Maed88

Have you considered hairline lowering surgery? That might be an option for you. 

I would also recommend Dr. Nadimi. She does both hair transplants and hairline lowering procedures. I opted out of hairline lowering option because of the chance the scar wouldn't heal well and would be too visible even in the hands of an exceptional surgeon. But if you've never had any issues with scarring, definitely research that option! 

Have you considered or looked into hairline lowering surgery instead of HT?

@Rolopermanent hair loss from shock loss is rare. If that’s really your main concern, you can breathe a little easier. Especially since you seem to have chosen a well regarded surgeon. 

@Rolo when grafts are placed too deep inside the incision, it creates these little pits - hence pitting. From what I read, it’s not super common now a days because it’s largely due to a very poorly skilled surgeon or tech. 

@Rolo density has a lot to do with number of grafts but also skill. Both of which my surgeon lacked. 
 

What is your graft estimate and how does that compare to the info you got in other consults? 

I saw you’ve posted several times that you’re anxious about your upcoming surgery. Jitters are normal. It’s surgery and a big step. Having said that, I would trust your gut. A bad first transplant is devastating and I’m speaking from experience. 

If you postpone instead of cancel will you lose your deposit? That could buy you time to do additional research, have more conversations with your current doctor, and potentially seek out more consults if you haven’t done that. 

I’ve shared a summary of my experience in the Reviews portion of the forum. 
 

The HT: I had an FUT procedure with 1000* grafts to fill in receding temples.

The good: Dr. Schreiber is nice and personable. In retrospect, the consultation (and later on, the check up appointments) is a bit rushed but he does answer all your questions if you have them. Staff is also nice and attentive. I had a couple of questions post-op, before my two week follow up, and he was responsive and available. The direction the hair grows, which I’ve read can be an issue, also seems generally fine. 

The rest: Overall, I’m unhappy with my first transplant results. I paid a premium price for subpar results. A HT is a long game and I’ve tried to be patient but the results have caused me significant stress and more anguish than my original recessed hairline. While I don’t regret getting a HT, I do wish I had started it differently. My issues are the uneven sides and overall lack of density as well as pitting. 

The procedure - there were two techs working on either side. One side is more sparse compared to the other. Unsurprisingly, the side with the most density is the one where one tech spent more time than the other (I’m assuming she was literally adding more grafts). It’s also the side where I have noticeable pitting. Schreiber is out of the room the majority of time the grafts are being placed.

The hairline -  It’s too straight, and masculine (every time I look at it, I find it off putting. I couldn’t put my finger then realized it’s because it reminds me of the photo posted here: https://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/topic/51718-wobbly-vs-straight-hairlines/ ). I had specifically asked about creating a feminine hairline. I was worried about this since most HT surgeries are performed on men. He assured me that this wouldn’t be a problem. He drew the hairline guide after I had gotten all the injections. I thought it looked fine but I’m not sure a drugged patient about to start a procedure was the best time to ask for a good assessment. 

*The grafts - 1000 grafts was too conservative an assessment for the density I needed. I noted in another post that at my 10 month check up, Schreiber said I “actually” got 2000 grafts. I was quoted a price of “$10/graft for 1000 grafts” over the phone. The same was then confirmed during the consultation. I paid $10,000. I would’ve liked to have been a one and done with the surgery (and I could’ve been. My case wasn’t complex or difficult), and another surgeon could’ve have done better with 2000 grafts. The 1000 grafts also made more sense since he also said that many folks need a second transplant so I chalked it up to him being a conservative doctor generally. But instead, I apparently got a two for one? I don’t know what to believe at this point. The one thing I know for sure is that I need another procedure anyways. 

The donor site/scar - I hated the recovery for the FUT procedure. Taking out the staples hurt a lot. I have long hair so the scar is both hard to find and impossible to see day to day. There is a 2 inch area on one side that healed improperly and it’s just bald. It’s sometimes noticeable when I put my hair up haphazardly. Other than when I got my staples out, he never checked my scar during follows up, but I don’t know if that’s standard. 

The final check-up - my 10-month check up was where the 1000 vs 2000 thing came up. I’m still baffled by that (if it wasn’t obvious already).  He said everything looked great. Since I wanted more density he said I could do another procedure. He didn’t say how many more grafts I would need (I didn’t ask) but that the first 100 would be free since it was my second procedure. The pitting he couldn’t see. I didn’t bring up my concern for the hairline shape but he brought up that he thought that looked great too.

It was clear overall that we just had very different opinions on whether or not this procedure was good. He suggested I come back in 6 months but needless to say, I’m not interested in going back. 

The photos attached are the most recent. I tried to include different angles.

I need to wait to hit the 1-year mark before seeing other surgeons for consultations for the second procedure (at the recommendation of doctors I’ve already reached out to). I’m hopeful that I can correct the hairline shape, and add more density. I’m honestly most worried about correcting the pitting (and infuriated that, from what I’ve read, pitting is a technical and amateur mistake). 

I’m not sure why there are no real reviews of his work on these forums. There’s one footnote by user @lpants whose experience does not surprise me given my own. 

While I wish I could get my money back and do it right with another surgeon, I’ve mostly stopped beating myself up about it. I hope this post helps other people considering him in the future. 

There’s a lot of good advice on this forum. The one thing I want to repeat, highlight, and underscore for folks considering a transplant - Don’t rule out travel. I did. I thought I had chosen a quality surgeon and I wouldn’t have to worry about travel. Mistake. And guess what? Now I’m going to have to travel anyways. And pay at least twice as much than if I had gone to a top doctor in the first place. 

@New_Barnet_Please I definitely will. I get why folks would be hesitant to post reviews of a bad HT. At the same time, many of these doctors shouldn’t be touching people’s heads. Maybe it’s because I’m down the rabbit hole of reviews but I’m amazed at the number of folks who need or talk about repairs. 
 

@SadMan2021not pessimistic at all. If anything, it’s reassuring that I’m not crazy for thinking that what I got wasn’t good enough. Certainly for the price. Whether it was 1000 or 2000 grafts …

@AlexMeister21 Unfortunately, I did not take any photos of the grafts post-op. Just of my swollen face which ballooned significantly for a week.

The whole 1000 vs 2000 grafts thing is really weird and the little confidence I had in the doctor evaporated at that moment. I’m trying to find any paperwork I might still have. The doctor did keep looking at my chart, saying “nope, we did 2000.” He also kept saying everything looked "great! fantastic!" so there's that. 

@NARMAK, I definitely have buyers remorse, but this forum and community has helped so much already. While I wish I could have done so many things differently in the first round, all I can do is learn from the mistakes.

I’m now at the 10.5 month mark and that's what the most recent photos reflect. I know the HT process is a waiting game and often one that feels eternally long. Even though I’m not yet at the 12 month point, I don’t think I got an objectively good procedure.

@BeHappy, I appreciate the note on the pitting. I hope too that by adding grafts for density, it’ll help camouflage it.

@aaron1234 the biggest take away for me this time around is that I will absolutely travel for this second procedure. I’m in the mid-atlantic and there seem to be good options on the east coast-ish (NYC, North Carolina, Chicago, and Virginia).

@TEXAN35 I wear my hair long so the scar is hard to see/find. I do have a 2 inch-ish section that’s bald from the scar. 
 

Cooley is on my list. I’ll look into Glenn. 

I had a follow up recently and I’m moving on. I’ve started looking for other surgeons and now focused on additional consults for a second procedure.

Apparently I “actually” got 2000 grafts. Not 1000. Except 1000 is what I was quoted and what was discussed during my pre-op appointments. Can one even “confirm” the number of grafts easily after the fact? 

My whole check up was bizarre and quick. I was especially thrown off at the vast difference in the graft count. After I pushed on it, he said “well, you got a great deal then.”

I did raise the pitting and he said he couldn’t see it. To be fair, it’s more or less noticeable depending on the lighting and in the office it wasn’t. Here is a shot from a video call where I thought it looked funky (the right). 

I get we can be our worst critics. I’m unsatisfied with the density enough that even if everything else was great, I’d still want a second procedure (and honestly feel like I need it…).

I will just go to a surgeon that inspires more confidence and does objectively great work. I want to adjust the hairline (too straight and sharp along the side) and hopefully still be able to mask the “non existent” “pitting.”  
 

Attaching recent photos for reference/compared to the originals I posted. 

7 hours ago, Gatsby said:

Looking back now this really angers me. I would love to know who the surgeon was and if you tell us who it is you could be preventing another person undergoing what you have undergone. To say that a second procedure is not unlikely is poor. A surgeon needs to have a specific game plan over the life span of the patient's hair loss journey. Without sounding like I am channeling my inner 'Spencer Kobren' it's a statement that almost is a way to get you back to pay for a second procedure. Anyway looking forward if you do need a second procedure @kirkland's advice is spot on.

He also said the second procedure would be at a discount which somehow also feels like a red flag. 
 

I can DM you the surgeon. I’m hesitant to but will write a review too.  

7 hours ago, MachoVato said:

Considering you can get De Freitas for about $4/graft, it's hard to justify these US prices.

US prices are definitely high but travel abroad is not an option for many. It wasn’t for me. 
 

Having said that, I definitely overpaid. 

9 hours ago, kirkland said:

Here's an example of someone recently with 2000 grafts in roughly the same circumstances as you with roughly the same area to cover. Would have to wait for the results to see how it turned out but their surgeon determined that 2000 grafts, not 1000 grafts, was necessary for the required density.

This is very helpful. Thank you for sharing. I had a strong suspicion 1k wasn’t enough and that this was a big part of the problem. I’m preparing to/coming to terms with the idea that there’s a good chance I’ll need to have another procedure. 

Just now, kirkland said:

Can we assume that this was the area that was transplanted?

Yes, that’s right!

@Gatsby @JC71 @BeHappy Thank you all for your comments so far. I edited my post to add photos. It’s much more obvious in person but the last photo shows the “pitting” I’m concerned about — at least that’s what I think it’s called. I have these larger holes along the front where the hair is growing out of. 

To answer some of the other questions: I’m 35. I’m hesitant to name the clinic. I’ll post a more thorough review later on. I’d like to have an opportunity to address my concerns with them first. Since the advice is often to wait (and wait) I’d like to err on the side of giving them the benefit  of the doubt (and maybe not write a review when I’m feeling so bad about the experience) 
 

I had a hair transplant about 7 months ago and not loving the results. Far from it. I’ve read many posts and I’m trying to be patient, waiting until the 12 month mark. I’m wondering if waiting is the only option or if there’s anything I can do. 
 

The details: 

FUT to lower hairline and fill in temples; $10/graft; 1000 grafts 

Visible pitting; very low density (original hairline very visible; worse under any artificial light).  One side is much much thinner than the other. While I’ve read that this is not uncommon, it worries me because I had two techs working on either side and one spent a considerable amount of time on what is now the denser side. I wouldn’t be surprised if the thin side never “catches up.” 
 

The doctor kept saying that a second procedure is not unlikely during the consult. I didn’t think much of it but now it feels like I will absolutely need a second transplant. I don’t trust him enough to do it. But he already got my money /shrug 

I have a follow up appointment soon and still figuring out how to address these issues with him. I raised them during a previous check up but all he said was to wait since it’s still too early. It made sense then but not anymore. 

If a second HT is likely, how soon can that happen?  I’m embarrassed to wear my hair up and constantly trying to hide my new hairline.
 

Is FUE recommended after FUT? I hated the recovery and would rather not cut away another chunk of scalp.  

Is it too early to at least get another consult or will they likely advise to wait anyways? 
 

Thanks for any perspectives on my situation.