Had my first consult---What's the truth?

[Race]

I had my first consult with a (non coalition) surgeon last week and I want to check with you guys and gals on what was said.

 

So I went to this guys office and it was beautiful--clean--sharp looking.

He does all sorts of cosmetic procedures not just hair restoration. His staff was nice and so was he. Very pleasant guy. So anyway--- what he ended up saying follows below. He was not talking about me specifically ( my donor area for example ) he was saying this as a metric---a blanket truth--- that I should use when I measure one surgeon next to the other.

 

He said that anybody who says they are getting more than 1500 grafts out of transplant is either lying or cutting too big of a strip.

 

That cutting too big of a strip makes for difficult closures and ensures scaring. That anything other than a strip yielding ( + or - ) 1500 grafts decreases viability due to the length of time the grafts are outside the body and the vascular compromise of longer procedures.

 

He said he would never take a strip from the side of the head due to veins and nerves and he does not do FUE. He said Lasers are bogus and that stem cell treatments that some offices offer are a rip off.

 

He removes the strip and then his team does the actual transplant while he oversees the process.

 

He's charging approx. $3/graft. I say approximate because it's a flat fee of $4,500.

 

It was a no pressure sales pitch. He spoke to me like he was a guy giving out good advice. He said to be careful about who I chose but that basically everyone is doing the same thing---it was really about who I felt the most comfortable with.

 

What's the reaction for the gallery :confused:

[Jotronic]

He said two things that are true. Lasers and current "stem cell" offerings are bogus. Aside from that his advice, while perhaps well meaning, is antiquated.

[StaggerLee123]

Well where to start... If this Doc is telling you that 1500 grafts is the max ANYONE can do he is a bit....umm... behind the times. He probably should be saying "1500 grafts is the maximum that I can do..." 1500 grafts was once considered a big procedure probably back in the late 90's. You should look through the results of and see what the donor scars look like of Docs who routinely perform "large' sessions and I think you will see that his statement seems way off.

 

Check out other Docs, anytime you have a Doc making difinitive statements like this alarm bells and whistles should go off. Remember the least expensive option is the best when it comes to buying cars, not when it comes to having procedure done that could affect you for the rest of your life.

 

I think from the tone of your post you know what time it is.

 

Good luck.

[aaron1234]

1500 is max?!? Is this guy living in the 1980's?

[hairthere]

Show him some of H&W's 5-6k cases. It'll blow his mind dude!

[mattj]

He said two things that are true. Lasers and current "stem cell" offerings are bogus. Aside from that his advice, while perhaps well meaning, is antiquated.

 

My thoughts exactly. He's right about lasers and there isn't currently anything that stem cell technology can offer, but everything else he said can only be based on his own limitations.

 

If you look at the results posted on this forum by patients and clinics, you'll find that the average procedure size is considerably higher than 1500 grafts. 1500 grafts will result in a thin appearance on anyone other than a patient starting with very minor hairloss. The majority of patients whose hairloss bothers them enough to seek HT surgery will require a higher number to achieve a satisfying cosmetic improvement.

[Race]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I had already looked at a lot results from different patients and clinics on this site so I was quite surprised when he said 1,500 max. One thing I knew right when I walked in the office was hair restoration was not his focus. There were huge 50in LED screens showing him performing laser skin resurfacing, Botox, Restylane, Collagen lip injections but nothing showing off or promoting his skill at hair restoration. I knew before he even said a word I wanted someone with more focus.

 

I think Jotronic had it right when he said "well meaning but antiquated".

 

Mattj--- He did say the 1500 graft session that he could do would not result in wholly satisfying results but that after a year another 1500 grafts session would make me a very happy.

 

StaggerLee--- you're right--- I do know what time it is. To keep the metaphor going I check my watch all the time! But I gotta say...having that be my first consult...it did leave me questioning things I already thought I knew.

 

That's why I threw it out to you guys!

[Jotronic]

Glad you are seeing this for what it is. Btw, another red flag is what raised suspicion for you in your last post. If he's got a bunch of other procedures other than hair related going on in the same clinic then as you said, hair is not his focus, thus you should limit your search to clinics that ONLY perform hair restoration full time. No double dipping into lips, lasers, tucks, etc.

[orlhair1]

Yes......he was probably well intentioned, but the information about the number of grafts, scars, etc. is just not accurate. Procedures 2 times that big are an every day occurrence with top clinics and with the right donor and laxity, much bigger procedures are possible.