I Just got back from Armani's office at 6 days post op .. I just cannot describe what a 1st class and friendly operation they run there .. Actually, I wouldn't call it an operation per se , Bosley runs an operation .. The people at Armani's office make you feel at home and extremely comfortable.. I cannot describe what a great experience everything has been from the beginning.
I went to get my donor area cleaned by Miguel with saline solution and what not . I called them this afternoon and asked them if they could do it, they said "come on right in" , I was there an hour later in the chair .. .Actually , when I first arrived, Miguel was busy so I had to wait in the waiting area about half an hour to get it cleaned up .. Paul, who was my initial consultant , who is also a great and caring person, sat and talked with me the whole time about many things.. Shane was with someone else but he came in and out of his office and spoke with me at 3 or so minute intervals q few times ( Shane also took many pics of my head today, including close-ups of the tri-closure donor area which he will post soon !! )
After Miguel's cleanup, he said Armani wanted me to see him in his office .. I was in Armani's office for about 20 minutes discussing my results as well as off-topic discussion .. The guy is very genuine, caring in every way , shape and form .. Very charismatic, laid back and shows a genuine interest in the patient in every conceivable way .. I truly believe it is not about money with him .. If it was about money, he'd be charging $ 7 to $10 per graft like Bosley charges not about half of that . And believe me, with Armani's reputation for frontal work, he could get it.. . After getting to know him, he truly doesn't see himself as a hair transplant doctor, he sees himself as an artist.. He views his patients as his pallette for his tremendous skill and artistry ..
I hate to stereotype because I see every human on this planet equally .. But I just have to mention this . I just have to .. I live in Toronto, home of over 850,000 italians and we have 3 distinct Italian neighborhoods in this city .. Only Chicago has more Italians of any major city in North America with over 1 million there .. I have the links to prove this fact ..
Italians are very artistic, they truly care about how they look, they have a sense of style. Go to St.Clair west in Toronto ( one of Toronto italian neighborhoods) and you see clothing and shoe stores lining both sides of the streets.. Intermingled with those stores you find italian restaurants, cafe's , and MANY BARBER SHOPS !
Who makes the best shoes for men ? The best casual AND dress shoes ? That's right, italians do .. Who makes the best suits for men ? Thats right, Italians do . Best looking clothes ? Italians make them .. . After living here for years, I have gained quite a few italian friends, and let me tell you, they care about their hair just as much (if not more) than their clothes .. The best hair salon's and general salon's worldwide are Italian owned . I am talking about the type of salon's movie stars go to in Beverly hills, europe etc etc ..
As the assistants were transplanting my follicles in my head for 4 hours last week, they asked me if I was Italian .. They swore I was italian and said I look italian .. I said no . I then asked them, "why do you ask?" , she said because over "half" of their clients are italian , most of whom travel from italy to get their work done by Armani .. This made me feel comfortable because I know how Italians think .. Italians, are talkers, word of mouth travels quickly with them .. If he is getting so many clients from Italy almost daily, that means there are many many happy patients.. Italians scrutinize about their hair and are perfectionists about it, just like how they dress .. So, who do they go to ? They go to the #1 artist and perfectionist in the world for hair transplantation, Dr Alvi Armani ..
Like I said, I hate to stereotype, but I cannot avoid this fact about the Italian culture.. Armani is Italian, and if you see the way he carries himself, you can clearly see that what I said is evident.. You can see it in the design of his studio all the way down to his hairline artwork to the way he dresses. Everything is first class , top notch all the way, however, the atmosphere is most genuine and not snobby like other high-end looking outlets I have been to in my lifetime. That's the difference, the care and genuineness ..
While speaking to Armani today, he made a great point . He said he designs the hairline so it can be styled in different ways throughout life.. He said, other ( even top) surgeons give a hairline that can only be styled appropriately one way throughout life.. Armani angles his incisions in such a way that a hairline can be styled up, to the left or to the right... THAT"s what sets him apart aside from his incredible and totally undetectable hairlines .. And this is why I chose him .. Years ago, I looked great with my hair parted to the left AND when I put it straight back with kind of like a puff in the front.. Armani gave me this versatility in the future I believe no other transplant Doctor could give me ..
I am so happy with my experience, that I told Dr. Armani today that I would be more than happy to show my results in person (when they nurture) to any prospective client he may have in the future. Since I am local in Toronto, when clients come in for Armani consultations they can meet up with me as well as I am just 15 minutes from his office.. I feel like I owe it to him, that's how happy this whole ordeal has made me .. And I know myself, I will feel the same way many many months from now and won't take my new hair and new youthful look for granted.. I take nothing for granted in life, never have and never will ..
Him, along with Shane and Paul there, have my phone number and I would like to help any hair loss sufferer out there as I have been suffering for years and understand the pain .. And I feel like I owe it to the hairloss community to be of any service I can be .
Armani then asked me if I would like to travel with his team and go to seminars around the world . He truly believes my results will be fantastic .. I was taken aback by that question .. I said, "absolutely" .. To be honest, it would be an honor and a priviledge to do such a thing, knowing I am helping others fight the hairloss fight ..
Shane took additional pictures today of my 6 days post op results.. He also took pics of my donor area with the tri-closure technique Armani is now implementing with all his surgeries. I didn't even ask Shane to take pics, he wanted to .. He said he will be posting them later on in a new thread..
By the way, my swelling has gone down considerably, I just have some black still under my eyes but that is subsiding slowly.. My donor area feels terrific .. I feel terrific .. This whole experience was a blast thus far .. Nothing could get me down, not even the inevitable shedding of transplanted hairs that will take place in a couple of weeks ..
I started a thread 2 months ago here stating I have had enough with this hairloss business and set up a surgery date with Armani for April 28th .. I ended that post by saying - " Armani , please give me my life back" .. Just 6 days post op, he already has as I love how I look in the mirror with just stubbles in the front.. I know how it will eventually grow out and look like....
Sitting in Armani's office today discussing with him everything from the hair transplant industry, talking about his views of how a hairline should be achieved , his countless innovations in the industry, and his vast knowledge about every little detail that comprises this confusing hairloss industry, even talking about my business which he showed a genuine interest in, I truly felt like I was in the presence of sheer greatness ..
Since I have joined this board 2 months ago, I just want to thank everyone for your support.. I received countless private messages of support, post and pre op advice from many members here .. Many many thanks, you are all great here ..
All the best, Sincerely
SNB