Below is a summary of my experience with an organization that I thought was a respected FUE clinic in Atlanta (Alpharetta, GA).
At this point, I omitted names to respect the privacy of organizations and individuals.
This is an honest account of the events that transpired during my experience with this clinic. I want others to read about my experience. This clinic did not give me informed consent and they humiliated me.
I'm in the process of consulting with several colleagues and family members who are attorneys and physicians to discuss what or if any mistakes were made. I just want my money back and nothing more. I'm not here to besmirch the doctor's reputation. Overall, I had an engaging conversation with the doctor. The doctor is a talented physician and this is evident by some of his patients’ results. Although, I will admit that a few points stated during a phone conversation I had with the doctor were not palatable to me.
I became suspicious of the clinic after they would not disclose to me what punch size will be used to remove my donor hair. During my initial consultation with the clinic, the doctor examined my donor hair and told me how many hairs on average I had per follicular unit. Knowing this information, one would assume that any experienced FUE doctor can provide an answer when asked what punch size will be used to remove the donor hair. In the weeks before my scheduled surgery, I asked the clinic twice what punch size they will be using. They would not tell me. The consultant eventually told me that if I wanted the doctor to use a specific punch size, the clinic would not be responsible for the results. This is not an acceptable answer. I am not being given informed consent if they do not tell me or give me an idea of what punch size will be used. Furthermore, I was deeply disturbed by the answer that the clinic gave me.
I then decided to visit with my own physician to discuss what the clinic had told me. My physician told me that I have a right to know what punch size they will be using. My physician also told me something else, which after hearing troubled me even more.
After my initial consultation with the clinic, I called back to ask about a risk that was not initially disclosed to me. I was told by the consultant that this was something I don't have to worry about. After hearing this, I felt comfortable enough with the clinic to go ahead and book the surgery. I found out later from my physician that the person at the clinic was wrong in telling me this information. My physician told me that the risk in question is definitely something I should be concerned about.
The second time when I called the clinic to ask about the punch size issue, they asked me if "Person X" from "Company Y" provided me with any information. I told them no and that I learned about this information after reading through several posts on another message forum (other than this one) in which individuals wrote statements claiming that the clinic uses large punch sizes. Additionally, the clinic then emailed me asking that I forward any correspondence with the person in question to the clinic.
At this point, I had enough. After learning from my physician of a risk that was not disclosed to me (which was dismissed by the consultant as something that I don't have to worry about), and the clinics consistent refusal to not disclose what punch size will be used, I decided to cancel my surgery.
It wasn't hard to find "Person X". All it took were a few google searches and I eventually found his number listed on a web site for "Company Y".
Although "Person X" couldn't tell me much, I was surprised to learn that this was due to a legal agreement between "Person X" and the clinic. From what "Person X" told me, he can't speak about them and they can't speak about him. If this is due to some legal agreement, then the agreement was not honored by the clinic because they mentioned "Person X" to me.
After they mentioned his name to me, I had to track him down to try and get some answers.
I called the clinic yesterday to find out about the status of my situation and when my money will be refunded, the consultant I spoke with told me that I will not be refunded. Additionally, the consultant rudely told me that "He" is not refunding my money.
Clearly, the ethics of honesty and integrity were not practiced in my experience with the clinic. I was not given informed consent and they humiliated me.
I forwarded "Person X" the email from this clinic in which they ask me about him and I explained my story to "Person X". This clinic connected me with "Person X".
All the events in my situation have been documented. If there is something I can do within the law to receive my money back, then I will work within the law to do so.
This is my experience with what is supposed to be a respected FUE clinic in Atlanta. My voice will be heard. Again, this is an honest account of the events that transpired during my experience with this clinic.
-- Let me state that I never signed the Surgical Disclosure and Consent forms. All I did was pay for the procedure because payment was due in full prior to the scheduled surgery date. It was only after I paid for the surgery in full that the clinic sent me the Surgical Disclosure and Consent forms. The clinic sent me these forms after the cancellation deadline to receive a full refund. --
At this point, I omitted names to respect the privacy of organizations and individuals.
This is an honest account of the events that transpired during my experience with this clinic. I want others to read about my experience. This clinic did not give me informed consent and they humiliated me.
I'm in the process of consulting with several colleagues and family members who are attorneys and physicians to discuss what or if any mistakes were made. I just want my money back and nothing more. I'm not here to besmirch the doctor's reputation. Overall, I had an engaging conversation with the doctor. The doctor is a talented physician and this is evident by some of his patients’ results. Although, I will admit that a few points stated during a phone conversation I had with the doctor were not palatable to me.
I became suspicious of the clinic after they would not disclose to me what punch size will be used to remove my donor hair. During my initial consultation with the clinic, the doctor examined my donor hair and told me how many hairs on average I had per follicular unit. Knowing this information, one would assume that any experienced FUE doctor can provide an answer when asked what punch size will be used to remove the donor hair. In the weeks before my scheduled surgery, I asked the clinic twice what punch size they will be using. They would not tell me. The consultant eventually told me that if I wanted the doctor to use a specific punch size, the clinic would not be responsible for the results. This is not an acceptable answer. I am not being given informed consent if they do not tell me or give me an idea of what punch size will be used. Furthermore, I was deeply disturbed by the answer that the clinic gave me.
I then decided to visit with my own physician to discuss what the clinic had told me. My physician told me that I have a right to know what punch size they will be using. My physician also told me something else, which after hearing troubled me even more.
After my initial consultation with the clinic, I called back to ask about a risk that was not initially disclosed to me. I was told by the consultant that this was something I don't have to worry about. After hearing this, I felt comfortable enough with the clinic to go ahead and book the surgery. I found out later from my physician that the person at the clinic was wrong in telling me this information. My physician told me that the risk in question is definitely something I should be concerned about.
The second time when I called the clinic to ask about the punch size issue, they asked me if "Person X" from "Company Y" provided me with any information. I told them no and that I learned about this information after reading through several posts on another message forum (other than this one) in which individuals wrote statements claiming that the clinic uses large punch sizes. Additionally, the clinic then emailed me asking that I forward any correspondence with the person in question to the clinic.
At this point, I had enough. After learning from my physician of a risk that was not disclosed to me (which was dismissed by the consultant as something that I don't have to worry about), and the clinics consistent refusal to not disclose what punch size will be used, I decided to cancel my surgery.
It wasn't hard to find "Person X". All it took were a few google searches and I eventually found his number listed on a web site for "Company Y".
Although "Person X" couldn't tell me much, I was surprised to learn that this was due to a legal agreement between "Person X" and the clinic. From what "Person X" told me, he can't speak about them and they can't speak about him. If this is due to some legal agreement, then the agreement was not honored by the clinic because they mentioned "Person X" to me.
After they mentioned his name to me, I had to track him down to try and get some answers.
I called the clinic yesterday to find out about the status of my situation and when my money will be refunded, the consultant I spoke with told me that I will not be refunded. Additionally, the consultant rudely told me that "He" is not refunding my money.
Clearly, the ethics of honesty and integrity were not practiced in my experience with the clinic. I was not given informed consent and they humiliated me.
I forwarded "Person X" the email from this clinic in which they ask me about him and I explained my story to "Person X". This clinic connected me with "Person X".
All the events in my situation have been documented. If there is something I can do within the law to receive my money back, then I will work within the law to do so.
This is my experience with what is supposed to be a respected FUE clinic in Atlanta. My voice will be heard. Again, this is an honest account of the events that transpired during my experience with this clinic.
-- Let me state that I never signed the Surgical Disclosure and Consent forms. All I did was pay for the procedure because payment was due in full prior to the scheduled surgery date. It was only after I paid for the surgery in full that the clinic sent me the Surgical Disclosure and Consent forms. The clinic sent me these forms after the cancellation deadline to receive a full refund. --
