Not Great Assessment Dr. Rahal Toronto

[BlackAmish111]

So i probably havent posted here in years. Ive had 2 "small HT's" both around 900- first was like 12 years ago and the other maybe 3 years ago. one in Phoenix, AZ and the other in Philadelphia,PA. Sadly neither doctor told me its imperative i get and stay on a Fin type medicine and I have used Minox off/on for 8 years and tried Oral fin a few years back but with sides i didnt like.

Anyways, fast forward to now at 53 yo, and on not only TRT but basically a pretty pharma based hormonals system due to a syndrome called dysautonomia. The short of it is the HT's def helped, but if I dont use Toppik it dont looks so great -and thats according to a wide consensus. My first Ht was the cutting kind off of the left side of head and the 2nd was FUE from the back. I really never felt like they were packing the density of the many successful looking HT's although i most assuredly admit i also couldnt afford a large grafting session at once.

 

So moved to toronto 3 years ago and contacted Dr Rahal's office as they are known as :"The King of Hairline" and I really just want mine ever so slightly evened (less widow peak) and slightly refortified behind my other HT hairs. The Asst i called said it had been too soon from my last HT (bout a year or so) and so i waited another 6 months. After coming in, the guy just gave me nothing but bad news. First showing how I was growing my hair kinda funny to "hide" my temples (trust me and a gust of wind -im well aware!), then saying the donor area looks to sparse and i really dont look like a candidate. Now Im a pragmatist and can handle blunt truth - but this guy had no positive ideas or steps for me to think about and anything i mentioned he poo-poo'ed. Man was i sinking. I then brought up last case resort of SMP and he siad "Yeah...maybe that could " -but the point is he was just really dissuading me from taking any action and just wanting me to basically resign to the situation.

 

Man i left feeling like sh8T. I still knew that with toppik i could get by and even sometimes look pretty good, but surely there had to be SOMETHING to grasp onto! then I looked around reddit and found a Hair Loss group -Boom! the big 3 Minox, Fin/Duta and Micro Needling. YES! Im all in -ive been doing that the past year and half and no its not HT finish but damned if it didnt restore a certain pretty decent looking shape again. Why on earth didnt that guy recommend Anything!? He saw i was desperate. So i emailed him and he said, that Dr Rahal had seen my pics and agreed i wasnt a candidate but if i wanted i could pay $75 to have an in person re-assessment...Ok. Gotcha. This aint about the money to me... heres a question? If i had an FUT from 1 side of my head, then surely there is "some" available from the other...? Not even addressed.

 

I just had to share this for anyone else whos been totally deflated by some of these HT docs or offices -its NOT always the end or final or even a good answer. I wish you all the best. PS: Im on Topical Duta, no sides

Edited April 10 by BlackAmish111

[Gatsby]

I hear you. So this time time around you no longer get side effects from Finasteride? I take it you are using it topically with no sides?

[krusher7]

Yeah, I would not recommend the Rahal clinic. I had an awful experience with one of the assistants - and their recommendation would have completely ruined my head. I went and saw Dr. Wong from Hasson & Wong in Vancouver and it basically saved me lol 

Can I ask where you do your micro-needling? 

[BlackAmish111]

13 hours ago, Gatsby said:

I hear you. So this time time around you no longer get side effects from Finasteride? I take it you are using it topically with no sides?

Im actually taking the Duta topically and i guess saying No sides" might be a slight exaggeration. Im not sure if the bedroom is 100% as im 53 and on TRT i do have cialis -like a very small nibble sized dose if i think i need. But none of the foggy head/zero libido. It is much pricier tho -i may look into making my own topical

Edited April 11 by BlackAmish111

[shiba1985]

1 minute ago, BlackAmish111 said:

Im actually taking the Duta topically and i guess saying No sides" might be a slight exaggeration. Im not sure if the bedroom is 100% as im 53 and on TRT i do have cialis -like a very small nibble sixed dose if i think i need. But none of the foggy head/zero libido. It is much pricier tho -i may look into making my own topical

 

you went to a surgeon who is an expert in surgical treatment of hair loss. He told you you are NOT a surgical candidate. Maybe in a bit blunt fashion. 

I dont understand. you are complaining he is too callous? do you know how many patients he probably sees in your situation in a day or a month. does he have to sit and hold everyone's hand?   

Would you rather blow smoke up your ass and take your money and give you surgery. 

If you want medical management see someone that specializes in medical management of hair loss. most surgeons are sub par at this. 

[BlackAmish111]

2 hours ago, krusher7 said:

Yeah, I would not recommend the Rahal clinic. I had an awful experience with one of the assistants - and their recommendation would have completely ruined my head. I went and saw Dr. Wong from Hasson & Wong in Vancouver and it basically saved me lol 

Can I ask where you do your micro-needling? 

Yeah maybe the same person -....ive heard great things about those 2 but in honesty- the 1st clinic i went in AZ was one of the board recognized "leader" types and while she was good (very little scar for fut) im not sure she was any better than the more generic place in Philly for my 2nd and they were a hoot to work with - like we laughed and joked the whole time. The Micro-needling I do myself  -1.5mmm 1 per week. part of the reason i feel empowered again after that awful visit was I have some level of control (with results) rather than just helplessly witnessing a tragedy lol

[BlackAmish111]

16 minutes ago, shiba1985 said:

 

you went to a surgeon who is an expert in surgical treatment of hair loss. He told you you are NOT a surgical candidate. Maybe in a bit blunt fashion. 

I dont understand. you are complaining he is too callous? do you know how many patients he probably sees in your situation in a day or a month. does he have to sit and hold everyone's hand?   

Would you rather blow smoke up your ass and take your money and give you surgery. 

If you want medical management see someone that specializes in medical management of hair loss. most surgeons are sub par at this. 

this post is ridiculous level cop-out. Did you even take the time to read it properly? First off -its was his Asst. NOT the "expert in Surgical Treatment" who saw me. And as you can see but the other poster here -they also had a very poor experience with the Asst who steered them down the wrong path.

 

B. My 1st Surgeon was also of the same level board certified and clout (if that matters) as Rahal -and she had a far more thorough vetting method told me many options and gave me time to think about taking calls for more questions if needed. Part of running a great business is your ability to properly communicate with your clientele. If option A doesnt look great, have the wherewithall to talk them thru whatever options may still be available. This guy did the opposite -i got the impression he thought id yet again ask for a smaller job and they werent that interested. To clinch my claim -when i contacted him again, after i told him his meeting was pretty depressing he apologized and said 'sorry, i was just getting over a cold". And then offered for me to speak to Rahal himself for a "$75 fee". Does that sound expert level to you? Or more of a money machine.

Edited April 11 by BlackAmish111

[Melvin- Admin]

Let me tag @Rahal Hair Transplant

[gaz9318054]

1 hour ago, BlackAmish111 said:

And then offered for me to speak to Rahal himself for a "$75 fee". Does that sound expert level to you? Or more of a money machine.

It sounds like a business run by someone whose time is valuable. Costs tend to increase with skill level, as well as demand, though there's not always a correlation.

For instance, last year I paid $200 USD just for a quick FaceTime call with Dr. Sahar Nadimi of the Chicago Hair Institute. She's widely regarded as one of the very best in the business. I doubt many folks would say that was just a money grab. Her time is valuable and I was willing to pay for it.

It's unfortunate that you didn't get the good news you were hoping for. Really, that sucks.  There's certainly no harm in getting a second or third opinion, and there are lots of other surgeons who might be better equipped to address your unique situation. I just don't know that complaining about the cost of a consultation really helps your argument.

Edited April 11 by gaz9318054

[shiba1985]

1 hour ago, BlackAmish111 said:

this post is ridiculous level cop-out. Did you even take the time to read it properly? First off -its was his Asst. NOT the "expert in Surgical Treatment" who saw me. And as you can see but the other poster here -they also had a very poor experience with the Asst who steered them down the wrong path.

 

B. My 1st Surgeon was also of the same level board certified and clout (if that matters) as Rahal -and she had a far more thorough vetting method told me many options and gave me time to think about taking calls for more questions if needed. Part of running a great business is your ability to properly communicate with your clientele. If option A doesnt look great, have the wherewithall to talk them thru whatever options may still be available. This guy did the opposite -i got the impression he thought id yet again ask for a smaller job and they werent that interested. To clinch my claim -when i contacted him again, after i told him his meeting was pretty depressing he apologized and said 'sorry, i was just getting over a cold". And then offered for me to speak to Rahal himself for a "$75 fee". Does that sound expert level to you? Or more of a money machine.

I am personally not a fan of rahal. I am not a fan of any clinic that outsources patient evaluation to “assistants” cause a lot of them are incentivized based on commission. Even if they are not I think it is the duty of the surgeon to guide the patient. 
 

[Tripp]

On 4/11/2024 at 11:06 PM, gaz9318054 said:

For instance, last year I paid $200 USD just for a quick FaceTime call with Dr. Sahar Nadimi of the Chicago Hair Institute. She's widely regarded as one of the very best in the business.

Going off at a slight tangent here but was the facetime consult worth it? I'm at an early stage with hair slowly receding at my temples. I corresponded via email and told her my situation and she said it would likely be a combination of fin and minoxidil. I'm curious though if she can really give a decent assessment over a video call?

[gaz9318054]

2 hours ago, Tripp said:

Going off at a slight tangent here but was the facetime consult worth it? I'm at an early stage with hair slowly receding at my temples. I corresponded via email and told her my situation and she said it would likely be a combination of fin and minoxidil. I'm curious though if she can really give a decent assessment over a video call?

Yes, the call was absolutely worth it for me.

I'd already submitted high-quality photos for her to review prior to the call, so our time was spent covering my most important questions. I felt like I was getting answers straight from one of the most highly-regarded hair restoration surgeons in the country, if not the world.

She was actually the first surgeon I spoke with during my research phase. Talking to her really set a high standard for me beyond that point, and as patients in this business, we really need to keep our standards quite high.

Anyone considering paying what Dr. Nadimi charges probably isn't worried about $200 anyhow. It's really nothing in the grand scheme — the cost of about 20 grafts — and I wouldn't personally schedule a procedure with someone I'd not spoken with directly, so I'd say it's definitely worth it.

Edited April 15 by gaz9318054

[Tripp]

17 hours ago, gaz9318054 said:

Yes, the call was absolutely worth it for me.

I'd already submitted high-quality photos for her to review prior to the call, so our time was spent covering my most important questions. I felt like I was getting answers straight from one of the most highly-regarded hair restoration surgeons in the country, if not the world.

She was actually the first surgeon I spoke with during my research phase. Talking to her really set a high standard for me beyond that point, and as patients in this business, we really need to keep our standards quite high.

Anyone considering paying what Dr. Nadimi charges probably isn't worried about $200 anyhow. It's really nothing in the grand scheme — the cost of about 20 grafts — and I wouldn't personally schedule a procedure with someone I'd not spoken with directly, so I'd say it's definitely worth it.

Thanks, very useful to know. I agree, the price factor isn't as important but I just wanted to get a sense of the efficacy of doing an online consultation. I would've thought that a doc would have to examine the miniaturization up close etc to suggest tailored medication. I say this because I'm not yet at a stage where I need a transplant but looking to slow the recession at my temples.