In 2023, I had a hair transplant (front area) performed by a well known doctor in Europe.
INITIAL DISCUSSIONS / CONSULTATION
Beforehand, I sent high resolution photos of my existing hair (before a haircut, after a haircut and when wet).
I also explained the outcomes I wanted to achieve, and sent photos of my desired hairline position as well.
I am from New Zealand, and so the discussions were by email at first, followed by an online consultation with the doctor, where we chatted about everything in detail.
In our conversations, the doctor confirmed (multiple times) that the desired results and hairline position were achievable. I should mention that the desired hairline was not aggressive or unusual - just normal for my head.
RESULTS
Unfortunately, the hair transplant results have been poor. There are 3 main issues:
1. The hairline is much further back at the temples than we agreed in our initial discussions
2. There is a noticeable asymmetry in the hairline on each side.
3. The density on one side is noticeably lower than on the other.
FURTHER BACKGROUND
Regarding point 1: in our initial discussions, the doctor had looked at all the photos I sent and confirmed that my desired hairline position was possible. I booked to have the hair transplant done by him because of this - I would never have chosen him if he had said he couldn't do it.
However, once I arrived in person to have the hair transplant, the doctor said that it would not be possible to put the hairline in that position. I'm still not clear on the reason for this, because he gave one explanation at the time and then said something different when I asked him about it afterward.
The end result is that the hairline is a lot further back at the temple areas than we initially agreed. It gives the appearance of a receding hairline, which was the #1 thing I said I wanted to get rid of by having a hair transplant.
I did not feel I could argue with him at the time of the hair transplant. However, I now know that it would have been completely possible to put the hairline in the desired position at the temples.
ATTEMPTED RESOLUTION
I contacted the doctor late last year (12 months after the hair transplant) to discuss the results. I provided a lot of photos and videos of the final appearance.
Ultimately, the doctor has admitted that the density on one side is low. However, he has not acknowledged any problem with:
1. The hairline position (because he claims we both agreed on the day - when in reality, I did not feel I had any other choice)
2. The asymmetry (which he claims is normal, even though it doesn't seem to be based on other peoples' results)
To resolve the issue, I have asked for a partial refund of the fee I paid. The doctor has not agreed to this. Instead, he has offered to pay for me to return to his clinic to have a free touch up to fix the density issue.
ISSUES WITH THE DOCTOR'S PROPOSAL
While I certainly appreciate his offer, there are several problems:
1. It is not feasible for me to take time off to fly all the way from New Zealand to Europe and back to have the touch up.
2. The touch up would result in a huge amount of shock loss across one side of my head (the shock loss after the original was absolute hell - I had to wear a hat every day to keep it hidden). I now have a very visible job role where I cannot wear any headwear, and so months of shock loss is not acceptable. I'm basically stuck with these results for now.
3. The offer does not address the hairline position nor asymmetry, which are just as important as the low density issue.
For these reasons, I would just prefer to get a partial refund of the fee as compensation for the poor results and move on. Then perhaps I will get everything fixed at some point in future at a time that suits better.
It seems that a partial refund would also be better for the doctor as well - he would then not have to pay for my travel costs, nor take up a day performing the free touch up, so he could perform a hair transplant on a full fee paying client instead. So it seems to be a win-win.
CURRENT SITUATION
Unfortunately, the doctor has not been receptive to my partial refund proposal.
I have tried to arrange a voice chat with the doctor, so I can understand his concerns about my proposal better and find a suitable resolution. However, he has declined to chat with me, and I can't even get a reply any more when I've tried to solve the problem by email.
He has pretty much become non-responsive to my attempts to resolve the issue since he provided his touch up proposal.
I've been reluctant to post the full details about my experience (which includes other questionable practices by the doctor that I haven't mentioned) and show the photos and videos on forums such as this, because I know this would be extremely damaging to his reputation. If we can resolve the issue appropriately, then I'm happy to keep everything totally private and just move on.
But at the moment, things are not progressing toward a resolution.
INPUT / ADVICE NEEDED
So now I'm looking for input / advice:
1. Given these circumstances do you think my request for a partial refund is reasonable?
2. What actions do you think I should take so we can resolve the issue?
NOTE: Please don't ask who the doctor is, and please don't make any comments with guesses. My focus is on resolving things, and not on dragging someone's name through the mud, so I don't want to reveal his name unless we can't come to an acceptable solution.
Thanks so much for reading and thanks in advance for your perspective
INITIAL DISCUSSIONS / CONSULTATION
Beforehand, I sent high resolution photos of my existing hair (before a haircut, after a haircut and when wet).
I also explained the outcomes I wanted to achieve, and sent photos of my desired hairline position as well.
I am from New Zealand, and so the discussions were by email at first, followed by an online consultation with the doctor, where we chatted about everything in detail.
In our conversations, the doctor confirmed (multiple times) that the desired results and hairline position were achievable. I should mention that the desired hairline was not aggressive or unusual - just normal for my head.
RESULTS
Unfortunately, the hair transplant results have been poor. There are 3 main issues:
1. The hairline is much further back at the temples than we agreed in our initial discussions
2. There is a noticeable asymmetry in the hairline on each side.
3. The density on one side is noticeably lower than on the other.
FURTHER BACKGROUND
Regarding point 1: in our initial discussions, the doctor had looked at all the photos I sent and confirmed that my desired hairline position was possible. I booked to have the hair transplant done by him because of this - I would never have chosen him if he had said he couldn't do it.
However, once I arrived in person to have the hair transplant, the doctor said that it would not be possible to put the hairline in that position. I'm still not clear on the reason for this, because he gave one explanation at the time and then said something different when I asked him about it afterward.
The end result is that the hairline is a lot further back at the temple areas than we initially agreed. It gives the appearance of a receding hairline, which was the #1 thing I said I wanted to get rid of by having a hair transplant.
I did not feel I could argue with him at the time of the hair transplant. However, I now know that it would have been completely possible to put the hairline in the desired position at the temples.
ATTEMPTED RESOLUTION
I contacted the doctor late last year (12 months after the hair transplant) to discuss the results. I provided a lot of photos and videos of the final appearance.
Ultimately, the doctor has admitted that the density on one side is low. However, he has not acknowledged any problem with:
1. The hairline position (because he claims we both agreed on the day - when in reality, I did not feel I had any other choice)
2. The asymmetry (which he claims is normal, even though it doesn't seem to be based on other peoples' results)
To resolve the issue, I have asked for a partial refund of the fee I paid. The doctor has not agreed to this. Instead, he has offered to pay for me to return to his clinic to have a free touch up to fix the density issue.
ISSUES WITH THE DOCTOR'S PROPOSAL
While I certainly appreciate his offer, there are several problems:
1. It is not feasible for me to take time off to fly all the way from New Zealand to Europe and back to have the touch up.
2. The touch up would result in a huge amount of shock loss across one side of my head (the shock loss after the original was absolute hell - I had to wear a hat every day to keep it hidden). I now have a very visible job role where I cannot wear any headwear, and so months of shock loss is not acceptable. I'm basically stuck with these results for now.
3. The offer does not address the hairline position nor asymmetry, which are just as important as the low density issue.
For these reasons, I would just prefer to get a partial refund of the fee as compensation for the poor results and move on. Then perhaps I will get everything fixed at some point in future at a time that suits better.
It seems that a partial refund would also be better for the doctor as well - he would then not have to pay for my travel costs, nor take up a day performing the free touch up, so he could perform a hair transplant on a full fee paying client instead. So it seems to be a win-win.
CURRENT SITUATION
Unfortunately, the doctor has not been receptive to my partial refund proposal.
I have tried to arrange a voice chat with the doctor, so I can understand his concerns about my proposal better and find a suitable resolution. However, he has declined to chat with me, and I can't even get a reply any more when I've tried to solve the problem by email.
He has pretty much become non-responsive to my attempts to resolve the issue since he provided his touch up proposal.
I've been reluctant to post the full details about my experience (which includes other questionable practices by the doctor that I haven't mentioned) and show the photos and videos on forums such as this, because I know this would be extremely damaging to his reputation. If we can resolve the issue appropriately, then I'm happy to keep everything totally private and just move on.
But at the moment, things are not progressing toward a resolution.
INPUT / ADVICE NEEDED
So now I'm looking for input / advice:
1. Given these circumstances do you think my request for a partial refund is reasonable?
2. What actions do you think I should take so we can resolve the issue?
NOTE: Please don't ask who the doctor is, and please don't make any comments with guesses. My focus is on resolving things, and not on dragging someone's name through the mud, so I don't want to reveal his name unless we can't come to an acceptable solution.
Thanks so much for reading and thanks in advance for your perspective
