Failed hair transplant with Dr Rahal

[Shmiggy]

This can happen with any doc and does.

 

The way Rahal is handling this is admirable.

 

Totally agree. Although this is what I would expect from a top flight doc.

[Follically-Challenged]

2youngforthis - I hear ya. I was consulting with Rahal's office for my first HT but I've ceased since this happened. I'm waiting for more answers on how this happened - and what they will be doing differently inside the operating room to prevent this from happening again.

 

Glocktop,

 

I just wanted to clarify a few points.

 

I had high expectations about my HT and am naturally disappointed with the results. I am looking for reasons why the results are not as good. There were things I said that were too strong and not right. It was not fair to Dr Rahal or his clinic and for this I have apologised.

 

Whatever, the reasons are/were, Dr Rahal said he and his team will do everything to rectify the situation. I am okay with that.

 

People have also told me to wait at least 12 months before saying it is a failed HT. I am okay with this as well.

 

I want to reiterate a few things about the procedure:

 

 

• Dr Rahal removed the strip and did the sutures

• Dr Rahal did the incisions and planted the initial grafts

• His staff were friendly and courteous.

• Mike, in particular was fantastic.

 

My results may not have gone as expected. One of the reasons why I chose Dr Rahal was due to the positive feedback from other patients and people on this forum. In terms of the people I met and how they dealt with me, I cannot complain. I want to reiterate this point again. The people at Rahal clinic were fantastic.

 

The fact that Dr Rahal has agreed to fly me over at his expense is a positive step in the right direction to help resolve this.

 

I am more hopeful now that I will reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Edited August 7, 2014 by Follically-Challenged

[Cryingoutloud]

Whatever the motivation behind FC's furious back-pedaling, it's worth remembering that whatever arrangement he and Dr. Rahal come to, he's still gonna have to wait another 8-12 months for the result he should have had after this surgery.

 

I know what that's like; it's horrible so I wish him all the best

[rev333]

Whatever the motivation behind FC's furious back-pedaling, it's worth remembering that whatever arrangement he and Dr. Rahal come to, he's still gonna have to wait another 8-12 months for the result he should have had after this surgery.

 

I know what that's like; it's horrible so I wish him all the best

 

He's backpedaling because sometimes young guys like FC post on forums under emotionally heightened stressful times without realizing that what is posted on the internet is there forever, and is not similar to an in person venting that one does just to get a release in the moment....been there myself.

 

the situation is still horrible, like you said, but hopefully fixable to his satisfaction

[Follically-Challenged]

Whatever the motivation behind FC's furious back-pedaling, it's worth remembering that whatever arrangement he and Dr. Rahal come to, he's still gonna have to wait another 8-12 months for the result he should have had after this surgery.

 

I know what that's like; it's horrible so I wish him all the best

 

There is no furious back-pedalling. I have merely admitted that I went over the top in my initial comments as those were borne out of frustration. I need to be balanced and maybe I have gone to other extreme.

 

This does not mean that I am happy with where I am. Au contraire. I am very disappointed at how it has turned out thus far. However, I want to give it some time before I make the final call on this. Despite it being 8 months Dr Rahal has offered a free touch up. Whilst this does not really seem that appealing given that I will have to go through the same pain again, the gesture is very much appreciated.

 

I also want to add that I still do not know the reasons behind the average results thus far. I will post 9 month pictures soon for everyone to give their opinion.

 

However, I am willing to see Dr Rahal in person to see where this ends up.

Edited August 7, 2014 by Follically-Challenged

[MoMo542]

There is no furious back-pedalling. I have merely admitted that I went over the top in my initial comments as those were borne out of frustration. I need to be balanced and maybe I have gone to other extreme.

 

This does not mean that I am happy with where I am. Au contraire. I am very disappointed at how it has turned out and the offer a free touch up, whilst appreciated, does not really seem that appealing given that I will have to go through the same pain again. I am not sure I am willing to go through the same experience with no guarantee of success.

 

I also want to add that I have still not received any explanation from Dr Rahal and his team about my failed hair transplant. It does not matter what anyone says, it is a failed hair transplant. I will post 9 month pictures soon which will highlight the issue.

 

However, I am willing to see Dr Rahal in person to see where this ends up.

 

hey follically challenged. I feel your pain. Trust me I do. I had a miserably failed transplant.. it had ruined me. plus I lost all my native hair due to shock in the area within 3-4 months post op. They offered me a free touch up because i literally went nuts about them, I rejected the offer. I ended up at H&W as a repair patient on jan 2013 and my life has been saved. (funny enough my choices were between hasson and rahal)

 

So like i said, i do share your experience. I would recommend you still consider dr rahal based on the fact that he does have a good rep.. so maybe it was a once in a while dud you experienced. but if you don't feel comfortable going with another surgery by the same man without that feel of a guarantee. then try dr hasson like i did. He really worked magic for me. I say magic because working with a virgin scalp is A LOT easier than working with a scalp that has had a failed transplant. we have less donor hair, more scarring, messed up recipient area, less laxity etc..

Dr hasson was able to get 3100 grafts out of me and used them to its best potential to what i believe at least. Id be happy to show you my before and afters if you like. Pm me if you do. hope i helped

Edited August 7, 2014 by MoMo542

[Mickey85]

There is no furious back-pedalling. I have merely admitted that I went over the top in my initial comments as those were borne out of frustration. I need to be balanced and maybe I have gone to other extreme.

 

This does not mean that I am happy with where I am. Au contraire. I am very disappointed at how it has turned out and the offer a free touch up, whilst appreciated, does not really seem that appealing given that I will have to go through the same pain again. I am not sure I am willing to go through the same experience with no guarantee of success.

 

I also want to add that I have still not received any explanation from Dr Rahal and his team about my failed hair transplant. It does not matter what anyone says, it is a failed hair transplant. I will post 9 month pictures soon which will highlight the issue.

 

However, I am willing to see Dr Rahal in person to see where this ends up.

 

I can understand how some people get the notion that you were backtracking for whatever reason, but I can also understand how you came to the conclusion that you were posting under an impetuous and emotional state of mind and now that some time has passed, you realized that that is not how the situation truly is/was. What is important is that you rectify this situation by whatever means that will make you happy. Can you move on without a repair? Or is a repair necessary? What is the gameplay for said repair? Etc etc.

[Cryingoutloud]

From what I've read on this forum, most people advise against giving a practice a second bite of the cherry if they botched it first time round but such is the esteem in which Dr. Rahal's held by patients and surgeons alike, he's one of the few doctors I'd entrust with another shot.

 

My first procedure was done by a coalition surgeon whose offer of a free follow up I turned down flat after an FUE test session on me that he video-recorded showed he was actually having difficulty getting a graft into an incision he'd made.

 

He tried to make it sound as if my hair was particularly difficult to work with but I'm not stupid; I knew that was bullshit - the guy's eyesight simply wasn't up to the job any more and there's no way I was gonna let his techs train on my head.

 

Anyway, if you're confident in Dr. Rahal's ability to put you right and secure assurances that he will do the procedure, give him the shot but bear in mind that this is the face you're gonna be showing the world for the rest of your life. You can't entrust that shit to techs no matter how good they're supposed to be.

 

You paid for a Rahal transplant; not a Jill, Penny or Moira transplant. If you can't get those assurances then even if you have to wait 6 months for a slot, you're best off with the Euro boys, Lorenzo, Bisanga, Mwamba or Feriduni.

[splitting hairs]

All surgery has risks involved and hair transplantation is no different.

 

This situation is when it pays to go with an ethical doc.

 

However, i do feel that certain factors can increase the risk of poor growth, such as dense packing or large sessions. It would therefore perhaps be better to go with slightly lower density in the next procedure.

[Follically-Challenged]

From what I've read on this forum, most people advise against giving a practice a second bite of the cherry if they botched it first time round but such is the esteem in which Dr. Rahal's held by patients and surgeons alike, he's one of the few doctors I'd entrust with another shot.

 

My first procedure was done by a coalition surgeon whose offer of a free follow up I turned down flat after an FUE test session on me that he video-recorded showed he was actually having difficulty getting a graft into an incision he'd made.

 

He tried to make it sound as if my hair was particularly difficult to work with but I'm not stupid; I knew that was bullshit - the guy's eyesight simply wasn't up to the job any more and there's no way I was gonna let his techs train on my head.

 

Anyway, if you're confident in Dr. Rahal's ability to put you right and secure assurances that he will do the procedure, give him the shot but bear in mind that this is the face you're gonna be showing the world for the rest of your life. You can't entrust that shit to techs no matter how good they're supposed to be.

 

You paid for a Rahal transplant; not a Jill, Penny or Moira transplant. If you can't get those assurances then even if you have to wait 6 months for a slot, you're best off with the Euro boys, Lorenzo, Bisanga, Mwamba or Feriduni.

 

I am not sure at this moment whether I am ready for a free touch up with Dr Rahal. I know he has a strong reputation and is well respected (including by me). But my question is and always will be - why are my results below par?

 

There are so many questions are going through my head which I intend to discuss with Dr Rahal in person.

 

There is also the issue whether I want a 2nd procedure with Dr Rahal or any other Doctor. To be honest, having gone through so much pain and then to see average results, I am not sure I could face that again.

 

However, this does not mean that I am questioning Dr Rahal or his ethics. I believe and maintain Dr Rahal is a genuinely decent guy.

 

I still plan to go and see Dr Rahal in person and will then decide.

 

I want to thank everyone on this forum for your advice and support. I really appreciate it.

Edited August 10, 2014 by Follically-Challenged

[Follically-Challenged]

hey follically challenged. I feel your pain. Trust me I do. I had a miserably failed transplant.. its ruined me.. i lost all my native hair due to shock in the area to top it off within 3-4 months post op.. They offered me a free touch up because i literally went nuts about them, I rejected the offer. I ended up at H&W as a repair patient on jan 2013 and my life has been saved. (funny enough my choices were between hasson and rahal)

 

So like i said, i do share your experience. I would recommend you still consider dr rahal based on the fact that he does have a good rep.. so maybe it was a once in a while dud you experienced. but if you don't feel comfortable going with another surgery by the same man without that feel of a guarantee. then try dr hasson like i did. He really worked magic for me. I say magic because working with a virgin scalp isn't as easy as it is working with a scalp that has had a failed transplant. we have less donor hair etc.. dr hasson was able to get 3100 grafts out of me and used them to its best potential to what i believe at least. Id be happy to show you my before and afters if you like. Pm me if you do. hope i helped

 

Thanks for the advice and support bro. Appreciate it.

 

I will pm you for your before and afters.

[MoMo542]

Thanks for the advice and support bro. Appreciate it.

 

I will pm you for your before and afters.

 

hey no problem at all. chat then. If you like i can give u my cell number in my reply and i can give u my input over the phone. might be easier

[Cryingoutloud]

I am not sure at this moment whether I want a free follow up with Rahal. I know he has a strong reputation and is well respected. But my question is and always will be - why are my results below par?

 

There are so many questions are going through my head which I intend to discuss with Dr Rahal in person.

 

There is also the issue whether I want a 2nd procedure with Dr Rahal or any other Doctor. To be honest, having gone through so much pain and then to see average results, I am not sure I could face that again.

 

I still plan to go and see Dr Rahal in person and will then decide.

 

I want to thank everyone on this forum for your advice and support. I really appreciate it.

 

Yeah I'm hearing you on that question. I asked myself the same thing and had the crushing feeling that I must be one of "those" - you know, the ones doctors tell us don't have the "right physiology" for hair transplantation success. That's all bullshit designed to cover up a mistake possibly made by a member or members the team that handled your procedure. Maybe your grafts weren't placed deep enough into the incisions, maybe the grafts were handled badly, maybe . . .

 

As for the "pain", look there's nothing to be gained by wallowing in self pity, bro. I felt the same as you do but I had it for 2 YEARS while I waited for the promised result that never materialised. I'm coming up on 3 months post op with a European surgeon and next month will be a whopping 3 years since my first, fateful procedure. That's right - 3 years walking around suspecting that everyone was looking at my hair and chuckling to themselves.

 

Your hair is PERFECTLY fixable. Wouldn't take a lot of grafts and in 8 months time, you could laughing.

 

Get back on the horse, bro and good luck

[Follically-Challenged]

Yeah I'm hearing you on that question. I asked myself the same thing and had the crushing feeling that I must be one of "those" - you know, the ones doctors tell us don't have the "right physiology" for hair transplantation success. That's all bullshit designed to cover up a mistake possibly made by a member or members the team that handled your procedure. Maybe your grafts weren't placed deep enough into the incisions, maybe the grafts were handled badly, maybe . . .

 

As for the "pain", look there's nothing to be gained by wallowing in self pity, bro. I felt the same as you do but I had it for 2 YEARS while I waited for the promised result that never materialised. I'm coming up on 3 months post op with a European surgeon and next month will be a whopping 3 years since my first, fateful procedure. That's right - 3 years walking around suspecting that everyone was looking at my hair and chuckling to themselves.

 

Your hair is PERFECTLY fixable. Wouldn't take a lot of grafts and in 8 months time, you could laughing.

 

Get back on the horse, bro and good luck

 

I appreciate it but I mentally prepared myself to go through the procedure but I am not sure I could do it this time especially since I know how painful the post HT recovery period is.

 

Even if I decide against a free procedure by Dr Rahal, I am not sure which surgeon I will go with. Time will tell.

 

Thanks for the advice bro, I appreciate it. Will keep you posted.

[MoMo542]

trust me man, you have no idea how bad things got for me. from the time of my butchered surgery which was in may 2011 to when hasson saved me (around sept 2013 once grafts grew in) I was hopeless depressed and miserable. I lost all my confidence, my girlfriend, and more.. 100% of that was due to the fact that i couldn't even love myself.. how could i love another person.. long story.. but i just gave u that small sample just so you know i feel you. i GUARANTEE you it can be better done if not fixed by the same surgeon.

[bismarck]

Wow, tough thread to read. If this was FUT, especially surprising.

 

In particular, it is really strange how asymmetric the yield was after the surgery.

 

Some questions --

 

1) Which side was transplanted into first? What I mean is, was the right sight done after the left? (ie. perhaps there was more time between graft extraction and implantation on that side)

 

2) In what position do you normally sleep?

 

3) We're coming up on the 11 month mark from your surgery. Have things gotten any better?

 

4) Have you decided on a repeat procedure? What did Rahal say when he saw your grafts in person?

[KO]

I don't know why you find it so surprising that a FUT procedure failed. I think if you spend enough time on the forums you will see poor FUT results, or worse, patients just disappearing.

[404hairnotfound]

Follically-Challenged, I am in the same boat as you and I am interested to hear how your case turned out. I hope you're doing better.

[404hairnotfound]

Yeah I'm hearing you on that question. I asked myself the same thing and had the crushing feeling that I must be one of "those" - you know, the ones doctors tell us don't have the "right physiology" for hair transplantation success. That's all bullshit designed to cover up a mistake possibly made by a member or members the team that handled your procedure. Maybe your grafts weren't placed deep enough into the incisions, maybe the grafts were handled badly, maybe . . .

Very good point - if the physiology was not right then why did some grafts grow out fine and not others? Edited September 30, 2014 by 404hairnotfound

[SunnyCool3]

Is there an update on this issue?

[recedingboy]

Folically Challenged:

 

Please update!

[Rawkerboi]

Well he disappeared! Threads like these need to be updated!

[Unfair]

Ok so I think I have to cancel my ht with Dr rahal now.

[Dutchie]

I'm wondering if this was one of Rahal's failed ARTAS patients

[jcs87]

Damn, just read this read and was hoping to see this come to a good resolution. Any chance we could get an update here from the OP?

 

Rahal is one my three finalists for FUT (as I'm sure he is for a lot of folks) so would be really helpful to find out what the outcome was.