FUE/Hair transplant is the worst decision I have ever made

[MAGNUMpi]

Hey BummedinCA,

Can you give us an update with pics? It would be great to see how your doing. Hope things have changed for the better.

[darkhorse0510]

Hey bummed,

 

At this point it's been almost 7 months since your surgery. I'm curious to see how you're doing? For those of us considering FUE, it would be great to know if you still feel the same way today about the procedure.

 

Have you experienced any regrowth? Please update us!

[Mickey85]

Many people whose hair transplants do not succeed say it is one of the worst decisions they have ever made. I know this patient said that VERY early on but usually when someone stops posting it is because they are either unsatisfied with the result and just disappear or because they are over the moon with their results and are living life. Sadly I think it is more often the former...

[362guy]

Many people whose hair transplants do not succeed say it is one of the worst decisions they have ever made. I know this patient said that VERY early on but usually when someone stops posting it is because they are either unsatisfied with the result and just disappear or because they are over the moon with their results and are living life. Sadly I think it is more often the former...

 

I'm so torn again. Right as I feel I'm ready to take the plunge, I read a post like this and I'm back to being so confused as to whether it's a good and responsible idea.

 

"sadly I think it is more often the former". Really? After reading posts on here for months, it seems like most are happy and only a small percentage are unhappy.

 

WHAT IS THE TRUTH?

[Mickey85]

I'm so torn again. Right as I feel I'm ready to take the plunge, I read a post like this and I'm back to being so confused as to whether it's a good and responsible idea.

 

"sadly I think it is more often the former". Really? After reading posts on here for months, it seems like most are happy and only a small percentage are unhappy.

 

WHAT IS THE TRUTH?

 

Dont be sad champ, i meant that the forum membrs that disappeaer after posting. The ones forum members who are pleased with their results and express it outweigh the ones who have bad results but i was talking about the patients who create thread and then there is a sense of disappointment and then never post again. Some people say 'oh they are probably enjoying their hair' but more times its because they are fed up with the result and withdraw. Only a smal but sizeable percentage are unhappy.

[TommyLucchese]

I'm so torn again. Right as I feel I'm ready to take the plunge, I read a post like this and I'm back to being so confused as to whether it's a good and responsible idea.

 

"sadly I think it is more often the former". Really? After reading posts on here for months, it seems like most are happy and only a small percentage are unhappy.

 

WHAT IS THE TRUTH?

 

As someone who took the plunge exactly 4 months ago today (including flying from UK to US on my own) I can vouch for everything so far. The travel and procedure itself was really no big deal at all, I actually enjoyed it. The ugly duckling phase hasn't been fun but I told my close friends so I was able to maintain a low key social life. I've had some good growth already too, looking good for such an early stage.

 

I can't promise you'll have a great result. I can't even promise that I'll have a great result! But if you pick the right doctor for you, I'm sure you'll be one of the many posting about their excellent experiences......and hopefully posting an excellent result 1 year to 18 months down the line.

[stinger99]

its discouraging when someone like that posts such statements and then doesnt take the time to update the community.

[scar5]

its discouraging when someone like that posts such statements and then doesn't take the time to update the community.

 

Before we take the plunge, as it were, we have a clear and shining target, and like a new born baby, we can gush healthily. Then after, we are tainted. I think I understand why so many people don't post.

 

Has it ever occurred to you (us) that HT docs have their own private forums, where they can share details of us? For the mutual good, I mean, no sinister undertones, but clearly docs and clinics, reps etc., they know the deal better than any of us about the perils and opportunities to be found on the boards.

 

It is discouraging when they don't post, sure, but it is devastating when you call a clinic that won't talk to you, because you showed something, said something, less than glowing about another clinic. Kiss and tell at your own peril I say.

[Mickey85]

Really scar5?? Clinics have refused to talk to you becausse you posted pics or said something aboutva bad result from another clinic??

[scar5]

I can't be sure, and I don't wanna say for the obvious reasons too. But I have done some damage already. Hopefully, not too much. Running out of grafts has really limited it too. I simply don't have the options anymore.

 

But the point is really a mute one isn't it. I mean, who doesn't know you don't get milk delivered if you throw stones at the milkman!!

 

Testimonials are great and make the most valuable contributions, but of course they will be a huge black hole and the results will be skewed one way or the other.

 

If people were compensated and they could present in a way that would not compromise them, we could see a lot, lot more, but that just isn't practical.

[NW3VKY]

I hope your right Can't Decide. "Buyer's remorse" is definitely the term, you nailed it. I should clarify, my hair loss might be more towards a Norwood 3, I've recessed on the sides quite a bit, but not much thinning on the vertex. Anywho, all I have to go on is what I've found online, which mostly has profiles where the patient is pleased with their recipient area, and dreading the time when it will fall out.

 

6, 9, 12 months. This is a long time to wait for indication of results. I realize the hair falls out before it grows back in months down the line. I guess I was just hoping for a "glimpse" of the final product, in my first few weeks post op.

 

 

PICS or it didn't happen

[michaeljames]

I am 17 days post-op an FUE hair transplant, and I can already say it is the worst mistake I have ever made. I'm am posting this so anyone considering a hair transplant, will come across this when "googling" and researching and avoid the mistake I made.

 

I had a receding hairline for about 3-4 years, but had stabilized it with Rogaine and propecia. I had no problem buzzing/shaving my head, but I was looking to recover some of my hairline. At 29 years old, this would not be an uncommon desire for most men.

 

I had consulted with a HT specialist about two years ago, but was scared off by the cost. However, I decided to go back recently and proceed with the procedure. The staff was very professional and friendly, from what I can tell my procedure and healing has been very fast and typical, I will not go into detail on the procedure and healing, anyone can handle that part.

 

So I went with the doctors recommendation of 1200 grafts to fill in my hairline. When the scabs came off in my recipient area, there was hair. The density however was nowhere near the density of my other hair. I am not a severe case by the way, I might be a Norwood 2.

 

So here I am, back where I started, yet worse. I can't shave my head because of the donor site, and probably never will be able to.

 

I realize my new hair won't reach "full effect" until 12 months after the surgery, so please don't bother pointing that out. BUT the general consensus is that before the shock loss occurs that "what you see is what you will probably get".

 

So naturally I spoke with the doctor and voiced my concern. He says we can tak a look in six months, and add another 400 grafts or so then. More surgery!? My hair loss was minor in most respects! He said that any more density that he would have added in the first surgery would have been lost anyway.

 

My level of satisfaction is 0 out of 10. I was better off before. Now I am a hermit, and ashamed for my head to be seen in public. Again, I'm a fast healer, that is not the issue.

 

Don't be fooled by the blogs and pages showing a great head of hair appearing, then disappearing, then reappearing in 12 months. It's not as simple as all that.

 

Save your money, save your time, save your scalp.

 

Don't end up like me, already regretting your hair transplant before your new hair has even fallen out!!!! This is supposed to be the "honeymoon phase", but trust me, it's anything but!

 

I hope this post gets searched and read a whole lot, so someone else can avoid such a huge, costly, and pointless mistake.

 

Hello BummedinCA,

 

Again I have great empathy with you as you have related your experience. However, I am remiss that you did not give evidence to your angst with some pics in the process that is so much more helpful to forum users. Could you post some? Of course though you may not like it; it is to early to tell on the success of your procedure and you do have to wait it out. I am curious as to what mechanism was utilized robotic, automate or handheld device extraction by a surgeon. Your update on these and inclusion of pictures would lend a lot of creedance to this thread. Thanks, all the best, Michael.

[Arrie]

I agree with Mickey85, I got an HT in 2007 by 2008 i never looked backed living my life carefree about my hairloss. It is a sad truth but when people like m have amazing results you just go and ...... live your life care free.... Im coming back because i know my journey for complete hair restoration is a long long process and I'm planning my next step so I came back to the forum...

[GNX1]

well, unless he follows-up with final results good or bad this post in utterly worthless and meaningless!

[s2thoudriver]

This is exactly the point to my HT thread on this forum and my personal blog.

 

One thing I noticed when researching is that people either have bad results then go quiet, or have good results so stop updating.

 

I wanted to make sure the full process was documented in detail for all to see, good or bad. Thankfully, my experience has been very positive, but I still want to continue providing updated up to 12 months, maybe 18 months.

 

Fingers crossed things picked up for the OP.

 

Regards

 

Rob

[CHB811]

This topic really speaks to me having gone through a similar process. I'm not bald by any means yet but I have entered into an accelerated stage of hair loss recently. Even prior to my current dilemma I've had a lot of time to reflect and think about hair, HTs and why I had this done to myself.

I can't really blame the OP for being angry with himself, although I now understand that everyone makes mistakes and you shouldn't beat yourself up over it. Still it is a decision that I've struggled with every day since my fateful decision.

 

My story begins at a diffuse NW2-2a and foolishly rushing into an HT. My goals were far too lofty and I was in over my head. Looking back, my doctor surely knew my state of mind and didn't protect me from myself. While you can only blame someone else so much I find that part the most despicable.

 

I researched and made my decision within a month. That was my huge mistake.

With all the hindsight I have now, here's an exhaustive list of things I wish I had done:

 

- initial HT consultation with at least 2 coalition doctors

- try the big 3 meds first for at least 6 months; pay attention to side effects

- continue researching HT procedures, techniques, results and doctors for 12-18 months

- understand location and cost should not be constraints

- measure donor & recipient density/hair bulk, loss pattern

- consult with dermatologist for any possible reactions

- understand the procedure end to end including surgical process, expectations, common side effects in the skin, healing and care

- consult with psychologist (no joke) to understand if I would be able to handle the change

- consult with coalition HT doctor again and draft a master plan

- see a HT result in person, performed by different doctors; all pictures can lie; lighting and angles deceive

- Look for pictures and posts of good AND bad HTs

- Know your options for HT repair

- shave head and keep it that way for at least 1-2 months, see if you like it

- read bald guys forums for support and tips to maintain a buzzed dome

- After 12-18 months, if ready, try HT and be as conservative as possible

 

I actually had a pretty good head of hair when I started (still decent) but here's my story -

I had an uneven hairline with a raised side only which was really the only concern. I didn't really know I was balding in a diffuse pattern. I had the FUE HT without being on meds and had shockloss. Went on fin and it helped keep the crown full, side effects faded in a few months but the hairline continued to shed. Flaky scalp ensued (and persists to this day). 1 year post-op I tried kirkland minox 5% and used it for 2 years, things seemed to be on the up and up, however it is likely that I just slowly thinned uniformly to match the hairline and having a short buzz on the sides helped create an illusion of fullness. My loss has picked up in the last 8 months and I don't think I'm going to make it out of this year without the HT standing out on its own.

It has only been 3.5 years since the HT but that time has been littered with obsessiveness, self consciousness, spectrophobia, anxiety and most of all - regret and disappointment. In that entire time I've only had a fleeting 6-8 months where I felt 'normal'.

 

Being super picky about hair, I honestly feel that HTs are probably not truly viable for many if not most candidates in terms of being natural looking. This is just my own opinion but I personally wouldn't recommend a HT at all save for a few situations:

 

- no balding; filling in temples or rough patch

- older (40ish); family history of loss is documented; hair loss has been stable for a long time

- fantastic responder to meds in addition to strong characteristics from point 2 and a master plan good psych health and with money to spare

 

Even happy patients with sparsely laid HTs are probably just fooling themselves about their hair.

I understand that the last statement in particular sounds really jaded and that's because I am, even with a good and relatively even amount of hair on my head.

 

I would say I'm fairly lucky as I've shaved down to a 0 in the donor and didn't mind the FUE pock marks too much. It is almost invisible at a 1 guard. Still I'm a concerned about my recipient zone due to scaly, flaky skin, and larger follicles in the grafts but I think it should be manageable if I buzz down with some laser treatment and electrolysis to get rid of the hairs; possibly fraxel or vbeam to smooth the skin. This is going to take time, money and head/heartache.

 

While I know there is more to life than hair, I'm having a lot of trouble looking past it as it has been a strong defining characteristic for so long. My vanity led to my undoing and in the end I've learned that I had my priorities in the wrong places.

 

I hope the OP is doing well and keeping his spirits up. I mostly just wanted to say that I understand what you are going through and I hope you end up luckier than me - stable and with a good result. If anything at least you can grow facial hair unlike me, hah!

 

The industry definitely needs to be more honest and upfront about the process and results. I hope this post finds people debating on getting a HT and at least have them reconsider once more. I'm not saying there can't be good results and I'm not saying that every doctor is crooked, but I think the realities of HTs are not exactly what the photos would have you believe.

 

Be cautious - I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to go through what I did.

[Mickey85]

This topic really speaks to me having gone through a similar process. I'm not bald by any means yet but I have entered into an accelerated stage of hair loss recently. Even prior to my current dilemma I've had a lot of time to reflect and think about hair, HTs and why I had this done to myself.

I can't really blame the OP for being angry with himself, although I now understand that everyone makes mistakes and you shouldn't beat yourself up over it. Still it is a decision that I've struggled with every day since my fateful decision.

 

My story begins at a diffuse NW2-2a and foolishly rushing into an HT. My goals were far too lofty and I was in over my head. Looking back, my doctor surely knew my state of mind and didn't protect me from myself. While you can only blame someone else so much I find that part the most despicable.

 

I researched and made my decision within a month. That was my huge mistake.

With all the hindsight I have now, here's an exhaustive list of things I wish I had done:

 

- initial HT consultation with at least 2 coalition doctors

- try the big 3 meds first for at least 6 months; pay attention to side effects

- continue researching HT procedures, techniques, results and doctors for 12-18 months

- understand location and cost should not be constraints

- measure donor & recipient density/hair bulk, loss pattern

- consult with dermatologist for any possible reactions

- understand the procedure end to end including surgical process, expectations, common side effects in the skin, healing and care

- consult with psychologist (no joke) to understand if I would be able to handle the change

- consult with coalition HT doctor again and draft a master plan

- see a HT result in person, performed by different doctors; all pictures can lie; lighting and angles deceive

- Look for pictures and posts of good AND bad HTs

- Know your options for HT repair

- shave head and keep it that way for at least 1-2 months, see if you like it

- read bald guys forums for support and tips to maintain a buzzed dome

- After 12-18 months, if ready, try HT and be as conservative as possible

 

I actually had a pretty good head of hair when I started (still decent) but here's my story -

I had an uneven hairline with a raised side only which was really the only concern. I didn't really know I was balding in a diffuse pattern. I had the FUE HT without being on meds and had shockloss. Went on fin and it helped keep the crown full, side effects faded in a few months but the hairline continued to shed. Flaky scalp ensued (and persists to this day). 1 year post-op I tried kirkland minox 5% and used it for 2 years, things seemed to be on the up and up, however it is likely that I just slowly thinned uniformly to match the hairline and having a short buzz on the sides helped create an illusion of fullness. My loss has picked up in the last 8 months and I don't think I'm going to make it out of this year without the HT standing out on its own.

It has only been 3.5 years since the HT but that time has been littered with obsessiveness, self consciousness, spectrophobia, anxiety and most of all - regret and disappointment. In that entire time I've only had a fleeting 6-8 months where I felt 'normal'.

 

Being super picky about hair, I honestly feel that HTs are probably not truly viable for many if not most candidates in terms of being natural looking. This is just my own opinion but I personally wouldn't recommend a HT at all save for a few situations:

 

- no balding; filling in temples or rough patch

- older (40ish); family history of loss is documented; hair loss has been stable for a long time

- fantastic responder to meds in addition to strong characteristics from point 2 and a master plan good psych health and with money to spare

 

Even happy patients with sparsely laid HTs are probably just fooling themselves about their hair.

I understand that the last statement in particular sounds really jaded and that's because I am, even with a good and relatively even amount of hair on my head.

 

I would say I'm fairly lucky as I've shaved down to a 0 in the donor and didn't mind the FUE pock marks too much. It is almost invisible at a 1 guard. Still I'm a concerned about my recipient zone due to scaly, flaky skin, and larger follicles in the grafts but I think it should be manageable if I buzz down with some laser treatment and electrolysis to get rid of the hairs; possibly fraxel or vbeam to smooth the skin. This is going to take time, money and head/heartache.

 

While I know there is more to life than hair, I'm having a lot of trouble looking past it as it has been a strong defining characteristic for so long. My vanity led to my undoing and in the end I've learned that I had my priorities in the wrong places.

 

I hope the OP is doing well and keeping his spirits up. I mostly just wanted to say that I understand what you are going through and I hope you end up luckier than me - stable and with a good result. If anything at least you can grow facial hair unlike me, hah!

 

The industry definitely needs to be more honest and upfront about the process and results. I hope this post finds people debating on getting a HT and at least have them reconsider once more. I'm not saying there can't be good results and I'm not saying that every doctor is crooked, but I think the realities of HTs are not exactly what the photos would have you believe.

 

Be cautious - I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to go through what I did.

 

Man, this resonates so much to how I feel about my procedure and the industry in general. Thanks so much for that post, it is very rare that someone that has sustained the negative sides of a procedure to be so lucid and coherent. I'm definitely going to throw in my perspective very shortly because it definitely feels warranted. I hope you keep posting here and I wish you all the very best. I had a failed FUT procedure and my scar stretched champ, I wish I never bothered with a procedure at all too...

[MAGNUMpi]

This topic really speaks to me having gone through a similar process. I'm not bald by any means yet but I have entered into an accelerated stage of hair loss recently. Even prior to my current dilemma I've had a lot of time to reflect and think about hair, HTs and why I had this done to myself.

I can't really blame the OP for being angry with himself, although I now understand that everyone makes mistakes and you shouldn't beat yourself up over it. Still it is a decision that I've struggled with every day since my fateful decision.

 

My story begins at a diffuse NW2-2a and foolishly rushing into an HT. My goals were far too lofty and I was in over my head. Looking back, my doctor surely knew my state of mind and didn't protect me from myself. While you can only blame someone else so much I find that part the most despicable.

 

I researched and made my decision within a month. That was my huge mistake.

With all the hindsight I have now, here's an exhaustive list of things I wish I had done:

 

- initial HT consultation with at least 2 coalition doctors

- try the big 3 meds first for at least 6 months; pay attention to side effects

- continue researching HT procedures, techniques, results and doctors for 12-18 months

- understand location and cost should not be constraints

- measure donor & recipient density/hair bulk, loss pattern

- consult with dermatologist for any possible reactions

- understand the procedure end to end including surgical process, expectations, common side effects in the skin, healing and care

- consult with psychologist (no joke) to understand if I would be able to handle the change

- consult with coalition HT doctor again and draft a master plan

- see a HT result in person, performed by different doctors; all pictures can lie; lighting and angles deceive

- Look for pictures and posts of good AND bad HTs

- Know your options for HT repair

- shave head and keep it that way for at least 1-2 months, see if you like it

- read bald guys forums for support and tips to maintain a buzzed dome

- After 12-18 months, if ready, try HT and be as conservative as possible

 

I actually had a pretty good head of hair when I started (still decent) but here's my story -

I had an uneven hairline with a raised side only which was really the only concern. I didn't really know I was balding in a diffuse pattern. I had the FUE HT without being on meds and had shockloss. Went on fin and it helped keep the crown full, side effects faded in a few months but the hairline continued to shed. Flaky scalp ensued (and persists to this day). 1 year post-op I tried kirkland minox 5% and used it for 2 years, things seemed to be on the up and up, however it is likely that I just slowly thinned uniformly to match the hairline and having a short buzz on the sides helped create an illusion of fullness. My loss has picked up in the last 8 months and I don't think I'm going to make it out of this year without the HT standing out on its own.

It has only been 3.5 years since the HT but that time has been littered with obsessiveness, self consciousness, spectrophobia, anxiety and most of all - regret and disappointment. In that entire time I've only had a fleeting 6-8 months where I felt 'normal'.

 

Being super picky about hair, I honestly feel that HTs are probably not truly viable for many if not most candidates in terms of being natural looking. This is just my own opinion but I personally wouldn't recommend a HT at all save for a few situations:

 

- no balding; filling in temples or rough patch

- older (40ish); family history of loss is documented; hair loss has been stable for a long time

- fantastic responder to meds in addition to strong characteristics from point 2 and a master plan good psych health and with money to spare

 

Even happy patients with sparsely laid HTs are probably just fooling themselves about their hair.

I understand that the last statement in particular sounds really jaded and that's because I am, even with a good and relatively even amount of hair on my head.

 

I would say I'm fairly lucky as I've shaved down to a 0 in the donor and didn't mind the FUE pock marks too much. It is almost invisible at a 1 guard. Still I'm a concerned about my recipient zone due to scaly, flaky skin, and larger follicles in the grafts but I think it should be manageable if I buzz down with some laser treatment and electrolysis to get rid of the hairs; possibly fraxel or vbeam to smooth the skin. This is going to take time, money and head/heartache.

 

While I know there is more to life than hair, I'm having a lot of trouble looking past it as it has been a strong defining characteristic for so long. My vanity led to my undoing and in the end I've learned that I had my priorities in the wrong places.

 

I hope the OP is doing well and keeping his spirits up. I mostly just wanted to say that I understand what you are going through and I hope you end up luckier than me - stable and with a good result. If anything at least you can grow facial hair unlike me, hah!

 

The industry definitely needs to be more honest and upfront about the process and results. I hope this post finds people debating on getting a HT and at least have them reconsider once more. I'm not saying there can't be good results and I'm not saying that every doctor is crooked, but I think the realities of HTs are not exactly what the photos would have you believe.

 

Be cautious - I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to go through what I did.

 

This is a very intense post. Some good points. Hope you get your situation sorted out and can walk away happy in the end. I'm going to read your post again now. Thanks for posting.

[Mickey85]

Magnum, I totally agree. His post resonates very strongly to me and is most likely the best post I have ever read on a hair transplant forum... The contents of his post are things that surgeons and reps would NEVER voluntarily tell you...

[Mickey85]

 

The industry definitely needs to be more honest and upfront about the process and results. I hope this post finds people debating on getting a HT and at least have them reconsider once more. I'm not saying there can't be good results and I'm not saying that every doctor is crooked, but I think the realities of HTs are not exactly what the photos would have you believe.

 

Be cautious - I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to go through what I did.

 

I hope your post generates debate and has people looking at the whole cosmetic industry with a more skeptical eye. Go to many top Doctor's websites and it looks like you are viewing a new Apple computer than a procedure. Some have a 'guarantee' like you are buying a refrigerator. Their reps and surgeons themselves post comments and statements that subtly(and sometimes not so subtly) reinforce their particular agenda. They act as if they are friends with other hair transplant surgeons but they will easily and without hesitation berate the work of another during a mere consult. Reps that once were against certain practices eventually or suddenly turn a new leaf once their employer(surgeon) decides it is a lucrative venture.

 

Alot of doctors stand by the 'ethical' card in terms of hairline placement or density but they will easily(and without persuasion) recommend and prescribe Proprecia, a drug that can give permanent sexual and other complications. How many times did my doctor's rep insist I start a proprecia regimen even though I made it abundantly clear I was against it. They will perform FUT on guys with minimal hairloss and/or are in their 20s. There was always that constant feeling that their methods were very much predicated on pure chance and luck. Chances that Proprecia would work, last and not entail any side effects. Chances that the young patient's loss will be minimal to warrant a 2,000 procedure to the frontal third. Chances that the strip scar would not stretch. A shocking amount of contradiction.

 

Then there is the agenda aspect of it. FUT doctors and their reps will do everything they can to minimize the potential and power or FUE and have for years. At first it was "FUE is going back to the plug era!! Strip is the new standard!" then it was "Transection is too high" then it was "FUE is only good for slight recession, show me 30 successful FUE megasessions!". Then Lorenzo came round and it was "Oh that's because his patients are Spanish, they have denser donors than other races!!". Everything to keep the aging FUT procedure in favor. FUE advocates have also done their fair share of Chinese whispers like the 'scar free' gimmick but at least that procedure comes with less complications.

 

How many times I have seen a forum member post about his initial transplant and praising everyone from the Doctor all the way down to the cleaning lady, only to be full of angst and bitterness for the surgeon because the results were not anywhere near that that is shown on the official website, forums, brochures etc. I saw one surgeon's brochure(yes, a brochure, like a holiday..) where they showed a strip scar so fine that my native hair in the donor area had more space inbetween them than the scar did. The photo was also in black and white... Wonder why? Sad faces in the before photos and big wide smiles in the after shots.

 

My surgeon(who I won't name, please don't ask) was off doing consults while his techs were implanting grafts! His techs were conversing with eachother and gradually shifted to me and the whole time I was thinking "shouldn't you guys be concentrating?". My surgeon underestimated my donor area(he didn't even check via a microscope and computer) and ended up with almost 20% more grafts than desired(which was already 600 more grafts than another surgeon recommended, who actually persuaded I do the procedure via FUT because he is very average at FUE even though I wanted FUE..). So he dense packed an area where native hair was plentiful and I sustained permanent shockloss as a result. Clearly the monetary incentive(more grafts = more dollars) was priority over any chance that the surgery could make the patients hair worse. At no stage did he advise that FUT may not be the way to go for such a small level of loss and at no stage to he tell or show me the potential ramifications of FUT. Hell he was more than content to perform FUT on guys in their early 20's so I was just another name on the roster. This surgeon is constantly recommended as on of the best in the world... What a joke

 

These Doctors know that MOST of their perspective patients are insecure about their looks and are venerable and they will believe most of what a Doctor tells them because they are in a position of public health and care(or were). So they don't tell you that a good or bad scar is largely dependent on your physiology. They don't tell you that the donor hairs are not the same caliber as the natural hairs at the front of your(former) hairline. They don't tell you about flaky scalp years on or numbness in the donor area. They will gloat about their donor closure technique or their strip removal methods or their patented FUE punch but when things go wrong it is "It's your physiology". These patients go in feeling venerable and insecure about their hairloss and are pumped with hope that there are solutions. Imagine their descent and devastation if things do not pan out? They generally end up worse than prior to the procedure and surgeons know that but continue to take risk cases where the patient is too young, too ambitious, too unrealistic, has self-image disorders and/or thinks the procedure will elevate their life to a celebrity like status.

 

This post lacks the direction and cohesion that CHB811's brilliant first post has but I just felt I needed to express my discontent with the industry as a whole. Now of course not every surgeon is bad at all, but every surgeon has unsuccessful results, bar none. That much is absolutely unequivocal. The amount of bad surgeries they have will never be divulged, at least not honestly or voluntarily. Some are so far from ethical and skilled they should not be in the field at all while others are really great surgeons and do care and select and advise their patients the safest and best way forward rather than the lucrative way forward.

[TomCruise]

Mickey, good to get some insight in your personal history. I don't think it's necessary to name your surgeon, I was just curious, why are you against doing so?

[chrisdav]

I have a good idea who your surgeon is Mickey.

 

Without pictures, the statements you have made have less substance though.

 

I do agree with you though that it is still not ideal and clear by any means in this industry for someone looking into surgery.

[Mickey85]

I have a good idea who your surgeon is Mickey.

 

Without pictures, the statements you have made have less substance though.

 

I can totally agree champ, I really do. I don't mean to implicate the surgeon in particular or polarize the forum against him. I'm not trying to rally to have him exiled as I was the one who choose to undergo a procedure and I do accept alot of the responsibility. Still doesn't make it right that situations like this occur because of a doctor's incompetence(consultations during a procedure, techs conversing amongst themselves and patient, dense packing an area with at least 40 grafts per/cm already) as those things are external of an individuals physiology and easily controllable. I don't want the doctor being the focal point to my posts. If the objective was to vilify him, I would have made a scathing and furious thread with detailed pictures. I'm here to try to make sure members are aware of what they are getting into, FUE or FUT.

[chrisdav]

I understand.

 

I think what you have written is good and there are definitely points I agree with in there.

[Mickey85]

I understand.

 

I think what you have written is good and there are definitely points I agree with in there.

 

Thanks champ.