Thinking about not following through with scheduled FUE, please help!

[Shacked]

Most certainly not!

 

The only way you should gauge if the Dr is "good" or suitable to meet your needs is to base your opinion on empirical observations of many IMPARTIAL patient results who had a similar stage of hair loss and FUE requirements as yourself, along with whether or not their results meet your desired outcome.

 

It may be that the Dr does great work. But so far you seem to indicate that there is no evidence to back this claim. Moreover, the robot FUE is so new that there are few documented results across the world. How long has the Dr had the robot for? If it is less than one and a half years then there is no real way of knowing if his technique produces good results.

 

Follow your gut, which ever way it may be.

 

Good luck!

[hairthere]

Sounds to me like this doctor will say anything to get you in the chair. I think you know how most of us would advise you at this point....

[Balloonknot725]

He had talked about it before, not after I came back with questions. I was just throwing all of my curiosities out there.

[Balloonknot725]

I do see that one doctor that has credibility is Dr. Rahal. He is based out of Toronto? That is not too far from me, I am in Michigan. I do agree with everybody here that I only want the best possible surgeon to do something so permanent. Plus it looks like he is great with hairlines, which is exactly what I am looking for. Does anybody have a clue on price per graft that Rahal charges? I'm just wondering if it is in my reach or if I should just forget about it, shave my head, and look like a bad ass, haha.

[Shacked]

Dr Rahal is reputable, has great results, and has a great patient advisor who will help you. His FUE results speak for themselves. But you have to do the research! You can't just rely on what other people/Dr's tell you. Rahal is highly regarded as one of the best HT surgeons for the FUT and gaining the same credibility with FUE. He is ~$8 per graft. Still, each Dr has their own 'mantra' if you will; style, aesthetic goals etc. Rahal's may coincide with yours, they may not.

[JimmyNeutron]

I see you do not want to travel very far, but if you can not afford the best doctors like me and some others but still want a good HT surgeon, you should really consider Dr Bhatti from India, he charges $1.40 per graft. If you have a bit more money, there's also Dr Erdogan From Turkey who charges 2.50 Euro per graft which is $3.45 US dollars, he is an excellent doctor and one of my favorites. There's Dr Doganay, who charges 2 euro per graft($2.77 USD), another great doctor.

 

If your pockets are really hurting(nothing wrong with that), and you can not afford neither of these doctors, there's Dr Maral from Turkey who charges by the session, he will charge you about $2500-2600 USD tops, hotel and pick up included, for up to 4500-5000 grafts. However, this doctor is not recommended by this site(yet), and he is not an IAHRS doctor or American Hairloss Association recommended. Despite this, from what I have seen, his staff does decent work.

[Balloonknot725]

Thank you so much to everybody for talking this through with me. Ill be canceling my appointment I had for this Friday. I think this summer ill shave my head (while continuing to take finasteride) while still researching the possibilities of a procedure with a reputable doctor. Ill see how I like the shaved head look, and I figure it makes more sense to try that first anyways! Maybe start saving money that can be out forth to an outstanding surgeon. Dr. Holt may just be a great surgeon, but as someone pointed out he doesn't have many results to show. I do not want to go into this type of surgery not knowing what kind of outcome to expect. To everyone, thanks again!

[Jotronic]

Wise move.

[hairthere]

Hallelujah! At last we got through to someone and they employed common sense. BK, you just made the hours I've spent on this forum worthwhile.

[Balloonknot725]

Well thank you, hair there. Honestly, it's still a hard decision because the "what if it works out and you got the best deal ever" devil still sits on my shoulder. but i know at this point canceling and doing my due diligence in research is the wise decision. With such overwhelming respond from everybody here, who has had experience with actual transplants and the research that goes along with it, I'd be asking for a disaster to neglect all of your advice. You guys are a great community! Honestly, and I will stick around to do research, look at different results from different doctors, or just to kick it with the fellow bald man haha!

[Paulygon]

I think this summer ill shave my head (while continuing to take finasteride) while still researching the possibilities of a procedure with a reputable doctor. Ill see how I like the shaved head look, and I figure it makes more sense to try that first anyways! Maybe start saving money that can be out forth to an outstanding surgeon.

 

Sounds like me the year before my procedure.. I shaved my head to see how the bald look is on me.. and I saved some money.. The shaved head didn't suit me at all which helped me to decide that I am okay with FUT/strip (even though it leaves a scar compared to FUE)... if I can have hair on top of my head, I will never go for the totally shaved / bald look.

[hsrp10]

thank yourself for making the right decision, and read this entire thread if you ever have doubts about changing your mind. you made the right decision of not going forward.

 

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/172143-19-years-age-norwood-2-3-there-anybody-out-there.html

[Balloonknot725]

Thanks guys! I cancelled today. Atleast for now I am glad to not have to go through the physical recovery. This doctor was abhrs certified though, does that even mean anything, as far as trusting a surgeon?

[Balloonknot725]

thank yourself for making the right decision, and read this entire thread if you ever have doubts about changing your mind. you made the right decision of not going forward.

 

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/172143-19-years-age-norwood-2-3-there-anybody-out-there.html

 

Wow. Yea, this kid seemed pretty arrogant, but I do still bad for him as he is younger and hasn't had the time to mature. I emphasize with him for wanting to get it done when he is younger. It's something that someone who doesn't start balding until later in life would not understand. But I see the importance of being extremely selective in choosing a surgeon, and knowing what kind of work they do. I honestly am super impressed by Dr. Rahals hairline work, which is my main concern on my own head. I've maintained my other hair with finasteride since I started taking that. I started going bald at 17, so if I hadn't jumped on tht 6 or 7 years ago I'm pretty sure I'd have no hair at all by now haha. I think I will try to save up and eventually get the right amount of grafts done by Rahal, if I ever do get a transplant. Thank you everybody once again for giving me a piece of mind and putting things in perspective.

[Balloonknot725]

I still can't help but think I passed on a golden opportunity. When I called the office with my concerns about their website not showing much results, they told me that they weren't allowed to take any of the pics with them from the old company when they branched off on their own. But I was old they could definitely show me some of their on portfolios more in depth, and that also the robot had been doing great and was well worth it. I told them cool, ill come check out his work more in depth and make a final decision on that. Well, I got a call back a little bit after that and they told me they would not proceed with me having the doubts I did. Now I feel like I'm going to go check out more of his work and it's going to be great, and I will regret not getting it done. I was going to get a steal for the price but now if I decide to use this doctor it will be $8 per graft for the robot. Almost triple what I would have paid this week. In the meanwhile no improvements with my hairline anytime in the near future. Ahhhh, it's like I would have been worrisome if I did it but now that I didn't I'm just as regretful

[Balloonknot725]

I was also told a lot of people don't want to be in before and after photos, and that was why they didn't have much to show as well. The fact that they called me back and put it off how's that they are an ethical company. The techs been with the surgeon for 9 years. They were doin one of the techs husbands hairline today. I can't help feel I missed out, I was so excited to finally do this and now it seems light years away if ever from happening. I cant afford a trip to another country, or to pay $8 per graft. I most likely would have needed another 1000 grafts after the first 1400 but that would have been ok , I would still have gotten the same price a year from now. Sorry for ranting, I'm just feeling bummed. I really don't want to shave my head.

[Shacked]

You need to relax dude. The Dr sounds like a crook based on what you just wrote...

"If you have concerns, come down and we will address them. I can show you evidence of great transplants from previous patients to put you at ease before the procedure"

 

"ok!"

 

"Actually on second thoughts, YOU DOUBTED ME! I'll punish you by not performing my procedure on you, not showing you any evidence, and then raising the price on you!"

 

What utter garbage...he sounds like a total hack!

 

"The robot has been going great!"

 

Yes, it works..of course it does...but what are condition of the grafts 1 year down the line?

 

My opinion is you made a great decision steering clear of this Dr. He is out to make a buck by the sounds of it. You should be looking for peace of mind, not a bargain FUE.

 

 

" a lot of people don't want to be in before and after photos," Thats garbage! people want to show of their results...they cover the face if they want to remain anonymous.

 

By them dismissing your concerns and cancelling a procedure on you because you had concerns (WHAT HT PATIENT DOESN'T? It's the Drs job to appease the patient and prep them for the procedure so they feel comfortable) is absurd and immediately sounds alarm bells for me.

 

You get what you pay for in life. If something sounds too good to be true (despite the fact this guy didn't even back up a single claim with evidence) then it usually is.

 

Get on meds...save your money...and go to Ottawa and see Dr Rahal.

Or get a hair system fitted.

 

Good luck

[Balloonknot725]

I guess you're right. I just needed some reassurance. It's not like I can bitch about my hairline in real life haha.

 

But, I don't think they were as bad as you interpreted that. They told me they are still waiting for more results for pictures and would specifically save some for my type of hair, and be in contact with me. They could see my concerns and didnt want to rush me into it. I can respect that. He didnt say, oh you doubted me now I'm going to raise the price, it's just this was the week with the robot where the artas specialists were helping them learn, so there was a good discount cuz it's brand new machinery. Ill have to pay like everyone else after this week is done. But in the grand scheme of things I suppose you are correct, and you made me feel better. Gotta start saving up everything and see Rahal. Gonna have to discipline myself to save and be patient. But once again, thank you

[Shacked]

Good luck, mate!

[Paulygon]

to Balloonknot725:

you should read Gillenator's post if you have any lingering doubt whether cancellation was the right move.. I think you made the right choice by not going being part of a doc's learning curve. (Although it seems like you are pretty happy with your choice at this point, I just felt this might be some reassurance)

 

Gillenator says: "Yet there is such a thing as bad FUE. I still hear from guys who had FUE from someone not competent with it or are just learning it. Most learn with larger punches which can do a lot of collateral damage with manual extractions. In fact, some of them have such damaged donor zones that they cannot have any more harvests whether strip or FUE."

 

Donor area pain after FUE - Page 4 - Forum By and for Hair Loss Patients

[gillenator]

Once again Paulygon, you are giving good advice my friend!

[mavigo]

On 3/20/2014 at 3:58 PM, hairthere said:

"He's gonna hate me if I cancel now, oh well."

 

Don't worry about how he'll feel about you. People cancel surgeries all the time. Worry about how you'll feel about him if you get a lousy result. Trust me, he'll get over it. If it goes wrong you'll have to deal with the fallout--every day of your life.

I second that. I had a terrible result with Dr. Holt. This guy dodged a bullet. 

[GoliGoliGoli]

Honestly hard reading this thread. I can't believe anyone would go for the "golden opportunity" of being the guinea pig of an unproven Doctor on a new machine 

[mavigo]

1 hour ago, GoliGoliGoli said:

Honestly hard reading this thread. I can't believe anyone would go for the "golden opportunity" of being the guinea pig of an unproven Doctor on a new machine 

7 years later and he is still unproven. Dr. Holt prefers to do FUTs, stating that 70% of HTs are still done that way and that it "looks better" i.e. a thin line scar is better than "looking like you were shot in the back of the head by a shotgun". 

Again, this guy made the right move. 

 

[mavigo]

On 3/27/2014 at 9:50 PM, Balloonknot725 said:

I still can't help but think I passed on a golden opportunity. When I called the office with my concerns about their website not showing much results, they told me that they weren't allowed to take any of the pics with them from the old company when they branched off on their own. But I was old they could definitely show me some of their on portfolios more in depth, and that also the robot had been doing great and was well worth it. I told them cool, ill come check out his work more in depth and make a final decision on that. Well, I got a call back a little bit after that and they told me they would not proceed with me having the doubts I did. Now I feel like I'm going to go check out more of his work and it's going to be great, and I will regret not getting it done. I was going to get a steal for the price but now if I decide to use this doctor it will be $8 per graft for the robot. Almost triple what I would have paid this week. In the meanwhile no improvements with my hairline anytime in the near future. Ahhhh, it's like I would have been worrisome if I did it but now that I didn't I'm just as regretful

This was one of the biggest red flags I ignored from them, limited photos of results. There is a reason why they won't show them, they are not good. I assure you, even if you could check out more of his work, you would not be impressed. In time, I will post my "results", closer to when I get my repair procedure down. The only "steal" would've been the money you spent/lost doing so.