I factoring in the doubling which brings the number up to 775-800 grafts. Thats being generous. I've sent him high resolution pics to show the FUE donor site. Counted each scab. Came out to only 175-200 FUE... when the agreed upon number was suppose to be 750-ish... Counted the recipient site as well. High resolution pics. I can understand some scabs washing away, to have 700 scabs wash away or 700 disappear in a certain area is alittle suspicious. I dont have an issue with the quality (I'll know in 12 months)...just the agree upon number of graft. No difference than going to a dentist to have work done...and your insurance company gets bill for WORK NOT DONE. So the take home message For EVERYONE READING THIS:" 1.Can the provider provide you with an accurate number of grafts placed? 2.Is there a second assistant in the room recording the number of donor removed and the number of graft placed. 3.Is there a machine that provide visual read out of the graft? 4.Take a POST OP PICTURE IMMEDIATE AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE PROCEDURE BEFORE THE DRESSING IS APPLIED. These are question I will ask when I have the next procedure in 12 months. It unethical to bill for "X" numbers of graft and received "Y" numbers graft. I know it's almost impossible to have 100% accurate count.. but you gotta be in the ballpark. Receiving 1850-1900 graft instead of 2000 is fine. I WANT TRANSPARENCY!!!!!!!! I spoke with the provider. He informed me that my concerns are valid. I mention and confirm that the majority of the placement was in the anterior frontal region.. and some in the mid scalp. He could not give me an accurate number. (I FIGURE ONLY SOME IN MID SCALP...as it's pretty evident in the pics) The Provider agree to refund the difference with my calculation. No hassle. Did not argue with me or anything. Very professional when I brought the issue up.

This provider informed me the 50 percent success rate is the norm. Still have worksheet with that written on it. Future HT...you have given positive reviews on this provider as well. Nevertheless..i will everyone updated when i talk with him tonight. most likely i will need another session in 11-12 months...for mid scalp..... and hiding the fut scar.

Thats what i was thinking. If i had more coverage in the mid scalp...then it wouldnt be an issue. which lead me to believe 1500 graft was not deliver.....not remotely close. i will be speaking with the provider tonight.. To have a scar for this little graft is not acceptable.

The guy was listed on the recommended list. Not a coalition member though.... Some of his cases yield good results.. I guess they were are FUT... Now that I am thinking about, this provider shouldnt even offer or perform FUE....if the survival rate is 50%..... 50% was what he mention to me. He even wrote on the worked up sheet. I'll scan it and post it after I get reply back from clinic regarding actual grafts place. 1500 graft should not look like 650-ish....even with splitting FU.....

Wish I found this thread sooner... Now I am having that dilemma right now....Trying to ascertain whether 650 or 1500 grafts were placed on my head,,

:confused:I just started a hair blog.....documenting my journey to a fuller head of hair. But wanted to share something with community for feedback. I recently had hair transplant surgery completed on FEB 10,2014 at 2:30pm Follow the instructions 1 day post surgery. FEB 11,2014. Return to the surgery for post op pic and changing of the dressing Today is FEB 12,2013. I decided to take some post op pictures... Initially I requested 1500-2000 graft via the online consult.. When I met the provider, I decided to go with1500 FUE. I was informed of the pro and con. "50% survival rate for FUE". Provider recommended that I do FUT. Better yield. I was hesitant. I decided to go with half FUE and half FUT. 1500 graft. Provider verbalize understanding. Well, looking at the post op pictures..it doesn't appear 1500 grafts were performed. More like 650-ish. I've sent and message to office. Waiting for their response. I am not naming the providers name yet, but he was found on this website on the recommended list...Southern California. He had great reviews. I based my decision on the cases that he has done...and on this site. Now I am having second thoughts... . Here are the pictures. Please chime in and let me know what you think. Do you believe 1500 grafts place? Thanks