Ranger99
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Not to my awareness. My recession has always been very gradual, since I was 21. By the way, the photo in point #3 is about one year-post op. Here's another one (about 22 months post op). At no time after the transplant was the hairline on the left side defined. It was always thin, just as it was before the transplant. Definition is a little better on the right side. To me, the before and after difference overall is marginal. The biggest difference is the $18,000 void in my wallet!
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I'm not getting a scalp reduction. I was just speaking objectively. As I said, I have little faith in hair surgeons. Don't know if I will even bother getting this poor result fixed. If it's only 1,000 grafts that I needed to fix it, I might consider it, but what kind of yield will there be in a scarred scalp?
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Who is Joe T? I went to a renowed HT surgeon (someone I should have went to from the beginning) not long ago and he recommended doing a scalp reduction (to eliminate the scarred transplanted area), so that he could transplant on to a fresh scalp. Of course, this is very costly and would have used up nearly all my remaining donor hairs. Told him I would think about it but I doubt I will do it. I don't have faith in HT anymore, nor do I want to dish out thousands of dollars again.
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After much delay, my apologies, here is my story, finally. I had a disappointing hair transplant with Dr. Baubac of Alvi Armani a couple of years ago. I am going to keep this short and simple. Stats: NW2-3, allegedly 2,500 FUE grafts at Beverly Hills office. (Dislcaimer: I am not an expert and the following are just my personal opinions) The good: Price was somewhat negotiable Procedure and experience was comfortable The bad: Poor yield Uneven hairline Poor hair angulation of hair that did yield Patchy, overharvested donor area Scalp fibrosis in transplant area, resulting in raised scalp Nobody from patient care or Alvi Armani contacted me post op! A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) was suddenly provided to me on the morning of my surgery. Who would back out this close to a surgery if they didn't like what was in the NDA, especially if they travelled from out of town? Seems unfair to me. 1. Poor yield Two years post op. 2. Uneven hairline I can't believe this would happen. The new hairline was initially felt-marked in (as is standard practice with all HT surgeons), seemingly quickly. I noticed the assymetry immediately post op and told the nurse. She dismissed it as being due to swelling. Well, after all the swelling had gone down, the assymetry remained. In the following photo, I put in a line to show the uneven temples. However, the assymetry begins before the temples. This was taken a few days post op. The assymetry is more noticeable in real life and especially at certain angles. 3. Poor angulation It's difficult at times to style the hairline, as it seems the angulation is all over the place and the cowlick that I had was not transplanted out, which is what Hasson and Wong say is the norm for a good transplant. As a side note, there is one transplant that has four or five hairs coming out of one hole and is noticeable close up. Very unnatural looking. The following photo is taken in the morning (obvious bed head), but I can't find a better photo that shows the bad angulation. I'll see about taking a macro photo. 4. Patchy, overharvested areas of donor area With a number 2 or 3 buzz, the donor area reveals patches that you can see in certain lighting/angle situations. Even at the time of the surgery, I felt the harvesting was rather quickly done. PHOTOS TO COME 5. Scalp fibrosis in transplant area, resulting in raised scalp Not sure if other transplantees know what I am talking about here, but it's like there is this raised, slightly hardened tissue in the transplant area that actually raises the scalp. It's lumpy, probably due to deep tissue scarring or something. PHOTOS TO COME (However, it may be difficult ot show this) 6. Nobody from patient care or Alvi Armani contacted me post op! What more needs to be said? 7. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) was suddenly provided to me on the morning of my surgery. Who would back out this close to a surgery if they didn't like what was in the NDA, especially if they travelled from out of town? Seems unfair to me. Some highlights from the surprise Armani NDA. Conclusion: I asked Dr. Baubac for a refund and they refused. Instead, they offered to do the transplant again (at no cost to me), to which I declined. Baubac biz card that I received while at his office:
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Why are there no dr baubac cases in this forum?
Ranger99 replied to FarsanUk's topic in Hair Transplant Reviews
Perhaps this will give a bit of insight: -
Why are there no dr baubac cases in this forum?
Ranger99 replied to FarsanUk's topic in Hair Transplant Reviews
OK, wasn't aware of that. Regardless, results are the bottom line and I didn't get them. Also, the harvesting was not great. There were patches of overharvested areas rather than evenly spread harvesting. I am not sure what the standard is, but this is what I got. -
Why are there no dr baubac cases in this forum?
Ranger99 replied to FarsanUk's topic in Hair Transplant Reviews
Not yet. Just waiting on clearance from my legal team. -
Why are there no dr baubac cases in this forum?
Ranger99 replied to FarsanUk's topic in Hair Transplant Reviews
As I said on the H&W thread, Baubac did the harvesting and holes for the transplants but had two very young latino clinicians doing the actual placement of the grafts. Why would he do what if the results are bad? I don't seem to understand your question. -
I am in closer proximity to H&W but I chose Armani instead, because I got baited in by the promise of youthful hairlines and the prestige of being in Hollywood. Big mistake.
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Why are there no dr baubac cases in this forum?
Ranger99 replied to FarsanUk's topic in Hair Transplant Reviews
It suggests there aren't many and/or that those with positive results don't want to talk about it and want to keep private lives. -
I am not saying one is superior, but I have consulted with Hasson in person and found him much more professional and seen great results from his patients. I can't say the same for Baubac.
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Why are there no dr baubac cases in this forum?
Ranger99 replied to FarsanUk's topic in Hair Transplant Reviews
A few possibilities: - botched patients get repair jobs and, after success, move on with their lives - fear of litigation keeps them quiet (fear is a very powerful thing) - they give up on restoration altogether (which is sort of where I am at, although I feel compelled to warn others) -
After I consult with legal counsel, I am going to give the full post-mortem (w. pics) of my botched surgery. Yield was about 30% even though the Armani literature boasts of a 90-95% yield rate (LOL!). Zones 1 and 2, similar to Balboa, although it seems my results were worse than his. Baubac only did the harvesting and the holes for grafting (it all seemed very rushed). He had two very young latinos doing the actual placement of the grafts.
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Why are there no dr baubac cases in this forum?
Ranger99 replied to FarsanUk's topic in Hair Transplant Reviews
Wish I had walked right out of his office. Would've had a much better, and cheaper, time at Universal Studios. -
Excuse me, but Baubac does not belong in the same category as Diep and Hasson and Wong. With Baubac, I had a poor yield with multi-directional hairs for the few that did yield. Also, the professionalism between Baubac and Hasson is night-and-day difference.
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Why are there no dr baubac cases in this forum?
Ranger99 replied to FarsanUk's topic in Hair Transplant Reviews
It looks like Armani victims' only justice can be found in the court of public opinion. -
Why are there no dr baubac cases in this forum?
Ranger99 replied to FarsanUk's topic in Hair Transplant Reviews
Here is more on the arbitration from the Armani/Baubac agreement: -
DR Alvi Armani??why is he not recommended on this site?
Ranger99 replied to bllorayne's topic in Hair Transplant Reviews
How much was the deposit, if I may ask? -
DR Alvi Armani??why is he not recommended on this site?
Ranger99 replied to bllorayne's topic in Hair Transplant Reviews
I, too, have requested a refund. Wonder if I should expect one of these funny little letters. -
DR Alvi Armani??why is he not recommended on this site?
Ranger99 replied to bllorayne's topic in Hair Transplant Reviews
Here, here! With Armani/Baubac, I got no dense packing and only a butchered donor area (over harvested, probably with too big of a punch).