SMP By HIS HAIR London after 3 years

[Bustamove]

I had full scalp SMP by HIS HAIR in winter 2016. It seems to have turned blue/green tint after 3 years. Any advice and support would be much appreciated. 

Pics attached. 

[Glam]

It looks terrible, to be honest. Not only the color, but the hairline design, too. It's that typical painted helmet look everybody is afraid of. Too dense, too defined, huge dots, some blotched into another. Horrible. It looks totally artificial. Is that really done by HIS? Laser it off asap and sue HIS for that crap.

Edited August 4, 2019 by Glam

[Bustamove]

Hi Glam

Thanks for reply. I appreciate honesty. Yup 100% by HIS. I had FUE in front years back but not enough donor hair for middle and crown. So SMP was supposed to be my saving grace. I cannot describe the effect this has had man. I cannot leave my home without a hat. I am trying to get things sorted out. 

HIS wanted MORE money on top of the 3 grand I spent in 2016 to fix it. They offered laser but the laser didn't shift anything. I gave the laser 8 weeks to see if there would be any fading but there was none. Such is the density it's saturated. 

I'd advise anyone to do their research before going SMP. 

[Bustamove]

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY STORY.

 I HAD 3 SESSIONS OF SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION  WITH HIS HAIR IN LONDON IN 2016. THE TREATMENT WAS INITIALLY DARK, AND MATCHED MY HAIR COLOUR. I ASKED FOR A NATURAL BUT FULL HEAD OF HAIR LOOK. AS THE YEARS WENT ON, FAST FORWARD TO 2019. I NOTICED THE TREATMENT HAD TURNED A BLUE/GREENISH TINT AND THE INK WAS SATURATED. AS YOU CAN SEE IN MY PICTURES, I HAVE THE DREADED HELMET HEAD LOOK. THE DOTS WERE BECOMING BLOTCHY, JOINING TOGETHER. I WAS GETTING CALLED OUT EVERY WEEK BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. I CANNOT EXPLAIN THE HUGE IMPACT THIS HAD ON ME PSYCHOLOGICALLY, THE IMPACT ON MY SELF CONFIDENCE, THE IMPACT ON MY FAMILY, MY WORK, MY DESIRE TO EVEN LEAVE MY HOUSE. I CAN NO LONGER LEAVE MY HOME WITHOUT A HAT. I SPOKE TO THE CEO OF HIS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TREATMENT WAS NOT BAD AND THE CEO SAID HE HAD NOT SEEN THE PICTURES OF IT AND HOW IT HAD TURNED BLUE. THE CEO DID NOT WANT TO SEE MY PICTURES. I WAS OFFERED LASER SESSIONS AND HIS ASKED FOR A FURTHER 4 FIGURE SUM OF MONEY ON TOP OF THE £3000 I SPENT IN 2016. I HAD LASER TREATMENT WITH HIS WHICH HAD NO EFFECT NO FADING. I WAITED THE RECOMMENDED TIME FOR LASER TO KICK IN BUT I SAW NOTHING. I AM NOW ON A JOURNEY TO PUT THIS RIGHT AND HOLD HIS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE AND TRAUMA THEY HAVE PUT ME THROUGH. THIS IS MY STORY. 

I WOULD SAY TO ANYONE CONSIDERING SMP, PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK. I THOUGHT I DID MINE. DOUBLE DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING. SPEAK TO CLIENTS THAT HAVE HAD THE PROCEDURE DONE IF YOU CAN, LOOK AT BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS. GO WITH YOUR GUT. BE WEARY OF BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES POSTED MANY YEARS AGO THAT ARE STILL ON WEBSITES AS IF THEY WERE DONE RECENTLY. THIS IS PERMANENT INK. LASER IS PAINFUL AND IT IS A PROCESS TO REMOVE, THEN RE WORK. 

[hairthere]

I don't see why a qualified laser tech can't remove this. Light skin and dark pigment is usually the best case scenario for a successful treatment. There's a place called Clean Slate Laser (they have 3 locations in New York area) and I've watched them remove SMP. The laser (a Picosure I believe) looked like a vacuum sucking up the diffuse pigmentation and leaving just a few of the darker deposits behind (probably because they were deeper in the dermis). The laser works by breaking the pigments particles up so they are small enough to be expelled by your body. Sorry to see you are going through this and I hope you can get it remedied. 

[Bustamove]

HIS offered me laser treatment with a ndyag1064 and the guy was lasering my head for 2 hours. This produced no fading, hardly touched it. Then they wanted £1000 for 2 sessions to re work THEIR mistake.

I've now seeked independent advice and on a journey with a place that specializes in the removal of SMP. I was patch tested with 2 different lasers. One being a 1064 ndyag the other a more powerful one. The 1064 was not powerful enough. I'm in the right hands now but it will be a process to remove, as the ink is so saturated and below upper dermis. A properly performed SMP procedure should take only 1-3 sessions to remove. I've had 2 sessions already. Not sure about picosure though? 

I dread to think what ink HIS use. Especially in 2016 when I had my procedure that turned blue over 3 years. I was getting called out in public by strangers regularly. 

[hairthere]

I highly recommend looking into the PicoSure laser. It is designed to remove black/dark pigments and supposedly can do so in 1/2 the sessions the NDYag can. Like I said, I witnessed it in action. 

[jjsrader]

Good luck.  I hope you resolve it.  I feel bad for you.  If you get it sorted come back and show us your new look down the road!

[Bustamove]

I have since received a message on my phone from saying that HIS use or up until recently, use TALENS DRAWING INK on their clients. I have seen this confirmed on a YouTube clip by an SMP practitioner and another former employee of HIS who I won't name has also confirmed this is what is understood HIS use. 

This perhaps explains why my SMP is so hard to laser off. This is getting worse and worse. The bottle says 'Not for tattooing' on it. 

[Bustamove]

It's looking slightly better now after 2 laser sessions. I got a threatening call from the CEO of HIS saying if I take my posts down on forums he'll give me free SMP. No way am I letting that sunk to the bottom of the ocean company touch my head. He was swearing/cursing, threatening to blame his freelancers for the botched job even though it was done in a HIS CLINIC WITH A HIS CONTRACT HIS TOOLS AND HIS INK. He said he'll bend the truth and say that it's the work of his freelancers and HIS are not taking responsibility. He put words in my mouth saying when I complained, I said I was 'happy' with the treatment! 
He was livid. I asked what ink he used and he said he can't tell me that due to health and safety and it's all FDA approved from USA. 
He said that he trained all the best smp pracs and they all 'stole from him' 

He refused me a refund saying he ain't giving me a refund so I can get work done elsewhere. 
After the call I emailed him saying do not ever call my phone with threatening, intimidating language and blackmail again or I will take steps to report harassment. 

My plan is to get it reworked by Paul Clark once laser has faded it. It has faded, and I've another laser session booked for September

attached pic of how it looks now. 
 

[LonelyGraft]

On 8/5/2019 at 4:30 AM, hairthere said:

I don't see why a qualified laser tech can't remove this. Light skin and dark pigment is usually the best case scenario for a successful treatment. There's a place called Clean Slate Laser (they have 3 locations in New York area) and I've watched them remove SMP. The laser (a Picosure I believe) looked like a vacuum sucking up the diffuse pigmentation and leaving just a few of the darker deposits behind (probably because they were deeper in the dermis). The laser works by breaking the pigments particles up so they are small enough to be expelled by your body. Sorry to see you are going through this and I hope you can get it remedied. 

Can these lasers harm existing hairs?

[LaserCap]

Typically tattoos turn blue.  You can see this in patients tattooing eyebrows.  Do some research before moving forward. Call tattoo parlors and find out how do remove them.  Not sure about long term effects and/or working in such extensive area.  Wish I could help.

[Spidey]

12 hours ago, Bustamove said:

It's looking slightly better now after 2 laser sessions. I got a threatening call from the CEO of HIS saying if I take my posts down on forums he'll give me free SMP. No way am I letting that sunk to the bottom of the ocean company touch my head. He was swearing/cursing, threatening to blame his freelancers for the botched job even though it was done in a HIS CLINIC WITH A HIS CONTRACT HIS TOOLS AND HIS INK. He said he'll bend the truth and say that it's the work of his freelancers and HIS are not taking responsibility. He put words in my mouth saying when I complained, I said I was 'happy' with the treatment! 
He was livid. I asked what ink he used and he said he can't tell me that due to health and safety and it's all FDA approved from USA. 
He said that he trained all the best smp pracs and they all 'stole from him' 

He refused me a refund saying he ain't giving me a refund so I can get work done elsewhere. 
After the call I emailed him saying do not ever call my phone with threatening, intimidating language and blackmail again or I will take steps to report harassment. 

My plan is to get it reworked by Paul Clark once laser has faded it. It has faded, and I've another laser session booked for September

attached pic of how it looks now. 
 

Dude once there laser sessions remove the ink just leave it. Why go through this again. Imo even the BEST SMP doesn't look natural or that good. Move on with your life. You're not fooling anyone sporting a fake shaved head vs a bald head. Imo the two don't look that much different, but hey its your money. 

[Bustamove]

On 8/11/2019 at 6:22 AM, Spidey said:

Dude once there laser sessions remove the ink just leave it. Why go through this again. Imo even the BEST SMP doesn't look natural or that good. Move on with your life. You're not fooling anyone sporting a fake shaved head vs a bald head. Imo the two don't look that much different, but hey its your money. 

The SMP industry has evolved and is booming right now. I also have had 2100 FUE by Dr Feriduni to the frontal area. I do not have enough donor hair to transplant the crown, and I have slight diffuse thinning in the middle. 

This was a bad procedure by a company that produces constant bad results. I fell in to their marketing trap as they 'innovated' SMP. We all make mistakes. 

Now back so SMP. There has always been, or certainly used to be a belief that SMP was garbage, waste of time etc. Not the case now days. The very best SMP artists can produce 3d effect SMP, natural results. Just look at the before and after pics of Paul Clark and Jonathan Gerow. 

When combined, SMP/FUE combo looks very good, providing one can rock a short hair style. Results undetectable when done by the right practitioners and docs. The best artists now use vegan ink, no additives that can cause the head to turn blue and no longer dish out goofy hairlines. Best artists will measure a hairline properly according to clients face, raising of the eyebrows etc, to determine what hairline to go with.

I do not think there is an argument for anything being 'fake' providing one goes with the best SMP practitioners out there. SMP is essentially doing what a hair transplant does, restoring what was once there, albeit with a short buzzed/shaven look but it frames the face. 

For clients that do not have enough donor hair for whole head FUE, SMP if done correctly, is a fantastic option. Permanent SMP is now as good as temporary, due to the evolution of the procedure and quality of ink used by the best artists out there. 

Furthermore, lots of people are now choosing SMP over a hair transplant. There are pitfalls to HT's as you're always chasing the hairloss. Lots if people are also using SMP to thicken a HT. 

I had a bad SMP. By a crooked clinic. And I advise anyone considering SMP to stay away from that clinic. My rework plan involves one of the best SMP practitioners in the world. I will be posting progress of laser fading, and new SMP once laser has faded the awful procedure I had. 

Some people with hair transplants get all grandiose and disregard SMP. But SMP has now exploded onto the scene and is now a first choice option for many. Not everyone wants a slick back HT look. Some people like low maintenance short hair. 

[Spidey]

I'm not being grandiose. I'm just saying after all this, maybe just accept the hairloss and get on with your life. But it is your money and life. If you want to spend the money time and emotion on smp, then that's your decision. All smp will fade. So you will need to have touchups over and over again. I've seen very good smp, but imo, if you're going for the day or two old shaved look, there isn't really that much difference vs actually being skin bald. Yes it frames the face but the overall look is very similar. 

[Bustamove]

That's cool. I wasn't directly referring you being grandiose. But a lot of people are. A properly done SMP on me, given the fact I have some hair on top, will go slightly further than a couple days shaven look. I could buzz with electric barber clippers with no guard twice a week. Plus I have about 2000 grafts left for FUE, which could be 'sprinkled' all over to create more of a 3d look. It's an option I may not even need as SMP done by top pracs is virtually undetectable due to the evolution of SMP techniques. 

There is a very good outcome to be had in my case. I'll put it to the test and I've every faith in my rework team. 

Even a NW7 with no donor hair would look better with a well performed smp than bald. 

Touch ups depend on how well skin absorbes pigment. Touch ups even every 2/3 years are cheap compared to FUE and often touch ups are not needed for years. Some have never had a touch up. 

It's all about finding the right SMP prac. With natural results. And not making the same mistake as I did with HIS HAIR who are a smear on the SMP industry. 

[hairthere]

"Imo even the BEST SMP doesn't look natural or that good."

Really? I'd argue it looks very natural if done properly and far more natural than a shaved HT. SMP makes a massive difference in the way a person looks. I've seen it shave years off of someone's appearance. Having a hairline to frame the face is the reason why. I also think it looks far more natural than most hair transplants when they are shaved down. Here are some examples:

 

[hairthere]

And here's a recent client who had hair transplants done. We were able to give him the hairline he wanted where the transplant could not deliver due to lack of donor supply. 

Edited August 15, 2019 by hairthere

[Bustamove]

Hairthere exactly. Fact is, SMP has exploded now with the evolution of vegan smp designed inks, low maintenance, and choice of jagged, shaped up, natural, or even skin fade looks on offer from the best practitioners. 

To achieve those hairlines you posted plus the grafts in middle and crown or even just 2 areas of the head, you have to have a great donor area. Even then, in certain lighting, even with the best Doctors in the world, the grafts will look a little spaced out compared to natural hair. There are a huge number of people now that have a hair transplant, rock the slick back HT look, and get smp in between the grafts to add density. 

HT and SMP are both limited, yes. But for a youthful hairline and overall coverage, plus low maintenance and not having to worry about chasing grafts in future, SMP is becoming the preferred option for many. 

I'm not dismissing HT's just saying the industry has to accept smp is now a real solution and real alternative. 

With a properly done smp, and even before, I'd use Barbour clippers no guard twice a week. 

SMP and say, 2000 grafts 'sprinkled' to add texture can be a super tidy look. Heck, even SMP alone can. 

I had a bad procedure. But I've every confidence now I'm going to have rework by a industry leading SMP clinic, that I'd look better with a soft but full smp with faded temples, sides blending from light to slightly darker on top, much lighter than before to match my skin tone and hair colour. AKA the 'skinfade' SMP look with no sharp lines just soft but slightly shaped like the last pic hairthere posted. 

[hairman22]

good luck. I agree i am someone who has had good transplants but i like my hair very short 6mm or shorter. Need to have it a bit longer now.

 

So i considering having smp in the future.

Edited August 15, 2019 by hairman22

[LonelyGraft]

On 8/10/2019 at 3:55 PM, jj51702 said:

Can these lasers harm existing hairs?

Bump for @hairthere

[hairthere]

Hi JJ, I'm not really versed in lasers, but I suppose there's a chance they can damage existing hairs as they are the same type of laser used for hair removal. I'd ask a laser specialist or dermatologist if this is a concern. 

[Bustamove]

I've had 2000 FUE to front and they seem unaffected by laser. Once I'm re inked with quality vegan pigment, those FUE will add some texture to new smp. 

[Bustamove]

2 and a half weeks post laser 1st session with alex trivantage 755 wavelength update: 

[Bustamove]

3 weeks post laser

 

Edited August 19, 2019 by Bustamove
Wrong picture