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vanitysucks

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Posts posted by vanitysucks

    The transplant that didn't happen. (Chase, Arocha, and Me)

    in Hair Transplant Reviews

    Posted

    "The secretary at Arochas off told me they didn't approve because it's too expensive for their practice."

     

    They should have in turn called and told you this before you flew out there. This is clearly Dr. Arochas administrator's fault. The doctor should have made good on this, especially after you flew out there. He very least he could have done is pay for your travel expense. Seriously, even if the he was hit with a fee or had to pay a higher percentage to Chase he still stood to make a bundle on your procedure. This is just bad business practice. I would like to hear an explanation from the clinic on this one.

     

     

    Well in defense of Arocha he did say he lost a lot of money as a result of this. His staff was there and waiting for me to finish the paper work. I felt terrible for walking out after discovering the 15% rate. Dr. Arocha is a super nice personallity and I don't want to make him look bad on this post. This is how things happened and I don't know who to put the blame on. I should have been more careful but looking back there is no way I could have known this would happen. The only way this can be prevented in the future is full disclosure in bold print at the start of the application process. In the end I wasted time, money, and am mentally exausted preparing for this procedure. In the end the Doctor wasted a day that could have been spent on another client willing to pay.

    The transplant that didn't happen. (Chase, Arocha, and Me)

    in Hair Transplant Reviews

    Posted

    I don't think the Doctor really knew what was going on. He was just as upset with Chase as I was. I just don't understand why I didn't know my interest rate until the very last second. Everyone suffered as a result. The bank should provide the rate in the email and the Doc should be aware that this type of thing happens and warn the client. I would have never flown to Houston knowing I had 15% interest rate. insted of 0. I don't know if I am the first client of Dr. Arocha to experience this matter. The secretary said something to the effect that banks do this type of thing.

    The transplant that didn't happen. (Chase, Arocha, and Me)

    in Hair Transplant Reviews

    Posted

    I'm supposed to be recovering in my hotel room in Houston. Instead I am pacing the floor trying to figure out what just happened.

    About a month ago I started researching financing options and found a Chase Bank link on Arochas website. http://www.chasehealthadvance.com/ I scrolled down to the "financing highlights" where it listed payment plans. I was interested in the "No interest plan up to 24 months." So I applied.

    After clicking on the "Apply now" button it asked for a provider ID. So I looked up Dr. Arochas ID on the site and entered it. This application came up. https://www.healthadvance-online.com/credit-services/financing-application.asp?doctorid=72379&__utma=1.2113907013.1320463633.1320463633.1320463633.1&__utmb=1.10.6.1320464139929&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1320463633.1.1.utmcsr=arochahairrestoration.com|utmccn=(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/hair-loss-treatment-consultation/&__utmv=-&__utmk=249792006

    If you scroll down it says "

    NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN THE PROMOTIONAL PERIOD OF 6, 12, 18 or 24 MONTHS - Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date at the APR for Purchases 27.99% if the balance is not paid in full within the promotional period of 6, 12, 18 or 24 months or you make a late payment."

     

    Now just above that is says to check with your provider for available plans. I had no idea what that meant. I figured chase was my finance provider. Apparently after going through this mess it meant the H.T. surgeon. Either way I was lead to believe I was applying for a 24 month loan at 0 % interest like the website had claimed.

    I filled out the application, submitted it, and was instantly approved for a 12,000 credit in my email. It said this.

    "Congratulations! You have been approved for a credit line of $12,000. An approved credit notification has been provided to AROCHA HAIR RESTORATION. Please contact AROCHA HAIR RESTORATION at 713-526-4247 to schedule an appointment. Your credit approval authorization number is 1000902011287223443. Please print this email and take a copy with you on your first visit to AROCHA HAIR RESTORATION. Thank you.

     

    Sincerely,

    Credit Services Department

    ChaseHealthAdvance(SM)

    1-888-519-6111"

    A couple of days later Dr. Arocha called me in for a consultation and we set a time for the procedure. I remember telling him that I was approved by Chase for the loan at 0 interest. I was not given any indication that this was a problem. As far as I knew Dr. Arocha was in the business of Hair Transplants and Chase Bank was in the business of financing. I didn't know in order to get 0% financing through Chase that Dr. Arochas office had to approve it. I've never heard if such a thing. I bought a guitar at guitar center for 3000 dollars at 0 interest for a year and it served me well because I paid on time. I figured this was the same thing. I’m not a lawyer and I do not understand the legalities of the fine print. It said 0 % at the start of the application and that's what I based my decision to have the surgery now as opposed to later.

     

    I set the appointment, bought plane tickets, reserved a hotel room for 2 nights, took off work for the week following the procedure, I quit taking vitamins and working out, got to Dr. Arochas office on Friday morning NOV 4, signed all the paper work, got to the last paper I had to sign and there it was. I almost overlooked. It was for the Chase credit. What's this? 15%? This is not what I signed up for! The secretary at Arochas off told me they didn't approve because it's too expensive for their practice. Fair enough but chase told me 0 percent. I got on the phone with a Chase rep and she said I was still approved for the 0 percent but the Dr. had to approve it. I have no idea what this means. I am not a Doctor or a Banker. I am a client. I am a simple person and this process should be easy to understand.

     

    Advise.....

    1. If Doctors are involved in the process of the loan they should inform the patient about the total cost of the loan. I was led to believe it was 0 percent until the very last signature. When the approval notice came to my email it should have said 12000 at 14.99 percent. I was not made aware of this and assumed 0 %.

    2. Chase bank should inform the patient whether or not the doctor approved the 0 % plan. On the phone they told me I was approved for the 0 interest, but the Dr. had to pay the cost of the plan. Unreal, in other words, there was never a 0 interest rate to begin with. WHY OFFER IT AT ALL?

    3. I should be more careful and not take things at face value. I wished this process was easy and straight forward but like all contracts the devil is in the details. I applied based on the "Financing Highlights" Chase offered.

     

    I'm stuck in a hotel in Houston with no car waiting for my taxi to pick me up and take me to the airport tomorrow afternoon. I have wasted over $600 on travel and even more from taking off work. I was so mad this morning and right now the only thing that keeps me calm is writing this post.

    I'm not mad personally at Dr. Arocha and I still think he is capable of good work. I’m just irritated at the process of financing and lack of disclosure. I was looking forward to getting this over with and wished I could have been more informed about the financing from both Chase Bank and the doctor. I hope this post will warn others in my situation before trusting a promotional offer. I feel very discouraged about having a future procedure right now.

    H.T. with Dr. Arocha this Friday

    in Hair Transplant Reviews

    Posted

    I've been wanting to do this for a while now. I had 2000 graphs done with Dr. Levitt several years ago and it was ok. Since then my native hair has fallen out and I am left with see through gaps. Dr. Arocha is hoping to harvest 2500-3000 graphs and close the scar gap from the previous surgery tighter. The area is roughly 60+ cubic cm. I'm a little nervous and hope things go well. It amazes me to think in a few hours the Doc can punch 3000 holes in my head and plant them with tiny hair follicles. He said I would be ready to go back to work by the time the weekend ends. I'm hoping for a really positive result. I'm not trying to achieve rock star hair but if I can just get the see through effect dealt with I will be so relieved. I will post pics on another thread. Thanks

    Another "when can I weight lift?" question...

    in Hair Restoration Questions and Answers

    Posted

    Any current studies on this? The answers are all over the place on this forum. I'm guessing light lifting and cardio after suture removal and high intensity training after 3-4 months as long as I don't feel any stretch. When are most weight lifters able to safely train heavy free weights including shrugs and abdominal exercises without stretching the scar? I've read as long as 6-12 months. eeek

    My last procedure was about 8 years ago and the doc allowed me to train after suture removal. I didn't have any issues from what I remember. I'm guessing the procedures have improved since then.

    Thanks

    Number of graphs needed for 60 cm2

    in Hair Restoration Questions and Answers

    Posted · Edited by vanitysucks

    I'm trying to figure how many graphs are needed for the frontal third. I have measured approx 60 cubic cm and I have fine to medium fine straight brown hair. Assuming there is nothing there how many graphs would be needed to fill in the area. I have coverage there from previous surgeries but I want to know how many total graphs are needed on a completly bald frontal 3rd for reference. Thanks

    Question about Propecia.

    in Hair Loss Drugs

    Posted

    From what I understand Propecia does not strengthen the hair against dht, but it decreases the amount of dht in the scalp thereby saving the hair. As we get older our bodies produce about the same amount of dht but our hairs become weaker against the effects of dht.

     

    Sooooo......that being said. If I started taking propecia today and continued for the next 10 years have I saved my hair or is this just a masking effect. In other words, if in ten years I stoped taking propecia would my hair slowly fall out at a normal pace or would I loose all of what had been saved over the 10 years within a few months? Thanks

    Best way to finance hair restoration

    in Open Hair Loss Topics

    Posted

    Is there any difference between a basic loan vs a cosmetic surgery loan vs promotional rates on a credit card? What is the best way other than saving up the cash to finance this. I notice there are a lot of cosmetic surgery loans available online that claim to offer good rates over 10+ years but knowing whether or not they are scammers is difficult to see. Thanks

    Hairline photos

    in Hair Transplant Reviews

    Posted

    Hi everyone. I plan on having a 2000 graph procedure with Dr. Arocha to thicken up the frontal area Dr. Levett from MHR started about 7 years ago. I had 2 HT's with Dr. Levett totaling around 3000 graphs. I will post pictures. Perhaps HT technollogy has gotten better but after looking around the forum and visiting with Dr. Arocha a year ago I am no longer impressed with what I have. Sure, I would be nearly bald in the frontal portion (approx 60 cubic cm)had it not been for the first two procedures but 3000+ graphs from what I now understand shoud have been way more effective. I still have the see through effect in the light from all angles in the transplanted area. Oh well, I don't mean to say bad things about other doctors. I just wanted you to know where I am comming from so you can judge my results with Dr. Arocha. The forum is a great way to hold Doctors accountable for their good and bad work. I have heard good things about Dr. Arocha and he is recommended on this forum so I am looking forward to my experience. If this procedure goes well I will have another procedure to properly frame my face acording to his artistic suggestion. For right now I just want to fill in the frontal area. It's hard to believe 2000 graphs with this doctor will look better than the 3000 Dr. Levett did but I have faith in this guy. Thanks everyone for reading.

     

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