Reputable Surgeon, Bad Result - Hairline, 1850 Grafts, 6 Months

[WantHair86]

I went to a very reputable surgeon for 1850 grafts FUT, and had my checkup yesterday. I was told the growth was mostly done at this point, and will thicken but that I'm looking at most of my result. The thing is I don't recognize any difference, but that this was a "successful" hair transplant.

When I paid $10k, my hope was I'd have significantly more hair for a small area or at least a major difference in the hair there. I didn't expect my original hairline or perfect hair - but a noticeable difference. I don't really see that. The doctor suggested another surgery to fill it in after waiting the appropriate time, but I'm skeptical of pouring in another 10k if I had a bad result the first time.

Although the clinic is very reputable, some aspects of my surgery were concerning. At my evaluation, I was told the doctor was busy for the next 2 months but if I booked then and there and paid a $2,000 deposit, there was one opening one week later. 2 days after the surgery, I was asked to sign a statement stating I was willing to agree to stating my surgery met my expectations despite being told results would not appear for 6 months.

I had some concern I did not get the full grafts I paid for, but got a graft chart that matched the #. They also responded to all questions very quickly. Disclaimer - I had a bad hair transplant in Mexico with an non-reputable doctor 2 years ago, which I was told can partially compromise my results.

Not outing the doctor's name, because I wanted more advice on what people think regarding this being a "good result".

Attached before, post surgery and current pics.

The first 5 are post-surgery ("successful" result pics), others are immediately post and pre-surgery. I have a feeling these won't be "before and after" pics on their website.

 

[AnxiousAndy]

The results aren't great but not too bad either, you didn't get enough grafts. You should have saved up a bit more and got 3000.

 

[WantHair86]

The results aren't great but not too bad either, you didn't get enough grafts. You should have saved up a bit more and got 3000.

I had the money but was told the maximum he could do is 1800 because of the previous procedure. I basically had 2k wasted 2 years ago because a doctor in Mexico had lied about his experience and wasn't actually licensed to practice - I only really researched afterwards. The one thing about this new doctor is he has a very limited online presence but only glowing reviews (granted many yelp reviewers and such only have 1 yelp review).

 

[AnxiousAndy]

I had the money but was told the maximum he could do is 1800 because of the previous procedure. I basically had 2k wasted 2 years ago because a doctor in Mexico had lied about his experience and wasn't actually licensed to practice - I only really researched afterwards. The one thing about this new doctor is he has a very limited online presence but only glowing reviews (granted many yelp reviewers and such only have 1 yelp review).

I'm sorry to hear that. Its disgusting how a medical 'professional' can decieve someone in the way he has done to you. Have you thought about trying toppik? It could give you the illusion of more hair and may make your transplant look alot better!

 

[WantHair86]

I'm sorry to hear that. Its disgusting how a medical 'professional' can decieve someone in the way he has done to you. Have you thought about trying toppik? It could give you the illusion of more hair and may make your transplant look alot better!

I've been using that but am more concerned with the current hair transplant I have from the second surgeon. I can get more grafts but the new doctor wanted to preserve them to assess what the first 1,800 would do - basically to fix the hairline and then go from there but the hairline does not look fixed. The other doctor was $2,000 and it was on me for not researching his name and being cheap. I'm concerned with the current procedure because (1) I paid $10k for it, and (2) don't know if this is an acceptable result for 1850 grafts from one of the allegedly best surgeons in America.

I use toppik religiously and do a comb over brushed down, but I am in the process of likely moving in with and proposing to my girlfriend and there's only so long I can keep this secret for. It takes me like 20-25 min to perfect the application of Toppik.

 

[AnxiousAndy]

I've been using that but am more concerned with the current hair transplant I have from the second surgeon. I can get more grafts but the new doctor wanted to preserve them to assess what the first 1,800 would do - basically to fix the hairline and then go from there but the hairline does not look fixed. The other doctor was $2,000 and it was on me for not researching his name and being cheap. I'm concerned with the current procedure because (1) I paid $10k for it, and (2) don't know if this is an acceptable result for 1850 grafts from one of the allegedly best surgeons in America.

I use toppik religiously and do a comb over brushed down, but I am in the process of likely moving in with and proposing to my girlfriend and there's only so long I can keep this secret for. It takes me like 20-25 min to perfect the application of Toppik.

I would say it is an acceptable ( but not ideal ) result. 1800 grafts is not a lot, Its fairly small in the grand scheme of things. Yes you did pay a lot for it and I can see why you are upset but there's not much you can do. The result its self is average but the price of the procedure was far too high. I don't think your girlfriend will mind if you use toppik.. I use toppik myself, my girlfriend knows and she doesn't care!

 

[WantHair86]

I mean I could post the result, and the doctor's name on hairloss forums, yelp, etc. However, you can notice a difference between the first and last pics? Is it possible, i'm just blind to the difference?

I'm not saying my gf will care I use toppik, but I've kept this a secret for 6 months. She'd be upset I was lying to her, and probably turned off i'm self-conscious enough about my hair loss to use it. My experience is that quality women care much more about the fact men care about their hair loss than the hair loss itself.

 

[WantHair86]

Terrible results, you've been scammed ...
Sorry for you :/

I am a lawyer, and can sue the clinic and post my honest results on their yelp page and the like, but is it best to wait another 6 months to see what happens?

 

[Questions]

I am a lawyer, and can sue the clinic and post my honest results on their yelp page and the like, but is it best to wait another 6 months to see what happens?

I was thinking this... at least somehow get the money back.

It doesn’t look great, but it’s not the worst. I’d definitely try to sue/get refunded in some wah if it doesn’t grow any further, and look for a surgeon that can help fix it and isn’t trying to scam you. Also, look at the reviews and see if you can contact anyone that had a transplant there, and ask them if they’re satisfied with the results.

 

[Retinoid]

I think the results are not good however I do not think the surgeon was scamming you. I do think he should NOT have done the transplant. If a transplant is done in an area with a good amount of hair the results really are not good because it can damage the surrounding follicles leaving you with a poor result. That is why it is better to get it on actual bald areas instead of areas with some hair. You cannot 'spot' place transplanted hairs because it can still affect the surrounding ones.

 

[WantHair86]

So I reached out, and have some add'l pictures that the clinic took themselves but need to blotch out my face. I have reached out and am starting to get more concerned. For what it's worth, I cannot really get in contact with the doctor and only correspond with his rep who had mentioned that 6 months is only the beginning, though the Doctor said most of my result is done.

I am only going to communicate that which I can swear to under oath. As my google search for failed hair transplant led me to forums in which doctors sued patients for discussing their bad experiences, I am only going to say things that are 100% accurate and distinguish objective facts from possible interpretations.

There were harbingers of concerns that I initially overlooked because of the clinic's reputation that I am rethinking now and beginning to suspect the worst. When I initially had my consultation, I said I was very interested and then told that the doctor was booked for the next several months so I'd need to book then for the following week and pay around a $2,000 deposit or wait a few months before scheduling. One part of me felt like this could have been a pressure tactic, but the other part said that the doctor must just be very popular.

I was also concerned that the doctor was not present for much of the surgery beyond drawing the hairline and removing the donor supply, but have since learned that this is common in the industry. I must say the scar healed very nicely. and the way the hairline was drawn was perfectly realistic even if it didn't turn out this way because of the implantation for which the doctor wasn't there. I feel this is a truly gifted surgeon, but that the effort may not have been there. I'm pretty soft spoken and dress very casually (sneakers and t-shirts) so may not seem like an ideal client for a business, but actually do gross close to 200k a year and would have paid much more than 10k for a great result. I think maybe if I presented myself more professionally I may have gotten a better result, but this is purely speculative and I may be jumping to assumptions trying to figure out what went wrong. I think it would be much better if doctors charged more to be present for the entire surgery to make sure their vision is actually what's implanted (I do recall the doctor coming in a few times, but was on pain killers [as is standard industry procedure]).

I did feel that the technicians didn't necessarily have the best sense of where to place the grafts, and that the sides got the bulk of it while the middle was bare. Although I voiced these concerns, i was told not to worry. Before receiving my washing 3 days later, I was asked to sign a form statement that stated among other things my satisfaction with the hair transplant. Because it takes 6-12 months, I was and still am very concerned I was asked to sign this. To the best of my knowledge, this is not general industry practice, but it doesn't necessarily indicate anything is not on the up and up.

I am now very worried that my transplant failed, and while I don't think the clinic is ignoring me, it is a little harder to get in touch with them. I sent an email asking about their protocol in the event of a failed procedure. I have not received a reply yet. Even though contact was more consistent before the procedure, I am holding out hope they are not ignoring me and will give them a few days before naming the clinic. If they do not reply, I must admit that my worst suspicions will start to take over and I'll share the name of the clinic not to in any way harm them, but to try to save others. I must also note that even if I was taken for a ride, that does not mean that other patients are or will be. It could be something about me suggested I was easier to take advantage of or caused them to dislike me.