Bright and early at 7:15 with Dr. LAwrence Samuels in St. Louis, Missouri. I believe hairbank had a transplant session with him, how did you like him HB?

I liked "him" fine..........he's a very nice guy with a great heart. However, he does not soley focus on HT's, still used the dialators when I went there and max session size was 1200 grafts which I received.

Here are my thoughts on his clinic:

• uses dialators - this creates a larger-than-necessary incision. The grafts will not be placed directionally to match native hair growth and will be angled slightly more or less than 90 degrees.
• donor closure - does not use trichophytic. I wasn't very pleased with my scar and really needed 3/4"-1" in hair length for it to be covered. Plus, it was a little wide in a couple of spots
• overall experience - C+.....I was far from scarred, I believe everything grew and from the appearance of density I received I must have had many multiple hair grafts. I did experience a good bit of pain the first night but after that all okay

Dr. Samuels is a heckuva nice guy and I really like him. For someone with minimal loss, isn't concerned with full restoration or doesn't need really fine hairline work, I think he cares about his patients and does solid work..............just has not chosen to move forward in the industry by way of # of graft per session, smaller incisions, revised donor closure....etc.

Maybe more than you asked for but those are my thoughts. Are you consulting or getting a HT?

HB is right

Why go to a doc who is using procedures which are less than the best, especially the closure method which will decide howig of a scar you have??

Think and do some research

quote:

uses dialators - this creates a larger-than-necessary incision. The grafts will not be placed directionally to match native hair growth and will be angled slightly more or less than 90 degrees.

Hb, thanks for the info bro. I am having the transplant done. What did you mean angled slightly more or less than 90 degrees? Also, has he had a problem with hair lines?

Also HB, do you have any before and afters from the HT you have with samuels? Link?

Bleachcola,

Hairbank responded with a little more lustre than I think he should have. It sounds like the doc is a heck of a nice guy but if what he stated is still accurate I would certainly look elsewhere.

A HT is a MAJOR decision that you will have to live with for the rest of your life. Do not be afraid to travel. I had a Ht in the 80's and likely was performed by a super nice doc. I got lucky because I was not butchered, yet I still have a scar that is wider than it should be and need to keep hair slightly longer. Moreover, as my native hair leaves me I am starting to see the not so stellar results. I stress about what others might notice and am going to travel to one of the best in the profession to have my situation rectified.

My point is that you need to go to one of the best--period. They don't necessarily cost anymore but might require travel. You are getting a Ht because of being insecure of your current situation or wanting to look your best. The last thing you need to do is to make the plunge and then be more stressed because you are not happy with the results.

Research this site for coalition physicians that have a proven track record of success. I would imagine that you should be able to get all or most of your deposit back since your surgery date is so far in the future and you are giving them plenty of notice.

You don't need to see Hairbanks results from HT #1 becuase what he told you is enough to stay away and go to a better physician.

Ya my post is a little harsh but I am just trying to spare you some heartache.

Take care,

NN

quote:

Originally posted by Bleachcola12:

quote:

uses dialators - this creates a larger-than-necessary incision. The grafts will not be placed directionally to match native hair growth and will be angled slightly more or less than 90 degrees.

Hb, thanks for the info bro. I am having the transplant done. What did you mean angled slightly more or less than 90 degrees? Also, has he had a problem with hair lines?

Normally, with today's HT's, the grafts you receive in the frontal 1/3 should have incisions made and grafts placed so they grow forward, not nearly straight up as mine do. If you grow your hair more than 1" in length it really isn't a problem but still tends to stick up a little, make sense?

Unfortunately, I don't have any immediate post op pics from HT #1, only the results. So have you booked a HT with him?