Doctors Fallon, Gabel & Ross in Portland, Oregon area

[PrtScrn]

Does anyone have direct experience with Dr. Troy Fallon, who runs a relatively new hair transplant practice in Tigard, OR? He is on my list of best cost/benefit value so far, but I have no hard info. I see only 5-star Yelp reviews and mistrust giddy testimonials. His practice is so new that full outcomes may not be known. One review claimed he was "hands down the best hair restoration doctor nationwide." Based on how many experiences with other doctors? Have any of his patients been through at least 6 months of waiting for regrowth? I understand even a year could be needed, based on staggered follicle growth phases.

 

Dr. Steven Gabel nearby has a solid reputation but is pricier. Do you always get what you pay for? I can't tell if cost is the best predictor of results. There's also a Dr. Marla Ross who doesn't seem to specialize in hair transplants. This area doesn't have many people in the field. I checked into Bosley but they make me nervous. Might their long legacy create higher odds of complaints? Is is safe to assume that doctors who go it alone have more of a reputation to lose and tend to be better?

 

Generally speaking: One of my main concerns with FUE (which I lean toward) is that the donor area in back will look flattened. My case is somewhat minor (frontal receding) and may require 500-600 hairs but that still seems like it could alter the "loft" of my hair and create a divot. FUT makes me nervous with skin stretching and a potential scar showing, though you're supposed to get more surviving grafts from it. I keep reading about FUT getting a bad rap just because FUE is newer, and FUT scarring is much less than earlier methods.

 

Thanks for any details on Dr. Fallon specifically, and this general topic.

[Squatch]

I went with Dr. Gabel last November. I did a lot of research. I don't know about pricing comparisons but..... If you are going to spend money on anything, spend it on something you will have for a lifetime. Dig a little deeper with your doctor research and you probably have your answer. Check out who is recommended by this forum.

My HT is in my signature below. Oh by the way I am extremely happy with my results. He also does FUE and FUT.

[PrtScrn]

I went with Dr. Gabel last November. I did a lot of research. I don't know about pricing comparisons but..... If you are going to spend money on anything, spend it on something you will have for a lifetime. Dig a little deeper with your doctor research and you probably have your answer. Check out who is recommended by this forum.

My HT is in my signature below. Oh by the way I am extremely happy with my results. He also does FUE and FUT.

 

Gabel must not make significant mistakes, as he does have a solid rep. Fallon seems competent in consultation but it's hard to find a track record as the practice only began last July. Something about his demeanor seemed a little rushed but I don't have much to compare to and it could have been a busy day. I want someone who's all about the details.

 

Another concern is that "techs" do most of the actual implanting. If a doctor is good and the techs aren't, it puts you at risk. I've yet to see reviews of techs by name and don't know how often they come and go.

[win200]

Easy call--go with Gabel. He's one of the top surgeons out there, incredibly ethical, and has a stellar reputation. I've meet him numerous times, and he is among the best. I had a transplant with someone else and agreed to see me gratis when I was concerned about the work. The folks at his clinic are all thorough and professional, and you would be in great hands. Fallon is brand new, and like others have noted, yo have no track record to work from--it would be a complete crapshoot. Go with someone who has one of the best reputations in the business and has been through all the vetting. It's a no-brainer call.

[TakingThePlunge]

As you may be aware, Dr. Steven Gabel is an esteemed member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. A search of our forum will show that he has a large following and many happy patients. He also regularly shares impressive results himself.

 

You can learn about Coalition membership standards here.

[PrtScrn]

Easy call--go with Gabel. He's one of the top surgeons out there, incredibly ethical, and has a stellar reputation. I've meet him numerous times, and he is among the best. I had a transplant with someone else and agreed to see me gratis when I was concerned about the work. The folks at his clinic are all thorough and professional, and you would be in great hands. Fallon is brand new, and like others have noted, yo have no track record to work from--it would be a complete crapshoot. Go with someone who has one of the best reputations in the business and has been through all the vetting. It's a no-brainer call.

 

True, no doubt, but the newer doc is less costly, at least for some procedures, and that's significant for me. I'm not getting a major enough procedure to warrant over $3k (ballpark). If anyone tried Fallon long enough ago to post conclusions, please do. I understand a year is adequate for some cases to see full results.

[irishsailor]

I went to a clinic in UK as they were cheap, didn't get a good result and everyone knew I'd had an ht. I ended up having to go for a second procedure with a great surgeon to fix mistakes of first clinic, in the end it cost a lot more than if I'd just gone to a great surgeon in first place.

My 2 pence worth, Dr gabel, is awesome. You would be going with a safe bet with a good reputation.

[PrtScrn]

I went to a clinic in UK as they were cheap, didn't get a good result and everyone knew I'd had an ht. I ended up having to go for a second procedure with a great surgeon to fix mistakes of first clinic, in the end it cost a lot more than if I'd just gone to a great surgeon in first place.

My 2 pence worth, Dr gabel, is awesome. You would be going with a safe bet with a good reputation.

 

Part of me wants to give the new kid on the block a fair chance (while saving money) though that might be a big gamble. I guess no doctor gets a reputation without a number of years passing and a few guinea pigs. This seems like a field where the skill difference could be stark. This forum seems to mainly acknowledge world famous ones who merit plane trips.I just wonder if time in practice matters as much as inborn artistic skill - and good techs, also.

 

Does anyone know how long a HT doctor can last if they bungle X percent of cases? Would a mediocre one be history in just a few years? I might wait on my procedure to see if my temple thinning stabilizes, and spend that time researching off and on.

[Squatch]

Any update on the doctor you chose? Just curious what were the price comparisons between doctors? Hard to believe there is much difference. I found Dr. Gabel to be very reasonable.

[Spanker]

Gabel. Easy call.

[PrtScrn]

Any update on the doctor you chose? Just curious what were the price comparisons between doctors? Hard to believe there is much difference. I found Dr. Gabel to be very reasonable.

 

I had a limited consultation with Fallon and found him personable and apparently competent, but somehow a little hasty to pluck and tuck. Just a bit on the slick side but not in an untrustworthy way. He may undercut Gabel by 10%-20% depending on the procedure.

 

I called Gabel's office and talked to a vivacious woman who seemed genuinely enthused about the practice but also a bit of an over-talker. I know he has a good rep. but there always seems to be a sales component. Gabel himself seems hard to reach on purpose or just overly busy. It makes me wonder how many of these decisions are based on fleeting impulses with visions of hot females running their fingers through your fuller head of hair?

 

After that, I did more research and decided to postpone the whole thing. I keep coming back to the fact that it's a lossy process where you don't get something for nothing. Guys who get 500+ hairs removed from their scalps and relocated elsewhere can't possibly not notice something different from the donor area, be it strip or FUE. Strip aka FUT makes me nervous that hairs might stick out randomly or create a flap in the scar zone. FUE makes me think my hair will be flattened in that location due to loss of bulk. I don't feel right about it but might change my mind later. I don't have serious enough loss to sweat over it now.

 

I doubt most transplants turn out quite as advertised. Lack of easy recourse for disappointments seems unethical since these are life-altering procedures and come down to fine placements. Artistic skills seem like a must. I read about many guys needing repair work and not trusting the original doctor. If it was a mechanic you might do the same thing, but at least you know it can get fixed at whatever cost. With hair lost from one zone and put in another, I see too much potential for worsening the original look.

 

A different mental outlook might just tell me it's part of nature. I'm not the sort who'd ever shave his head. Too much effort and it seems insecure in its own right. It takes a certain head shape to pull that off without looking weird. Hair still serves as a natural insulator, even if there's less of it!

 

But I'm also considering Finasteride in the smallest effective dose. Minoxidil seems too labor intensive and messy.

Edited August 11, 2015 by PrtScrn

[matt3480]

Easy call.....Gabel. I believe he trained under Dr. Konior. Enough said.

 

Cosmetic surgery is not something you chance just to "give a new kid on the block a chance." Be serious. I had FUE 4 months ago....2,800 grafts (so not a small procedure). My donor looks EXACTLY like it did pre-op.....and I mean exactly. I could shave it to a 1 guard and it would still look the same as pre-op.

[PrtScrn]

Easy call.....Gabel. I believe he trained under Dr. Konior. Enough said.

 

Cosmetic surgery is not something you chance just to "give a new kid on the block a chance." Be serious. I had FUE 4 months ago....2,800 grafts (so not a small procedure). My donor looks EXACTLY like it did pre-op.....and I mean exactly. I could shave it to a 1 guard and it would still look the same as pre-op.

 

I find "EXACTLY" to be illogical. I've seen photos of FUE voids and scars. Unless hair magically takes up no space there has to be some density loss. There are about 90k-140k hairs on the typical human head, depending on color and ethnicity. You had maybe 3% of them removed from a significantly smaller area than the whole scalp, making it a larger percentage loss relative to the donor area. If you have before/after photos, let's see them.

[Spanker]

I had a limited consultation with Fallon and found him personable and apparently competent, but somehow a little hasty to pluck and tuck. Just a bit on the slick side but not in an untrustworthy way. He may undercut Gabel by 10%-20% depending on the procedure.

 

I called Gabel's office and talked to a vivacious woman who seemed genuinely enthused about the practice but also a bit of an over-talker. I know he has a good rep. but there always seems to be a sales component. Gabel himself seems hard to reach on purpose or just overly busy. It makes me wonder how many of these decisions are based on fleeting impulses with visions of hot females running their fingers through your fuller head of hair?

 

After that, I did more research and decided to postpone the whole thing. I keep coming back to the fact that it's a lossy process where you don't get something for nothing. Guys who get 500+ hairs removed from their scalps and relocated elsewhere can't possibly not notice something different from the donor area, be it strip or FUE. Strip aka FUT makes me nervous that hairs might stick out randomly or create a flap in the scar zone. FUE makes me think my hair will be flattened in that location due to loss of bulk. I don't feel right about it but might change my mind later. I don't have serious enough loss to sweat over it now.

 

I doubt most transplants turn out quite as advertised. Lack of easy recourse for disappointments seems unethical since these are life-altering procedures and come down to fine placements. Artistic skills seem like a must. I read about many guys needing repair work and not trusting the original doctor. If it was a mechanic you might do the same thing, but at least you know it can get fixed at whatever cost. With hair lost from one zone and put in another, I see too much potential for worsening the original look.

 

A different mental outlook might just tell me it's part of nature. I'm not the sort who'd ever shave his head. Too much effort and it seems insecure in its own right. It takes a certain head shape to pull that off without looking weird. Hair still serves as a natural insulator, even if there's less of it!

 

But I'm also considering Finasteride in the smallest effective dose. Minoxidil seems too labor intensive and messy.

 

I think you did the right thing to postpone. My advice if you change your mind is to shop talent not pricing.

[win200]

Probably not a bad idea to postpone, but I'd get in to see Gable and chat with him anyway. He's honest and engaging, and he'll give you a clear picture of where you stand and the risks/benefits of a transplant. There's no obligation to move forward if you chat with him, and I think it'll help you create a game plan for the next five years. You're lucky to have one of the world's best HT surgeons in your back yard; I'd take advantage of it if I were you.

[matt3480]

I find "EXACTLY" to be illogical. I've seen photos of FUE voids and scars. Unless hair magically takes up no space there has to be some density loss. There are about 90k-140k hairs on the typical human head, depending on color and ethnicity. You had maybe 3% of them removed from a significantly smaller area than the whole scalp, making it a larger percentage loss relative to the donor area. If you have before/after photos, let's see them.

 

Not illogical, at all. It was probably a good idea for you to postpone...and you probably should use the time to do some research. If you had, you would know the donor isn't going to look less dense until 50% of the hair is gone. 2,800 from the back and sides of your head isn't even close to that....so yes, it looks EXACTLY the same as before.

[PrtScrn]

Not illogical, at all. It was probably a good idea for you to postpone...and you probably should use the time to do some research. If you had, you would know the donor isn't going to look less dense until 50% of the hair is gone. 2,800 from the back and sides of your head isn't even close to that....so yes, it looks EXACTLY the same as before.

 

Look at these clearings in the "forest." Even fully grown out that's got to be less dense. I am a critical thinker and can't be fooled with anecdotes.

 

http://www.vinciscalppigmentation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/fue-scarring.jpg

 

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5243dccde4b08fd9e4fc92ef/t/54b935c4e4b06e38ad5dbdde/1421424091475/

 

http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/hair_transplant_photos/Dr_Rahal/hair-transplantation-photo-impo-donor-172682_1.jpg (2617 donor sites, similar to yours)

[matt3480]

You come off as an incredible douche. Not going to get much help here acting as such.

[PrtScrn]

You come off as an incredible douche. Not going to get much help here acting as such.

 

I'm a douche for siding with logic and evidence? I didn't expect that reaction! If you hadn't used the word "EXACTLY" I'd give you credibility. Those removed hairs took up volume which is now filled by nothing but air. Unless one applies a volumizing agent, the hair will inevitably look thinner or lay flatter in the donor region. It may be acceptable to some but can't look "exactly" the same, especially when close-cropped where the gaps have less to hide them.

 

You have nothing to say about the photo links I posted. Why is that? It's obviously a lossy process. Even with the FUT (strip) method you risk compromising the hair direction or having a tight scalp, let alone a nasty scar if the healing isn't ideal or you shave your head later. The same concept applies to a forest of trees:

 

http://www.teagasc.ie/forestry/images/before_after_thin.gif

 

I think you're in a manic positive state about the potential of hair restoration and have decided to ignore the downsides. The industry milks that sort of thing, which is why I am reconsidering the whole concept.

[matt3480]

You apparently have all the answers and have apparently answered your own question....feel free to move on:)

[PrtScrn]

Probably not a bad idea to postpone, but I'd get in to see Gable and chat with him anyway. He's honest and engaging, and he'll give you a clear picture of where you stand and the risks/benefits of a transplant. There's no obligation to move forward if you chat with him, and I think it'll help you create a game plan for the next five years. You're lucky to have one of the world's best HT surgeons in your back yard; I'd take advantage of it if I were you.

 

That would be my next step if other avenues don't stop the loss. I can find no complaints about Dr. G. so far. Dr. F. has a number of 5-star reviews that look questionable, considering that results can take many months. He's only been in official business for about a year. Might be a good doctor but time is proof.

[PrtScrn]

You apparently have all the answers and have apparently answered your own question....feel free to move on:)

 

I'll resist replying to you again, but not because you've made any real points, having ignored the obvious photos of lossy donor areas twice now. A sure mark of someone who's inventing reality is simplistic one-line replies to detailed questions. Online you have the option of simply ignoring points, but they still exist. In person I'd keep asking you to look at those photos and explain what "EXACTLY" the same before & after means. Get real.

 

I'm not going to spend big money knowing I'll potentially lose more hair than I'll gain in a cosmetically acceptable way. I think people are wise to proceed with caution unless their hair loss is so debilitating that nothing else could be worse.

[MattyNJ1]

I'll resist replying to you again, but not because you've made any real points, having ignored the obvious photos of lossy donor areas twice now. A sure mark of someone who's inventing reality is simplistic one-line replies to detailed questions. Online you have the option of simply ignoring points, but they still exist. In person I'd keep asking you to look at those photos and explain what "EXACTLY" the same before & after means. Get real.

 

I'm not going to spend big money knowing I'll potentially lose more hair than I'll gain in a cosmetically acceptable way. I think people are wise to proceed with caution unless their hair loss is so debilitating that nothing else could be worse.

 

...its a good point. And i have to agree, by "De-forresting" an area..and relocating the product of that area, it stands to reason you will loose density....and i have no doubt that you do....which would refute his statement that its "exactly the same"...which could not be true in reality. That being said...i think when you choose a very artistic experience surgeon, that harvests over a broad area EVENLY without over harvesting of course...you will be hard pressed to notice much of a difference....

 

lets face it, no one is going to be looking at your post op hair under a micro scope. But i see your point.

[tarae]

Dr. fallon is amazing and doesnt charge as much as Dr.Gabel do.If you get consultation with Dr. Fallon you will totally be willing to have your surgery with him like at the same day!

[tarae]

Dr.Fallon has been doing hair transplant for over 4 years in Oregon.And he used to work in seattle as well before that.he has about 9 years of experience.