Dr. Feller,

While there is no doubt that you are amongst the best in the world, I've read alot of complaints on this forum that people have contacted you and your office for a consultation w/out a response. Now the excuse of being busy would stand up if I hadnt noticed that you post here quite often! Showing examples of your work is great but if you dont have get back to people who would like to use your services, then those people would otherwise choose you will go somewhere else.

excuse my english! I re-read and realized some errors, but i think you get my point.

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron F:
Dr Feller,
You are a talented surgeon but you are not the only talented surgeon on this site.

falc,maybe we should have this as a sticky.

My apologies to all if my initial response came across as promotional. This was not my intention. Kiss asked for other recommendations and more hair mentioned Dr E, so I replied. I believe everyone needs to educate themselves and consult with multiple doctors to be able to make an educated decision. It’s that simple……or I thought it was…LOL

FYI: I’m not compensated in any way for posting on this site. It is not part of my responsibilities. I choose to post here because I have 11 years of hair industry experience I feel can be helpful to share with others. I have shared my history in previous posts and I hope to continue to be a useful resource to all.

If anyone was soliciting for business it was aaron, not feller and while feller was a bit harder than he usually is, it looks like doc epstein had it coming.

Seems to me that doc feller shows alot of his patients all the time,and doc epstein has little to show in comparison and is jealous.

I think the best docs in this business are (in no particular order) hasson, wong, shapiro, and feller. I can't tell the difference between these docs work when I look at their patient results. In my opinion, doc epstein has reached neither the quanity nor quality of these top docs work.

I don't see how you can discount the number of photos feller puts up falceros. If I were going to a heart surgeon and I had to decide between two docs, I would definitely go to the surgeon with the most number of patients under his belt who have gotten good reviews by the public. I think fellers willingness to put up so many of his patients is telling of his passion and his confidence. The lack thereof from doc epstein tells me the opposite and I would think he would settle the matter by simply putting up a few good quality pictures that rival the other top docs. Why doesn't he just do it and move on?
Then everyone go get a beer a chill.
Bruce

I disagree Bruceman. There are some docs who actually stay in surgery all day, and barely have time to eat lunch much less be in tune with the net. My doctor was in at 6:45 and only left the room for about 15 minutes during the whole 11-hour procedure, excluding a 30-minute lunch. Maybe he thinks someone is posting his stuff, I don't know. But I'm 100% satisfied so I figure that's all he's concerned about.

Some understand it, but not to the degree of someone like Dr. Feller; who has no doubt used it and his skills to become legendary.

Heck, I figure Dr. Feller already has plenty of patients booked so I was suprised he would dual it out online with Aaron. Kind of brings him down to almost a mere mortal in my eyes...

Nah Dewayne. I can't agree with you. Are you saing that doc epstein can find the time to fly to NY, chicago, and London, but can't find 5 minutes to post some quality photos of his patients? Sounds like a cop out to me. Whats more is that he has a salesman who he pays to handle that stuff for him. Can't he just post the pictures for the doc? I don't buy that he doesn't have the time. Maybe he just doesn't have the results. That's my guess.

Feller was clearly p.o.ed and he reacted harshly, but that was only after epstein purposefully interfered with him showing his photos. If I were attacked that way by a competitor I'd be a little peeved too. Why should epstein care how many photos feller shows? He should just show his own photos everytime feller shows his and the individual can judge for himself who is best. Doc epstein tried to block doc feller from showing his results and succeeded. When the ban was lifted, looks like feller wasted no time steamrolling over doc epstein with excellent photos. High quality and quantity.

I don't get the sense at all that doc feller was soliciting for business in his post, it looks like he was trying to make a point and he succeeded very well in doing it in my opinion.

I would like to see many more pictures from other docs. But I usually only see the same few docs posting regularly. Hasson, wong, shapiro, and alexander. I'm sure these guys are booked out for months as well, but they have the time to show their results regularly. Nah, time isn't the issue here. I don't buy it.
Bruce

Bruceman, I find your attacks on Dr. Epstein uncalled for.

Dr Epstein is a respected member of this coalition and an excellent surgeon with proven results. his website is one of the most extensive of any HT doctor's out there with page after page of before and after photos as well as videos.

Dewayne is correct to suggest that many coalition doctors either don't feel the need or don't have the time to post here constantly, but that is not to say they are not good surgeons.

So to say that Dr. Epstein is "jealous" of Dr. Feller because he has no results to show for himself is laughable. I don't think any doctor on here should be "steamrolling" over anyone as you have stated. In fact,Falceros has correctly asked Dr. Feller in this thread to calm his aggressive attitude toward Dr. Epstein and staff.

Guys, I think this all started way back when Dr Epstein didn't take too kindly to me posting pictures in response to a poster enquiring about hairlines in NY.

The topic can be seen here. http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/746...071060543#2071060543

I think this is a storm in a tea cup, yet again - Dr Epstein does great work and having a variety of his work on here along with numerous other clinics is great for everyone!



A few points need addressing that are nothing to do with the main content of this topic though.

quote:

Dr. Feller,

While there is no doubt that you are amongst the best in the world, I've read alot of complaints on this forum that people have contacted you and your office for a consultation w/out a response. Now the excuse of being busy would stand up if I hadnt noticed that you post here quite often! Showing examples of your work is great but if you dont have get back to people who would like to use your services, then those people would otherwise choose you will go somewhere else.

I must say this is a very interesting - Many top clinics are inundated with patient enquires /consultation requests and not EVERYONE gets through every time for various reasons - the main one at Feller medial tends to be the spam security on the email - If any perspective patients have trouble getting through to Dr Feller directly or via myself on this forum then they can always pick up the phone (old school) - the number is on his web site to make Marica or Dr Feller aware of their emails or to set up a in person consult. Patients quite obviously only need make a post here to make contact as many do if they are having difficultly getting through - they are always replied to and initial contact can be made easily - That's the beauty of this forum and others alike - We can not get away and are always here to answer questions - My email address can be found in numerous places and i speak to Dr Feller regularly so there are no need for "complaints" as you refer to - we are very accessible in numerous ways as i am sure you know. Hope this helps.
Dr Feller makes time to come onto the forums to help educate and not just display results - This i am sure you agree is very helpful not just to his patients but all patients. He enjoys helping others in every capacity and finds the time to get involved in numerous debates to help educate. Hope this helps clarify.

The forums would benefit greatly if more Docs found the time in their busy schedules like Dr Feller does to contribute on a regualr basis and help educate by posting and getting involved with debates and also by sharing a variety of different pictures on a very regular basis. This will continue to increase awareness and help educate.

I know Falc and Pat are trying very hard to make this happen which i applaud them for greatly but many docs still choose not to for some reason regardless of the numerous requests and are not prepared to share their work as it happens. Dr Feller finds the time, lets hope more can also as this will only help.



Also - Selective posting on particular topics by certain posters is always very entertaining and highly transparent - Its a shame these people can only resort to digs here and there at every given opportunity in the disguise of humour rather than concentrating on providing helpful information - Anyone can make digs and sly remarks and show their clear frustration towards a Doctor in many ways but few choose to ride above it and instead provide help and evidence to help others - I hope they can at least make some attempt in the future.

I read that old thread Spex posted above and it's pretty clear something else must have happened between October and now.

I agree with what Dr. Feller posted back in October that clinics shouldn't be posting in "which doctor is best" threads, but it appears his opinion may have changed.

It seems Dr. Epstein was a little quick to jump to the offensive back in October, but I also can agree as I wouldn't pay to be on a patient educational site if it turned in to a big commercial competition.

If you read the original thread Spex has posted and then read this one it looks like there are a few contradictions so who knows...

Education and information dissemination is and should be the main focus of this or any forum. However, there are also rules and procedures that must be agreed upon and observed in order to present this information in a useful and sensible way.

I have always worked within the rules and focused on being a “positive” poster. The only time I have gone negative is when I’ve seen results of work so poor or illogical that it was my ethical obligation to speak out to help patients protect themselves. But even then I didn’t just throw out negative comments, I gave long explanations, usually accompanied by photos, to demonstrate my objections.

I have always observed the rules and regulations of this forum. For years I’ve posted my results, answered questions, and got involved in threads where my input was requested or advisable. I’ve worked posting into my daily routine as it only takes a few minutes every few hours. It’s a joy to show ones accomplishments to the world and receive feedback. The positive comments are reassuring, and the negative comments tell me which areas I’m weak in so I can firm them up. No doctor is above criticism. No tool is better for receiving it than the forum.

Bruceman was right in pointing out that I was harsh in this post. It stung when a “point of parliamentary procedure” was raised against me a few months ago for something I and other doctors had been doing for years. Charges of unfairness and “evil marketing” were leveled unfairly against me. All doctors on this site are marketing themselves. That’s what drives this and all other communities. Pat and Falceros have to eat, and so do all the doctors, including the one who leveled the charge at me himself. But I NEVER looked at this site as just a marketing opportunity and I certainly never saw it is an arena for head to head competition.

Of course me and the other doctors are competitors. But there are MORE than enough patients to go around if more doctors post good work and keep working together to upend the top heavy visibility of the large chains and lousy results of independents. I view this kind of competition as an endless foot race. I run my race, the next doctor should run his race, and so on. Head to head competition doesn’t apply.

So you might understand my frustration when years after running my own race that all of a sudden a competitor runner screams to stop the race and points his finger at me accusatorily. Then, after making his appeal on grounds of unfairness that is beyond my comprehension he actually convinces the administration to penalize me. I think that would outrage anyone. I felt such a “rule” limited the openness of the forum and just a few months later I was proved right and the rule was reversed.

Dewayne, I do agree that we docs can all agree to be “hands off” when it comes to posts that ask for comparisons. I’ve always disliked those kinds of posts because I thought answering them was distasteful and embarrasingly self promotional, but NOT answering them makes it look like the docs under consideration are ignoring the poster and AFRAID of competing. A very uneasy position.

Had all the docs or the HTN administration put the issue up for consideration BEFORE I was singled out as some sort of cheater, then I would have voted FOR the rule voluntarily WITH certain exceptions. But having a new, restrictive, and unfairly broad “rule” created as a response to a nebulous charge leveled against me for supposed and unsupported “unfair play” made me an all out opponent of the rule and resentful of the doc who brought the charge.

As Spex pointed out, this is a tempest in a tea cup and will blow over. Dr. Epstein contacted me and we will talk to resolve the issues ourselves and keep HTN updated.

Dr. Feller and Spex (and other forum members),

I want to make it clear that Dr. Epstein was not the reason that I originally enforced a rule that physicians and consultants should stay clear of doctor comparison threads. Yes, Dr. Epstein did discuss his thoughts with me, but this was something I was already toying with before I even spoke with him. His words only reinforced my feelings on the matter.

We try to maintain a delicate balance between running an open forum and keeping this forum educational in nature. The "spirit" of the rule that I created was to protect the patient and keep it educational and free from blatant promotion. However, I changed the rule when I realized that some quality educational content was being missed when consultants and physicians couldn't involve themselves. But since there is no rule, it is YOU physicians and consultants that have to be vigilant and respectful toward one another and ESPECIALLY the patients seeking!

In my opinion, plastering pictures and links all over a doctor comparison thread is highly promotional and plain and simple, I don't want to see it again. In my opinion, this shows a lack of respect both for the seeking patient to make up their own mind without bias and for other physicians who don't make as much time as others to post.

The "find" feature on our forum community is very user friendly and patients can easily find patient photos posted by each clinic. Patient photos are often regularly updated when physicians submit them to our webmaster. They can be viewed on the doctor profile pages on the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center.

These types of comparison threads should be more like a "consumer report" for seeking patients rather than an "advertising campaign" convoluted with physicians trying to grab any business they can get.

Physicians, have faith in your own work posted around the forum. For those of you not as involved, I encourage you to be. You can't increase your online visibility unless you get involved and show your work. On the flip side, don't be excessive and don't be greedy. This is not the "Dr. X forum", this is the "Hair Transplant Network Patient Forum". As Dr. Feller rightfully said, there are plenty of patients for everyone. So let's encourage them to do their own research without shoving results down their throat.

I am not going to reinforce a rule again at this time, but I am going to ask respectfully that if physicians and consultants feel that they MUST address these types of "which doctor is best" type threads, that they do it in the interest of EDUCATION and RESPECT for other physicians. Work together and respect each other!

And now, it's time to move on!

Falc

Hey Dr.Epstein.

Glad you enjoyed the Horse race.

I think all the docs mentioned in this thread are great Docs.

I will tell you though...Dr.Epstein is a total class act.

This fact is not only reflected in this thread but if anyone meets him in person you will leave the consult realizing not only have you met a passionate Doctor who's not full of himself...but also a regular guy..MD or not.

MH

MORE_HAIR,
I COULDNT AGREE W/ YOU MORE! NOT ONLY IS HE NOT FULL OF HIMSELF, BUT HE IS ALSO VERY MODEST CONSIDERING THE INCREDIBLE WORK HE DOES! PEOPLE DONT BE FOOLED, DR E. IS ONE OF THE BEST DESPITE HIS LACK OF ONLINE VISIBILITY!

You guys have to start getting real. doc epstein may be a nice guy but he has shown little in the way of great work. When I look at his latest pictures I see a beard transplant on a transexual and a reverse chest hair transplant and eyebrows. Where are the real hair transplant results?
Look at the picture gallary of doc (paul)shapiro, now that's great work. I have not seen anything put up by doc epstein, his salesman, or any of his patients that even comes close to matching that.

Where's the beef?

More_Hair and dakota3 post a link to any recent doc epstein photos that even match doc shapriro's. Don't just SAY that he is a nice guy, back it up! You say he has great results, where are they? I went to his website and I went to hasson and wong website and theres no comparison at all.

Being a nice guy doesn't get him out of his requirment to show updated results. And if ever he should show them off it would be now.

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by Bruceman:
You guys have to start getting real. doc epstein may be a nice guy but he has shown little in the way of great work. When I look at his latest pictures I see a beard transplant on a transexual and a reverse chest hair transplant and eyebrows. Where are the real hair transplant results?
Look at the picture gallary of doc (paul)shapiro, now that's great work. I have not seen anything put up by doc epstein, his salesman, or any of his patients that even comes close to matching that.

Where's the beef?

More_Hair and dakota3 post a link to any recent doc epstein photos that even match doc shapriro's. Don't just SAY that he is a nice guy, back it up! You say he has great results, where are they? I went to his website and I went to hasson and wong website and theres no comparison at all.

Being a nice guy doesn't get him out of his requirment to show updated results. And if ever he should show them off it would be now.

Bruce

http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/Share-Info/patient...rID=36&PatientID=765

Dewayne,
Thanks, you beat me to the punch! How's everything working out w/ you? Dr. Cooley doesnt post here alot. Does that mean he's not as good as others who post here? I dont think so!
Bruceman,
Just because Dr. E doesnt post 10X a day doesnt mean he doesnt do quality work. And yes he is a nice guy! Thats a bonus to his work and not the only reason people choose him! Do some more research and dont just go with the popular concensus.

I also agree Epstein does good work. I think his conservative approach is why you dont see many jawdropping results like others on here.
His results are always nice but not exciting.

I think equally important to seeing good online results is finding happy patients, or unhappy patients. for example, i couldn't find a single happy patient of karamikian online but did find 4 unhappy ones. conversely, i found many happy feller patients. these forums are a great resource but prospective patients shouldn't use this as the ONLY resource.

You nailed it Please Grow Please.



MH