Had HT this week-end: Review of Dr. Eric Carlson, Phila. PA

[Matt-san]

Please see my original inquiry re feedback re Dr. Eric Carlson ( http://www.bosleymedicalphiladelphia.com/bio.html ) of Phila., PA, at:

 

http://www.hair-restoration-info.com/groupee/forums?a=tpc&s=5696015661&f=5466060861&m=3986005505

 

This past Saturday I had HT done at his office in Phila. My review is as follows:

 

1. Office staff showed up at 7:30 as scheduled despite really bad weather in Phila. this past Sat.

 

2. Met with Dr. Carlson and discussed my hair issues and needs (I have a 5A hair loss pattern). To cover front, middle, back, he said would be 1800 grafts. I was prepared to pay for as much as 2200, so this was good news. He struck me as having a good bedside manner and a very professional but friendly demeanor.

 

3. I met with the counsellor and we settled the business end of things. [And no, there were no surprise costs or last-minute shenanigans of any kind; in fact, he was very cordial, relaxed, and friendly.]

 

4. After signing a few forms, I went to the operatory and met the RN and some other staffers. They too were polite, professional, and focused. After changing into a surgical cover and picking out the movies I was to watch during the procedure, things went on as they had as explained to me they would.

 

5. The procedure was as described in many places: Dr. Carlson outlined the donor area and recipient areas with a surgical pen, then some shaving of the donor area occurred, followed by local anasthesia, and the surgery went forward. There were no fewer than 12 surgical assistants present in the office, and only myself and another patient was receiving HT that day.

 

6. After my donor skin had been removed by the doctor and then sectioned into grafts by a small army of surgical assistants (must have been at least 10), Dr. Carlson informed me that they had over 2,000 grafts to work from. [And no, they did not later try to charge me for these extra grafts.]

 

7. Dr. Carlson then made the necessary number of incisions in my scalp to set the implants. Two assistants kept track of the count in parallel with him as he made the cuts.

 

8. From then on, 1-to-4 assistants planted the grafts into my scalp. They worked quickly, remained focused and professional, and had good patient-care attitudes as well. Any time I needed something such as to go to the restroom or drink some water, they were responsive and stayed on task. The RN who administered the anasthesia was polite, friendly, professional, and responsive, never failing to address any comments I had about sensations or any pain I was feeling.

 

9. At the end of the procedure, I was squared away with follow-up instructions and post-operative medications, things explained to me a couple times, and my questions answered. Having started in the chair at about 8:45, we were done by 4:45.

 

10. Yesterday I got the promised follow-up call at my home in no. VA from Dr. Carlson to see how I was doing-- no problems.

 

My experience at this office was, I would sum up as, very satisfying. Everyone I interacted with, without exception, was attentive, caring, polite, focused, and professional. At no time did I feel like they were lacking in attention to work, in staff numbers, or in ability to perform their tasks, nor did I feel at all like I was at a "hair mill". I feel I was in very good hands.

 

So, that is my review. That Dr. Carlson was trained by Lee Bosley and his practice is affiliated with him will I am sure cause some people to scorn my review or worse yet, accuse me of some evil intentions or malfeasence. Well, I can't change anyone's prejudices but my own. I will say that this post I have written is made in all sincerity, that I have no personal, legal, or financial interest or relation of any kind with Dr. Carlson, any of his staff, or the Bosley practices in general or in any way, and I feel that I went to the right doctor for my needs.

 

Advice I may give to anyone looking to get HT is simply this: do the research, make your choice of dr. based on the dr. *himself and his own background and record* (and not someone else's, purported or not), be sure you have decided what your needs are and how much you want to spend and be realistic about those expectations. Basically, it's like anything else.

 

If anyone wants to e-mail me with any questions, I am at mcc99@hotmail.com, or feel free to post.

[Matt-san]

Please see my original inquiry re feedback re Dr. Eric Carlson ( http://www.bosleymedicalphiladelphia.com/bio.html ) of Phila., PA, at:

 

http://www.hair-restoration-info.com/groupee/forums?a=tpc&s=5696015661&f=5466060861&m=3986005505

 

This past Saturday I had HT done at his office in Phila. My review is as follows:

 

1. Office staff showed up at 7:30 as scheduled despite really bad weather in Phila. this past Sat.

 

2. Met with Dr. Carlson and discussed my hair issues and needs (I have a 5A hair loss pattern). To cover front, middle, back, he said would be 1800 grafts. I was prepared to pay for as much as 2200, so this was good news. He struck me as having a good bedside manner and a very professional but friendly demeanor.

 

3. I met with the counsellor and we settled the business end of things. [And no, there were no surprise costs or last-minute shenanigans of any kind; in fact, he was very cordial, relaxed, and friendly.]

 

4. After signing a few forms, I went to the operatory and met the RN and some other staffers. They too were polite, professional, and focused. After changing into a surgical cover and picking out the movies I was to watch during the procedure, things went on as they had as explained to me they would.

 

5. The procedure was as described in many places: Dr. Carlson outlined the donor area and recipient areas with a surgical pen, then some shaving of the donor area occurred, followed by local anasthesia, and the surgery went forward. There were no fewer than 12 surgical assistants present in the office, and only myself and another patient was receiving HT that day.

 

6. After my donor skin had been removed by the doctor and then sectioned into grafts by a small army of surgical assistants (must have been at least 10), Dr. Carlson informed me that they had over 2,000 grafts to work from. [And no, they did not later try to charge me for these extra grafts.]

 

7. Dr. Carlson then made the necessary number of incisions in my scalp to set the implants. Two assistants kept track of the count in parallel with him as he made the cuts.

 

8. From then on, 1-to-4 assistants planted the grafts into my scalp. They worked quickly, remained focused and professional, and had good patient-care attitudes as well. Any time I needed something such as to go to the restroom or drink some water, they were responsive and stayed on task. The RN who administered the anasthesia was polite, friendly, professional, and responsive, never failing to address any comments I had about sensations or any pain I was feeling.

 

9. At the end of the procedure, I was squared away with follow-up instructions and post-operative medications, things explained to me a couple times, and my questions answered. Having started in the chair at about 8:45, we were done by 4:45.

 

10. Yesterday I got the promised follow-up call at my home in no. VA from Dr. Carlson to see how I was doing-- no problems.

 

My experience at this office was, I would sum up as, very satisfying. Everyone I interacted with, without exception, was attentive, caring, polite, focused, and professional. At no time did I feel like they were lacking in attention to work, in staff numbers, or in ability to perform their tasks, nor did I feel at all like I was at a "hair mill". I feel I was in very good hands.

 

So, that is my review. That Dr. Carlson was trained by Lee Bosley and his practice is affiliated with him will I am sure cause some people to scorn my review or worse yet, accuse me of some evil intentions or malfeasence. Well, I can't change anyone's prejudices but my own. I will say that this post I have written is made in all sincerity, that I have no personal, legal, or financial interest or relation of any kind with Dr. Carlson, any of his staff, or the Bosley practices in general or in any way, and I feel that I went to the right doctor for my needs.

 

Advice I may give to anyone looking to get HT is simply this: do the research, make your choice of dr. based on the dr. *himself and his own background and record* (and not someone else's, purported or not), be sure you have decided what your needs are and how much you want to spend and be realistic about those expectations. Basically, it's like anything else.

 

If anyone wants to e-mail me with any questions, I am at mcc99@hotmail.com, or feel free to post.

[Shed Harris]

"Met with Dr. Carlson and discussed my hair issues and needs (I have a 5A hair loss pattern). To cover front, middle, back, he said would be 1800 grafts."

 

Would be interested in how this doctor defines "cover". I myself am just concerned with my "front". My consultations say close to 2800 just for that.

 

Anyhow, glad you had a good experience. Would be nice to see/hear about your results in 4-5 months. Good luck.

 

Chaos, panic and disorder...my work here is done.

[Matt-san]

I did not have total 5A hair loss. I have had substantial thinning ("minimizing") of my hair line from the front back to the crown of my head, but by no means not total or near-total baldness. Also, I have a "widow's peak" hairline, which matches my facial shape and general family background; other men have flatter, wider hairlines that probably require perhaps more hair to fill out.

 

Do I think the HT will give me back that just-as-at-age-21 look? I don't expect it would and have never been led by anyone to believe it would, least of all myself. What I will think it will do is substantially restore my hairline so that I am no longer a "balding man", and with finesteride (aka Propecia) hope to keep it for a long time.

[Guest]

Matt,

 

Thanks for posting your experience. I hope you are willing to field legitimate questions about your decision and experience. People need factual information to form their opinions.

 

Can you explain a little more about how you chose Dr. Carlson? Looking at the link you provided, I couldn't find any information about his work other than his decision to practice hair transplantation full-time beginning in May 2001. Does he use FUT exclusively? What kind of magnification does he use for dissection of the grafts?

 

2000 grafts seems a low number for front, middle and back. How much coverage do you expect to have per sq cm? I ask because I had over 2300 grafts just in front (see photos)? Did Dr. C discuss the need for additional surgery in the future.

 

Finally, will you be posting any pictures pre-op and post-op. This would very helpful.

 

Best of luck,

 

Paul

 

My Surgery With Dr. Sharon Keene

 

[Ken belanger]

It will take you several months to realize that you may have just got it in the ass. Most people who go to bosley, no matter who the doctor is, do.

 

You may be the exception. If you want I can e-mail you some of my e-mails from

Bosley customers. I collect them. I own one of the close down Bosley websites.

 

Knowone ever said they don't use lube when they give it to you. They can be very gentle.

 

My understanding is you need to sue within a year from surgery. For alot of guys

that's when they realize Bosley just ripped them off, too late to sue. That's why

most end up at their state's attorney general's office, instead.

 

Good luck, post pictures.

 

P.S. You know what they say about advice?

 

"Wisemen don't need it and fools don't heed it."

 

P.S.S. At least you didn't go to Dr. Paul Straub.

 

P.S.S.S. I got to tell you one more thing you should know about Bosley and his personal training. He trains his staff and doctors to recommend surgery as early as possible suggesting the minimum amount of graphs.

 

He does this for two reason (this is documented by the California Attorney General):

 

1. Once they get you started, they know you won't like the work, not enough hair, and you will have to come back for more,(sounds like what they may have done to you). This is just on the initial work.

 

Their sales people's goals are to "get you in the chair", once there it's up to the doctor to milk your wallet.

 

2. They know you will continue to lose hair, so once started, you will have to continually go back to them for more work. I read in one report that over a 10 year period, they were able to take this one guy for close to a $100,000.

 

[This message was edited by Ken belanger on December 08, 2003 at 05:24 PM.]

[Matt-san]

Hi Paul,

 

I'll be happy to answer your questions as best I can below.

 

Matt,

 

Thanks for posting your experience. I hope you are willing to field legitimate questions about your decision and experience. People need factual information to form their opinions.

 

Can you explain a little more about how you chose Dr. Carlson? Looking at the link you provided, I couldn't find any information about his work other than his decision to practice hair transplantation full-time beginning in May 2001. Does he use FUT exclusively? What kind of magnification does he use for dissection of the grafts?

 

 

I looked into his employment background and checked into his lawsuits, if any, in PA. Did I hire a P.I. to find out his shirt size? No. But I did due diligence. I also went looking for specific complaints about him on the web and in hair X-plant boards, such as this one, and found none. [see the post I originally made asking for feedback re him-- URL is in my first post of this topic.]

 

As to FUT being exclusive, I am guessing so; you could call his office I am sure and ask.

 

As to the dissection magnification devices, I believe the surgical assistants were using magnifying devices not unlike large eyeglasses, though I am not entirely sure.

 

 

 

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>

2000 grafts seems a low number for front, middle and back. How much coverage do you expect to have per sq cm? I ask because I had over 2300 grafts just in front (see photos)? Did Dr. C discuss the need for additional surgery in the future.

 

 

No, he didn't discuss the idea of me doing more (ie, he didn't say "You'll have to come back and...") but mentioned, only once and in passing, that if I wanted more fullness later, I could pursue it because I had a lot of donor hair. But let me make it clear: I got no sales pitch or pressure or suggestions of scheduling-another-appointment-now or any of that stuff from anyone there.

 

As to to sq. cm coverage, I don't have an idea about that; though I can tell from the incision marks that the transplanted hair has been grouped rather naturally and not over- or under-grouped in any particular area. That of course is a layman's opinion.

 

As to your own dr's estimate of how much hair you will need/want to have for your purposes, I suppose it has something to do with what you expect to have - do you want really thick bushy hair in front? I suppose you would reasonably expect to have a lot of grafting done there. My goal is to restore my hairline so that I have hair represented on my scalp where it ought to be (ie, without the continued effects of balding). Do I expect to look 21 again? No. Do I expect to look like one of the Thompson Twins? [OK, so, I'm 35, so what?? ] No. I do not expect to become Mr. Universe in 6 months. I expect to get my hairline back is all. If I were to decide that I wanted more hair in a certain area, then I would expect to pay to get it. That is my decision however based on what I want to do. If I am unhappy with the results 6 months from now, I will probably not get more hair grafts. Why so? Because I would have spent as much on hair X-plantation as I would feel like spending and not get results. If I am very happy with my results, and want to spend more $$ on my "vain self", then I would. But if I didn't think it worked for me the first time, I wouldn't try it again-- too expensive.

 

Basically, I decide how much of my money I spend on this or anything else. I can't blame another person for how much or how little I want to spend to get my hairline restored, on a car, on a house, or whatever. And I don't think anyone can, absent coercion or the telling of patent falsehoods.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>

Finally, will you be posting any pictures pre-op and post-op. This would very helpful.

 

 

Good idea. I will see if I can scout out someone with a digital camera soon. I have a number of photos of myself that can serve as pre-operatory. As to post-op, give me a few months. But if the interest remains to see my hairline a month, 3, 6 from now, sure I'll post.

 

Matt

[arfy]

Hi Matt

Nobody wants Bosley to get complaints, have unsatisfied clients or be in trouble. I am somebody who had really bad results with my clinic (Cleveland Hair Clinic- Dr. Puig). Having a problem with a hair transplant is worse than just being bald, believe me. My goal is to just try to look normal. So nothing would make me happier than hearing that all the Bosley clinics were using the latest methods and getting amazing results. Because Bosley is the biggest HT clinic in the world, so they are in the position to either help or harm a whole lot of guys, depending on how they conduct their business. I don't WANT any clinic to give people bad or not-so-great transplants, because I have one of those, and I know how bad it sucks to have to wake up every morning and see it in the bathroom mirror.

 

All I am saying is that some of us hope that Bosley does do good work, does treat clients fairly etc. That was not always true in the past, though. I think you understand that.

 

You said you thought the techs were wearing large eyeglasses. These sound like jewelers' loupes ("loops") which I believe have 3 to 6 times magnification. A lot of us here are fans of the doctors who use microscopes (20 times magnification) to dissect the grafts. The superior visualization can allegegly result in 20 to 30 percent increases in graft yield, in any given donor strip. In other words there is a chance that the clinics who don't use microscopes may be wasting precious donor hair. I know you said you aren't certain what the magnification was. Zeiss also makes head-mounted magnifying lenses that have ridiculous amounts of power (100 times magnification I believe) but I am certain that these are rarely used in the industry except by (maybe) the doctor. It is standard for everyone to use loops, and the clinics who use even the 20x microscopes are a minority. Bosley has been known to NOT use microscopes, at except one clinic (I think). One way for Bosley to make their clinics better would be to buy and train their people on the microscopes, but many clinics don't want to spend the money that would take. They would rather save money than save donor hair. This is something for you to look into (the importance of microscopes). There are some good articles and scientific papers about the importance of microscopes in graft dissection, why the all-FU transplant is considered state of the art, etc.

 

Also, you say that whether you go back for additional sessions is entirely up to you. That is true, but it ignores one of the realities of hair transplants: that it is not good to walk around with a hair transplant that doesn't look finished. It can look not-so-hot, or even bizarre. So in that way, you are sort of "hooked". This is what Ken was referring to with the comments about "first starts". The first surgery is the hardest one to sell. After that, the patient will come back on his own. Not because "hair transplants are addictive" or anything like that, but because it can suck to have an unfinished transplant. So you can say that it's your choice whether you continue or not with more surgery, but my answer is that it's not entirely your choice, because many guys will get additional surgery out of necessity. That is not really a choice.

 

I don't think that a clinic should tell anybody that 2000 grafts will be all they ever need. Patients should be made aware from the beginning that more surgery might be necessary. These clinics tend to try to sell people on the best-case scenario, rather than spell out all the possible complications. They could have told you you might possibly need double or triple that number of grafts, over the next few years. Depending on what happens witrh your remaining hair, it's certainly possible.

 

Everybody is different and everyone has different hair characteristics and different expectations and different definition of what success looks like. Some guys have such good characteristics that they can go to a so-so surgeon, and come out looking good. Other guys have worse characteristics... they can go to a really good surgeon, and come out looking only so-so. There are a lot of variables at work. I tell guys not to settle for less when it comes to hair transplants, it is one of the first things people will notice about you. I personally don't think "pretty good" is good enough. Pretty good looks like a hair transplant, and I don;t think anyone wants to have a hair transplant "look". The measure of success in cosmetic surgery is that it doesn't draw any attention to itself ("undetectible") I personally think that only an excellent transplant can pass that simple test, and a pretty good transplant doesn't cut the mustard. That is my perspective. We all have different tastes though.

 

Please, be sure to post some photos at regular intervals. Take some photos for your own records, including the post-op phase if possible.

 

I really do hope your transplant turns out great.

[Guest]

Arfy,

 

As always, a very lucid discussion of the issues. In particular, your observation regarding additional surgeries was helpful:

 

"That is true, but it ignores one of the realities of hair transplants: that it is not good to walk around with a hair transplant that doesn't look finished. It can look not-so-hot, or even bizarre. So in that way, you are sort of 'hooked.'"

 

This is what happened with me. My first surgeon left me with a cosmetically unacceptable result. It wasn't just too thin - it looked unnatural. While my second surgery remedied the situation, I'd have to say the first surgery was for vanity and the second for sanity.

 

Okay, I'm overstating that, but I did not want to walk around for the rest of my life feeling more self-conscious about my hair than I'd been before the first surgeon had ever touched my scalp.

 

Paul

 

My Surgery With Dr. Sharon Keene

 

[Matt-san]

arfy and Paul,

 

Thanks for your comments re the loop v. glasses, etc., as well as your observations.

 

Perhaps Santa (or me) will find a way to get a digital camera into my hands so I can update you guys on my hair-progress.

 

Matt

[kazgorat]

You don't absolutely have to have a digital camera. You can take the picutres with a regular camera and use a scanner to scan them into digital format. Don't have a scanner? Some of the places that develop your photos will actually put them digitally on a CD ROM for you. I know CVS drugstores by me offer this service.

[Matt-san]

Yeah, I know... just that I would want to take the pic and not wait until the whole roll was shot before developing it; otherwise no one would get to see my lovely head until next June!

 

There are a number of cheap digital cameras out there and I really do need to get with the times anyway as far as this goes. So I will be seekingone out soon. Thanks for the feedback, though.

 

You don't absolutely have to have a digital camera. You can take the picutres with a regular camera and use a scanner to scan them into digital format. Don't have a scanner? Some of the places that develop your photos will actually put them digitally on a CD ROM for you. I know CVS drugstores by me offer this service.

[Shed Harris]

Can afford a Bosely plant and afraid of not shooting the roll?

 

What's a $20 round trip on film and developing to humor us?

 

Chaos, panic and disorder...my work here is done.

[Matt-san]

Point taken!

 

Can afford a Bosely plant and afraid of not shooting the roll?

 

What's a $20 round trip on film and developing to humor us?

 

Chaos, panic and disorder...my work here is done.