Had a bad experience with this FLA doctor...please help

[incubus99]

I began losing my hair around 16 - at 20 I had an excellent 300 graft procedure performed by Dr. Constantine Chambers (The Chambers Hair Institute) in CLearwater. You couldn't tell I had anything done - the scar was invisible. Dr. Constantine Chambers a true pioneer and a pro in the industry who was famous and even wrote his own books on hair transplantion, unfortunately was killed in a plane crash here in FL a couple years after doing my procedure.

 

Eventually Dr. Robert Paunovich took over the clinic and is still running it -he was trained by Dr. Chambers but unfortunately his procedure was like night and day. He recommened 1,000 grafts which I went for. He placed 3-4 hair grafts somewhat close to the hair line and some point slightly in the wrong direction; I also have a much wider, large scar on the back of my head. He went over the previous scar but only about half way, the other half curved more down then up. Not to mention I suffered shock loss this time, and most of the hair on my head is the badly transplanted hair. I have to comb my hair in a certain way, mostly down, to hide it. So, now at 25 I am in need of serious advice either from a professional doctor or someone who's had a similar experience, because I'm still young and because sometimes it affects my life in a way you won't believe. I used to think about losing my hair all the time - now I think about it and the bad transplant I've had...

 

I will probably need a scar revision/excision, and then I can eventually get individual FU transplanted next time by a professional - I may even need some bad grafts removed. Any good doctors out there please help me... I am really getting tired of thinking about this 24 hours a day...

[incubus99]

I began losing my hair around 16 - at 20 I had an excellent 300 graft procedure performed by Dr. Constantine Chambers (The Chambers Hair Institute) in CLearwater. You couldn't tell I had anything done - the scar was invisible. Dr. Constantine Chambers a true pioneer and a pro in the industry who was famous and even wrote his own books on hair transplantion, unfortunately was killed in a plane crash here in FL a couple years after doing my procedure.

 

Eventually Dr. Robert Paunovich took over the clinic and is still running it -he was trained by Dr. Chambers but unfortunately his procedure was like night and day. He recommened 1,000 grafts which I went for. He placed 3-4 hair grafts somewhat close to the hair line and some point slightly in the wrong direction; I also have a much wider, large scar on the back of my head. He went over the previous scar but only about half way, the other half curved more down then up. Not to mention I suffered shock loss this time, and most of the hair on my head is the badly transplanted hair. I have to comb my hair in a certain way, mostly down, to hide it. So, now at 25 I am in need of serious advice either from a professional doctor or someone who's had a similar experience, because I'm still young and because sometimes it affects my life in a way you won't believe. I used to think about losing my hair all the time - now I think about it and the bad transplant I've had...

 

I will probably need a scar revision/excision, and then I can eventually get individual FU transplanted next time by a professional - I may even need some bad grafts removed. Any good doctors out there please help me... I am really getting tired of thinking about this 24 hours a day...

[Pat - Community Publisher]

incubus99,

 

I'm sorry to hear about the ordeal you've been through. There are some real intangibles in hair restoration surgery like talent, good judgement, skill and dedication - not to mention technique - that differ widely between surgeons.

 

Apparently these intangibles did not get transfered along with Dr. Chamber's clinic to the new physician.

 

You have come to a supportive environment on this forum - welcome. I expect that with careful education, encouragement and sound treatment you will turn things around for the better. Many have come to this community in your situation and found solutions to improve their situation and move on.

 

If you are in Florida you are in state with world class hair restoration physicians. In July I spent a week visiting some of the very best hair restoration physicians not only in Florida but the world. I suggest you read this information and then consult with one or more of these physicians to get their advice.

 

To view this information, click here.

 

If you are in the Clearwater area I suggest you also consider consulting with Dr. Paul Rose. You can learn about him and other leading surgeons in Floridia on the Hair Transplant Network Florida page.

 

Take your time and get plenty of input from ethical surgeons and veteran patients on this forum. Keep your chin up and work through this issue constructively and your situation should improve.

 

Best wishes and welcome to our community.

[Mahair]

incubus99, I am truly sorry you have been harmed. As Pat said this forum can be a great resource for improving your situation and offer advise and support.You are not alone . I am also part of a proactive support group who can give you some additional support and encouragement. E-mail me if you like at Mahair1@verizon.net for more info .Stay Strong

[Robert_]

incubus99,

 

That is a terrible turn of events and I am sorry to hear of your turn of bad luck. Like Pat said, the attributes of a great physician are not always transferred to the successing physician.

 

Dr. Paul Rose has performed surgery on quite a few posters of this forum and many have shared thier results with other forum members in photo albums. I have listed a few here:

 

2125 FUT

 

2012 FUT

 

2514 FUT

 

To find more (and there are quite a few) simply perform a keyword search located under the "Find" tab.

 

Best of luck to you and welcome to the forums!

 

-Robert

[SorleyBoy]

Completely O.T. . . .

Originally posted by Mahair:

. . . "The first cut is the deepest" - Rod Stewart

. . . Shouldn't that read Cat Stevens (the songwriter). . . Don't you just hate me - or did somebody else pick up on it months ago? Sorry shipmate, but I had sod all else to do for once and couldn't resist it . . . and anyway, Mr Stevens would be upset.

 

Sorleyboy

[Mahair]

SorleyBoy, Thanks I'll change that.

[buddyebsen]

SorleyBoy - You beat me to this. I tried to email Mahair yesterday about Cat Stevens (or should that be Yusuf Islam?) but couldn't get him. btw - Rod Stewart's version is best with Sheryl Crow a distant second.

[Jeffrey Epstein MD, FACS]

Dear Incubus- First, any type of procedure performed at just 20 years old should have been done very very conservatively. Second, the results of the second procedure can likely be at least moderately improved, including a repair of the donor site scar. Your best bet is to send some photos to some of the doctors you choose, possibly having a consultation with one or more of the doctors in the south Florida area, and see what can be done to improve your appearance and more importantly, your self image.

 

Jeffrey Epstein, MD, FACS

[rj]

hello,

 

I too had a HT with Dr. Robert Paunovich, actually two 500s at a time.

 

Things didn't turn out as good as I hoped but its not that bad. The hair looks natural at least. I scar is bad so I have to keep my hair in the back a little longer to hide it.

 

Anyway I wanted to share something that has helped me which you might want to try.

 

I have concluded that my hairloss was due to Candida folliculitis.

 

I have found something called flora-balance, flora-balance.com that I put in a spray bottle and spray on my scalp every night. 95% of my dandruff is gone, my scalp doesn't itch anymore and my hair is actually growing back. If you are going to try this use the powder form not capsule.

 

This may not help everyone because there are many causes of hairloss, but it has helped me.

 

Also I have started using something called Gentian Violet on my scar which you can pick up at some pharmacies and it has reduced the inflammation around my scar area a lot. The scar finally seems to be going away.

 

rj

[Stim]

Hi Incubus,

I went to Dr. Chambers too. I had some work done by him in 1997, I think, or a little later. I called Dr. Robert Paunovich about 1 year ago and was going to get him to look at some scaring that I have but I decided not too. Dr. Chambers did do some nice work over all in placing grafts. I am sorry to read that you had a bad experience. It is great that you didn't get much done. There are lots of great doctors out there that will work with you.

I will be seeing someone in there near future to remove some of this scaring. I will tell you that I understand your pain. When I was 19 I started losing my hair. And it emotially is overwheling. The adivice that I give you, is to stay strong, it will pass with time. Try to look at from the perspective that you are at least able to get something done. I am 29 now and am so glad that I was fortunate enough to get anything done. It all will Pass with time!! ;