Are you familiar with this Web site?

[Michael5577]

BEWARE OF HAIR TRANSPLANT CROOKS AND QUACKS:

 

Hair Transplantation is the most corrupt and sleaziest medical specialty of all time.

 

Beware of Hair Tranplant Crooks

[JoeKid0000]

I came across that while I was still deciding on whether to get a transplant. Scared me for a while!

[gmonasco]

It's old scare stuff based on 1980s-era Bosley HT factories. If you do your research to become an informed patient and choose a reputable hair restoration surgeon with an established track record, virtually nothing on that site need concern you.

[Blake Bloxham]

Guys,

 

Since that website isn't blatantly advertising anything, I'll leaving it up for the time being. However, I think there are a few things to keep in mind before viewing:

 

1. The procedure in question is obviously a very outdated, "plug" type operation that is light years away from the ultra refined, modern follicular unit procedures (whether follicular unit transplantation/FUT or follicular unit extraction/FUE) performed today.

 

2. Despite what the website may claim, the entire field of hair restoration is not corrupt and out for personal gain. Frankly, I think our community proves that there are many great, ethical hair restoration physicians practicing today.

 

3. However, despite the fact that the website is overtly negative and quite blunt, it does bring up a very important issue: remember to always do your research before undergoing a hair transplant procedure!

[Tonycc]

I couldn't agree more!

 

That person obviously did not visit this forum.

 

It is terrible how a couple bad transplants can give the whole industry a negative reputation.

[Michael5577]

I think only about ten doctors in the world produce consistently good results and have ethics. Overall, it's still an unregulated, sleazy business populated by butchers and crooks.

[Jotronic]

This is an old site and has been around at least as long as I have. I believe a poster by the name of "Arfy" was responsible for this site and it is his experience that is referenced.

 

Arfy used to post on a few other forums back in the day and then he disappeared after an FUE procedure, one of many, about four years ago. He was searching for help to correct his bad procedures from a long time ago. I hope he found some help to correct some or all of his old work.

 

This site is responsible for much of the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) spread by the FUE clinics several years ago and it was commonly referenced when FUE proponents wanted to scare the bejesus out of someone considering strip. The problem is that the images are taken from very old sources and/or sub par operations that had no business doing this procedure to begin with and does not represent reputable clinics that are known for solid work.

[Blake Bloxham]

I think only about ten doctors in the world produce consistently good results and have ethics. Overall, it's still an unregulated, sleazy business populated by butchers and crooks.

 

I couldn't disagree more. There are definitely some "quacks" out there; this is true of absolutely any industry in existence ... just ask anyone associated with Bernie Madoff. However, the age of online hair transplant reviews, critiques, and discussions has really brought a lot of transparency to this field of medicine and I feel like the guys who legitimately perform medical hair restoration far out weigh the "butchers and crooks" at this point in time. For example, feel free to review this list of around 60 hair transplant surgeons who are practicing the utmost ethical, transparent transplantation possible. Definitely not sleazy or disgraceful (in my opinion at least).

[Michael5577]

The "ten doctors" was a figure of speech. I stand by my assessment that HT is a sleazy, unregulated business.

[aaron1234]

We (the forum/patients/etc.) are the regulation.

[Blake Bloxham]

I stand by my assessment that HT is a sleazy, unregulated business.

 

As I stand by my assessment that generalizations are never worthwhile and the field of medical hair restoration has made leaps and bounds since the advent of communities like our own.

[Michael5577]

As I stand by my assessment that generalizations are never worthwhile and the field of medical hair restoration has made leaps and bounds since the advent of communities like our own.

 

Generalizations have exceptions, but this doesn't make generalizations invalid.

 

Wicked generalizations serve a useful purpose, as any midnight stroll through the ghetto will help one understand.

Edited December 28, 2010 by Michael5577

[JoeKid0000]

We (the forum/patients/etc.) are the regulation.

 

Indeed! This site has undoubtedly helped thousands of people.