anyone considering postponing your HT?

[fusion47]

Hey all,

 

Is anyone here considering postponing an upcoming HT procedure due to the US's current economic climate? Seems like a tough time for elective surgery!

[fusion47]

Hey all,

 

Is anyone here considering postponing an upcoming HT procedure due to the US's current economic climate? Seems like a tough time for elective surgery!

[Bill - Seemiller]

fusion,

 

Interesting topic of discussion. It will be interesting to see how people respond.

 

Though given how poor interest rates are and how badly the stock market is doing, I wonder if people will decide that hair is a better investment than a short term savings plan.

 

Oddly enough, our forum is as busy as ever with prospective patients seeking real hair restoration solutions.

 

Quite honestly, I expect that elective surgeries won't be impacted too much by the economy.

 

But generally speaking, I know we all hope that the US economic problems are quickly resolved.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

[Guest]

i think that the economy will effect the ht industry. i know i wont be doing it again . one reason the money but the main reason is its a money making scam that ruins peoples lives. this whole site is for one reason to promote the guys that pay to be recommended. what a scam. i had two hair transplants and thats why i know its a money making scam.

[fusion47]

Of course hair transplant doctors are making money...they have to eat just like you do (though perhaps a tastier meal!). The founders of this website charge the doctors that do work worthy of joining their Coalition. It makes it possible to maintain the site, a site with quite a bit of traffic. Would you rather they charged you as a member to cover their operation costs? As far as hair transplants being a scam, did your doctor explain the concept of realistic expectations? Did a coalition doc perform both of your procedures?

[Bill - Seemiller]

botchedinati,

 

You've posted about your experience with Bosley on other threads and have asked for feedback and we've asked you to post photos. Did you take the time to post your photos yet for members to give you their feedback?

 

You are clearly bittered by the hair transplant industry, and if you are not satisfied with your results, I can understand.

 

However, this forum gives members like you a voice to share your experiences and photos. I don't think it's fair for you to call our community a "scam" just because you don't like the way your hair transplant turned out from a doctor not recommended on our site.

 

If there is anything I can do to help you, please let me know.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

[tuscani2]

Botched...I can only imagine your frustration if you've received 2 bad HT's. I'm only preparing to sit for my first.

 

Bill..I also wondered at the start on here why most members were biased toward the Dr's or Coalition members on here, but now I understand a bit better how the forum works.

 

My question is..Since you rarely ever see or read any negative input about the doctors on here(you may receive a bit more candidness in a private discussion).

 

Now granted, I have found nothing but stand up, shoot from the hip folks so far on here, but what if negative posts do come through? I believe I read a thread where a Doctor was removed(and i believe the reasons for removal are stated)..Yes?

 

Certainly with all these Doctors doing all these HT procedures, not all can be positive..surely all these Docs must receive an unhappy client or two from time to time..that's just life !

 

Maybe I haven't combed through every posting to see if there are any negative experiences with any of these Network Dr's..surely there must be some, or are they removed for the paying doctors? I noticed before when I mistakenly put in a coalition Dr's name(since I have a ton of Dr's names going thru my head) instead of another doctor(Not from this forum)folks came right out the gate to defend(and rightfully so i guess)

 

Just an inquiry since i'm a newer member and certainy would like to know if anything may be hidden or can it be that everything is just positive?

 

For all the experts who have done thousands of more hours of research prior..are there other networks out there that stick to supporting other Dr's in their groups and might discourage some from using the Doctors mentioned here?

 

Of course there is more than a wealth of knowledge and pics and stories on here to certainly make the most educated decision. Not to mention the willingness of the members here to help others in great detail is second to none..as I am finding this out from being a member for almost a week now..

 

I'm just wondering for a few reasons..Thanks!

[Guest]

i wasnt advised of the risks or the side effects by the so called dr that performed my procedure. had i have been it would have definately changed my mind. but i do blame myself for having it done. i made the final decision and i do regret it.wish i would have researched more on the subject before jumping into it so fast

[Bill - Seemiller]

tuscani,

 

Well I hope that you've learned that patient members are welcome to share their experiences good or bad, whether the doctor is recommended here or not. If you use the "find" feature, you will find reported concerns along with praises.

 

We do NOT remove unfavorable experiences with our doctors as long as the concerns are genuine and not fabricated. This is a transparent patient driven community where doctors are held publicly accountable.

 

The only thing we require is that patients who share their unfavorable experience with a doctor recommended on this site give the necessary permission for the doctor to discuss their case publicly. This keeps the discussion fair and then members of our community can draw their own educated conclusions. If we find a doctor recommended on this community was negligent or won't stand behind their patient, they are promptly removed from our list.

 

I have found that many patients members are in favor of the Coalition doctors because there is plenty of online evidence of their first-rate work, including our detailed rigorous public assessment which required clinics to present examples of their work.

 

My heart goes out to botchedinatl and others who are not satisfied with their results. I only hope that this community can offer the support he and others need to help them, whether it means directing the to a surgeon with a proven track record of success, or emotionally supporting them during their hard time.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

[Dewayne]

Originally posted by tuscani2:

Botched...I can only imagine your frustration if you've received 2 bad HT's. I'm only preparing to sit for my first.

 

Bill..I also wondered at the start on here why most members were biased toward the Dr's or Coalition members on here, but now I understand a bit better how the forum works.

 

My question is..Since you rarely ever see or read any negative input about the doctors on here(you may receive a bit more candidness in a private discussion).

 

Now granted, I have found nothing but stand up, shoot from the hip folks so far on here, but what if negative posts do come through? I believe I read a thread where a Doctor was removed(and i believe the reasons for removal are stated)..Yes?

 

Certainly with all these Doctors doing all these HT procedures, not all can be positive..surely all these Docs must receive an unhappy client or two from time to time..that's just life !

 

Maybe I haven't combed through every posting to see if there are any negative experiences with any of these Network Dr's..surely there must be some, or are they removed for the paying doctors? I noticed before when I mistakenly put in a coalition Dr's name(since I have a ton of Dr's names going thru my head) instead of another doctor(Not from this forum)folks came right out the gate to defend(and rightfully so i guess)

 

Just an inquiry since i'm a newer member and certainy would like to know if anything may be hidden or can it be that everything is just positive?

 

For all the experts who have done thousands of more hours of research prior..are there other networks out there that stick to supporting other Dr's in their groups and might discourage some from using the Doctors mentioned here?

 

Of course there is more than a wealth of knowledge and pics and stories on here to certainly make the most educated decision. Not to mention the willingness of the members here to help others in great detail is second to none..as I am finding this out from being a member for almost a week now..

 

I'm just wondering for a few reasons..Thanks!

 

tuscani,

 

In fact, one of the most popular and respected surgeons in this coalition has admitted on here that he hasn't batted .1000. But, I think you'll find the top, world-class surgeons go above and beyond to make it right. And, it's not like their "unsuccessful" surgery would end being the same as a "botched" surgery or one that will make you look freakish. It might be poor, or slow growth, etc. But definitely not something that would make you look bad.

 

So, my advice is to pick a few and put them out there to see who says something negative. Email some guys who used to post and get their opinions privately, and finally tell the doc you will be posting a full account of your experience with pics, just so he / she knows there is an extra level of accountability.

[Dewayne]

To give my opinion on the original question; hell yea I would postpone my ht if I were planning it a month ago, or maybe even right now.

 

But, I think it's more about your "personal economy". My business has a large part of it investing, and recommending people buy stocks, bonds, etc. So yea, is pretty scary right now. Great time to have money and invest, imo, but it's difficult to convince most people of that.

 

My business (personal economy) is down about 15% from last year so far, therefore I'd probably wait if it were me. If I had a job where I thought I'd be laid off, etc., then I'd wait. If I didn't have 3 or 4 months of living expenses in cash, I'd wait a while.

[latinlotus]

botchedinatl:

I understand your frustration, but not all doctors have the same skill. That is why a patient advocate forum like HTN is here to help to pick the right one. I trust HTN because in the past, it has no problem removing doctors from its recommended list should sub-par results frequently occur with some doctors. You don't hear many negative (if any) comments from recommended doctors because they must have skill of the art and consistent results to be admitted in the Coalition. You should check the criteria to be admitted. Despite of this, no doctor would bat 1.000. Therefore caring and ethical doctors like the ones in the Coalition are forced to make things right or find an acceptable solution for the patient should he become unsatisfied with his result. No doubt, incompetent doctors will be heard loud and clear in this forum.

[Stimpson]

The economy won't even slow me down. My job is stable and my investments have nothing to do with the money that I will use for an HT. As long as I do not succeed a little too much, and end up having my earnings "spread around", I will be fine. I shudder to think what the doctors face as far as having their business earnings "spread around". This "spread the wealth" policy will seriously impact businesses, including HT businesses. One other thing about economic down times, and nobody ever mentions this, but economic downtimes tend to be a very good buying oppurtunity, whether talking about stocks or real estate or whatever. My opinion right now is BUY BUY BUY. If we become a socialist state, it will be nothing lost because we will all be peasants with nothing anyway (except for the liberal nobility).

 

Oh, and botchedinatl - I understand exactly where you are coming from. I am one who probably would not have embarked on this road were it not for f***ing Bosley punks taking advantage of me at 22. A few more years and a little maturity and I probably would have just kept my hair trimmed very short. I'm happy now that HT results are so much better, and I love having hair. But make no mistake, I am also a slave to the HT process. I no longer have a choice. Again, I like the results I now have, and I look forward to having even more hair in about a year, but I do get sick of wondering what happens if I recede to a NW7, am I going to need another procedure when I'm 70, etc. It's a commitment, and once started there is no turning back. That is something 22 year olds, myself included, just have a hard time *really* understanding. - Stimson

[Dewayne]

Originally posted by Stimpson:

One other thing about economic down times, and nobody ever mentions this, but economic downtimes tend to be a very good buying oppurtunity, whether talking about stocks or real estate or whatever. My opinion right now is BUY BUY BUY. If we become a socialist state, it will be nothing lost because we will all be peasants with nothing anyway (except for the liberal nobility).

- Stimson

 

Stimson,

 

Call me....

 

I hear you. I talk about it everyday. Problem is for most of us, and I've been a broker for a long time, is it seemed like a real buying opportunity three months ago as well.....

 

"Investing is simple. It's not easy."

-Warren Buffet

[Sir Fivehead]

This is an intersting topic, indeed. I own a Quick Service Restaurant business that is down around 30%...just from August! I had my HT done in late August. Had I had known that things were going to get so shitty so fast, I certainly would have held on to my HT cash. Not to say that I didn't have it. It now just seems somewhat foolish, considering that I spent that money instead of having extra reserves just in case things get much worse...which I'm afraid are going to happen.

 

I was also a broker for almost 10 years, Dewayne. I feel for ya! We are in times that very few people..still alive..have ever seen.

[HTinthefuture]

I will put mine off longer, but only to save.

 

regarding the market and brokers. I feel sorry for the average joe loosing his life savings, but you wont get much love from me for brokers. A major (billions) well respected brokerage lost my nest egg in a flash (when I was green in regards to investing) by putting my money in risky markets right before the dot com crash. It ruined my life at the time. I built it back and more on my own using my own determination, research, and common sense. I was greedy when others were panicking, panicking when others are greedy....the exact opposite advice 99% of brokers will give you who are for the most part following the herd, but the precise way the richest man in the world made his money.

My best friend is a broker. his bonuses used to equal 3 months pay for me, and I make a decent salary. He has a huge house, a BMW, porsche, several old valuable cars, and that is just his posessions. Yet his clients are not rich, nor will they ever be. They are all loosing money, yet he will most likley still receive a bonus this year. There is something terribly wrong with that.

This whole mess will be a lesson for everyone, one that I learned in 2001.

If it looks to good to be true, it is.

If it looks a lot like a bubble, it is (If I had listened to my real estate broker my house would still be up for sale)

The only person who has your best interests in mind regarding your finances is you.

Investing is not the rocket science that these 'professionals' make it out to be. Sure you need a licence to take other peoples money and invest it, but you dont to invest your own money. You can learn more and be smarter than most of these professionals by spending the hours reading and researching on you own.

my rant of the day....

[Dewayne]

Originally posted by HTinthefuture:

I will put mine off longer, but only to save.

 

regarding the market and brokers. I feel sorry for the average joe loosing his life savings, but you wont get much love from me for brokers. A major (billions) well respected brokerage lost my nest egg in a flash (when I was green in regards to investing) by putting my money in risky markets right before the dot com crash. It ruined my life at the time. I built it back and more on my own using my own determination, research, and common sense. I was greedy when others were panicking, panicking when others are greedy....the exact opposite advice 99% of brokers will give you who are for the most part following the herd, but the precise way the richest man in the world made his money.

My best friend is a broker. his bonuses used to equal 3 months pay for me, and I make a decent salary. He has a huge house, a BMW, porsche, several old valuable cars, and that is just his posessions. Yet his clients are not rich, nor will they ever be. They are all loosing money, yet he will most likley still receive a bonus this year. There is something terribly wrong with that.

This whole mess will be a lesson for everyone, one that I learned in 2001.

If it looks to good to be true, it is.

If it looks a lot like a bubble, it is (If I had listened to my real estate broker my house would still be up for sale)

The only person who has your best interests in mind regarding your finances is you.

Investing is not the rocket science that these 'professionals' make it out to be. Sure you need a licence to take other peoples money and invest it, but you dont to invest your own money. You can learn more and be smarter than most of these professionals by spending the hours reading and researching on you own.

my rant of the day....

 

HTinthefuture;

 

I went to this dentist for 10 years, and every six months it seemed I had a cavity. At one point I said "the hell with this, I'll go back when it starts hurting...." Well, I didn't go to the dentist for five more years and then changed dentists, yet didn't have another cavity for five years or so. And since, I've only had one and have repaired some I got as a teenager.

 

So, there are crooks in every profession.

 

Your advice is bad, bad. It is very important when choosing a financial advisor to get a good one, but you have painted them all with a wide brush and if anyone listens they will most likely be missing out.

 

Is every dentist bad? Every chiropractor? Real Estate agent?

 

You're right, investing is not rocket science but I've got a degree in finance, Series 7, 63, 6, insurance licenses, 10 years experience, 500 or more clients who say they would refer me (82% by our last JD Power survey of MY office), and a spotless record of compliance. But, that's of no value?

 

Long term investments in American companies right now offer some spectacular values, and there has been no other means or investment in the history of the world that has provided similar performance. But, there are rules that have to be followed. Truth is, most do it yourselfers are getting killed right now, and there is a lot of difference in being down 10 - 15% compared to being down 40%. Most don't realize the true difference in the long term effect of those two percentages, either.

[latinlotus]

Dewayne:

 

I agree with you. You can't be an expert in everything. Do it yourself can be a very dangerous thing. Just watch the Property Ladder for some examples, the day traders...90% of them are losing money! I really believe in task specialization.

 

However, i do think an advice by Trump is very appropriate for this circumstance: Trust but verify! If you don't do your homework, you will be fooled by a unethical and incompetent professional.

[HTinthefuture]

bad bad advice....tell that to my wife who is down 18% on her 'managed fund', while I am still holding on to mine and making money because I made changes before the market did, before major funds can react. Her advisor could care less really, which was the same attitude mine had in 2000 when the funds he sold me for huge fee kickbacks fell off a cliff. Not painting with the same brush, just the same color (green for greed)

yeah, there are opportunites right now, but the other shoe still needs to drop, and it is only a matter of time before the currency markets come to what is left of their senses and the dollar resumes its downtrend. are you advising your clients on these oportunities? I am pretty sure what the answer to that is.

 

in your opinion, are we in a recession? because the majority of analyists say we are 8 months after we actually entered one, and admit we are out of the woods about a year after the business and stock cycles have reversed.

 

Gold is not doing so well, despite the dispare times, for reasons you must know, but the majority of investors wont be enlightened to.

this housing crisis is differnt than the one in the 80s as credit has dried up. Rates were left too low for too long, and the last decade has been built on borrowed money and debt. IF the banks dont use their new funding to facilitate lending, instead of buying up weaker rivals, there will be more trouble.

anyway, nothing you dont know already...

[Dewayne]

Originally posted by HTinthefuture:

bad bad advice....tell that to my wife who is down 18% on her 'managed fund', while I am still holding on to mine and making money because I made changes before the market did, before major funds can react. Her advisor could care less really, which was the same attitude mine had in 2000 when the funds he sold me for huge fee kickbacks fell off a cliff. Not painting with the same brush, just the same color (green for greed)

yeah, there are opportunites right now, but the other shoe still needs to drop, and it is only a matter of time before the currency markets come to what is left of their senses and the dollar resumes its downtrend. are you advising your clients on these oportunities? I am pretty sure what the answer to that is.

 

in your opinion, are we in a recession? because the majority of analyists say we are 8 months after we actually entered one, and admit we are out of the woods about a year after the business and stock cycles have reversed.

 

Gold is not doing so well, despite the dispare times, for reasons you must know, but the majority of investors wont be enlightened to.

this housing crisis is differnt than the one in the 80s as credit has dried up. Rates were left too low for too long, and the last decade has been built on borrowed money and debt. IF the banks dont use their new funding to facilitate lending, instead of buying up weaker rivals, there will be more trouble.

anyway, nothing you dont know already...

 

Sounds like the same thing they were saying right before the depression of 1992.....

 

If you don't believe me, check out a copy of Time magazine from that year - I can't remember the exact month, but it's got an apple cart from the 30's on the cover. This month's (2008) has a soup kitchen on the front.

 

Sorry, but I'm out of this debate; as there will always be people who aren't successful at investing. It's funny to me how the S&P averaged over 12% per year for the WHOLE 20th century yet everyone didn't make money. Why? Most people sell their good, quality investments based on external factors that make them feel bad. And they usually won't buy unless they feel good. Buy high and sell low.

[Godzluv69]

Okay! all said. are the coalition doctors reducing there fees right now? if they don't they will lose out. The price need to come down.

[Haterade]

The prices of HT's will come down if the market tells them they have to in order to make profit. If everyone would follow this method I learned in economics 101 the economy would not be in it's current state.

[Dazed]

First, let me say that I belive this site does a great service, informing patients of the best doctors, and panning the bad ones. It is because of todays economy that I am considering a transplant. Under normal circumstances I would be putting at least $1,000/month into the market. I stopped investing because I would lose money as soon as I invested, so I actually have some extra cash.