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DISASTROUS HAIR TRANSPLANT EXPERIENCE WITH KSL Hair UK

T

Tenement_city

Valued member
I would like to share my full disastrous FUE hair experience with the hair transplant company KSL which took place in Glasgow, Scotland on 8/1/17.


I attended my first consultation with KSL on October 25, 2016, and was met by consultant Iain Russel who said that he would evaluate my hair. I informed Iain that I would like a hair transplant to improve my hairline and temples and he told me that this would be achievable as I had a great donor area and thick hair that was in good condition.

Iain showed me pictures of celebrities who he said had their procedures completed by KSL and reiterated that as my hair was still in good condition and I was only receding in the temple area, I could achieve the same great results. At this meeting, Iain also mentioned that he could see my crown slightly thinning something I never considered or had an issue with but as a professional in his field and due to his persistence, I decided to take his advice.

When I asked Iain how many grafts were needed to see the results that I wanted, Iain stated KSL Hair didn`t charge by hair graft which is unusual as all other companies that I had researched charged this way. During the consultation, I also asked about the doctor that KSL used however Iain said he couldn`t remember his name as he had not worked for the company long. He said that he would email me the doctor`s information and assured me that I should not worry as it will be the same doctor as the one who carried out procedures on Celtic players Tony Stokes and Leigh Griffiths.

Iain quoted me £8,000 for a FUE procedure and I said I would discuss this with my wife and get back to him with my decision. A few days passed and Iain called me to ask if I had made a decision stating KSL s waiting time for a procedure was getting longer each day and that I should book the hair procedure now to avoid disappointment. I told Iain that I was planning my wedding and my wife wasn`t sure about the cost however he told me KSL has a Pay as You Grow finance scheme which he recommended would make payment more manageable.

After consideration, I agreed to the Pay as You Grow option and Iain said that I would need to pay a £2,500 deposit, which I did, and my procedure was booked for November 12, 2016. Disappointingly, a week after paying my deposit, I read on the KSL website that no deposit was required for the Pay As You Grow option.

On the evening of Sunday, November 10, 2016, I was texted by clinic manager Andrew Dingwall to say that my transplant could no longer go ahead due to an electric fault in the clinic. He was not able to provide an alternative date for the procedure. I was angry as I felt that I should have received a courtesy phone call rather than a text. A few days passed and after I had left a few messages on the clinic s answerphone and texted Andrew that I wasn`t happy with the lack of communication, Andrew got back in contact. He said that he could fit me in for the procedure on January 8, 2017. I agreed to this date as I had paid £2,500 and was keen to have the procedure completed as quickly as possible so that it didn`t conflict with my job.

On the day of my procedure, I was met by Andrew and a doctor. It was my first time meeting Andrew and the doctor and both reiterated what Iain had said in my original consultation - I d have amazing results as my hair was still being in great condition. The doctor then took me into a room and introduced me to the rest of the team that would be working with me an English technician and a man named Paul that I remembered seeing working in reception who was also introduced as a technician.

The doctor began by extracting hair from the back of my head however he would only extract for short periods of time as he would continually leave the room and let the technician carry on with the extractions until he returned to continue himself. This process continued throughout the extraction stage of the procedure until it was finished.

When I asked the technician why the doctor continuously left the room he stated that there was another patient who was also receiving a hair transplant at the same time and that the doctor was treating us simultaneously. This was alarming as I felt that the doctor was distracted and not paying full attention to my procedure and that I had not received the treatment first sold to me in the consultation phase.

After a few hours, the extraction phase was over and the technician and gentleman from reception separated my hairs. The doctor said that his part in the procedure was over and another lady would be implanting the hairs. A lady named Leanne then entered the room, who I also recognised as being on reception, and she began the implantation stage of my procedure. I asked how many grafts she was implanting a few times however she seemed to brush the question away and change the subject every time I asked.

The implant phase was over in just under two hours and at the end of the procedure, Andrew took photographs of my transplant. Overall my transplant started at 12:00 and was complete by 16:30 which is quicker than I had expected. Throughout the day Andrew took pre and post op pictures.

After the procedure, I was booked in for my first KSL laser treatment which I started on January 31, 2017 and my last laser treatment was on November 1. After my fourth laser appointment consultant, Iain then started to mention that I may need a second procedure and not to worry if I didn`t see the desired results. These comments shocked me as it was only a matter of weeks into my hair journey and too early to see the true results from my first procedure according to other companies.

On February 20, 2017, my wife - who works in public relations - highlighted an article by reporter John Ferguson in the Daily Record about bogus hair transplant operators conning young vulnerable men and using sales techniques and sharp practice to take their money using Pay As You Grow schemes. After reading the article we started to research the clinic and came across alarming reviews on hair transplant forums from former clients of KSL giving them very worrying and poor reviews.

I tried to keep the negative reviews at the back of my mind to concentrate on my own personal experience and continued to attend my laser treatment sessions hoping to see an improvement in my hair. Four months after the transplant I contacted Andrew to set a meeting to review how my hair was progressing so far and he stated that he would get someone to contact me but that I should continue with the laser treatment until then. I continued with the laser treatment for a few months without hearing or seeing Andrew. During this time I did receive a phone call from someone who said they worked for KSL Hair offering me personal training sessions which I felt was inappropriate as this had nothing to do with my hair transplant.

On June 28, 2017 I met Iain in the clinic and stressed that I hadn`t had any pictures taken or had any progress review of my hair. He looked at my hair for a matter of seconds and said that he could see that my hair was growing in. When I repeated that I could not see any new hair, he started to talk about a second procedure which alarmed me yet again.

On the seventh month into my hair journey, I noticed a few hairs coming through albeit very thin and growing in patches. There were areas in my hair where I could see there were no grafts inserted. I continued to attend the laser sessions even though I thought it wasn`t helping in any way than on September 15, 2017, while attending laser treatment, I asked a KSL consultant about another review and progress photographs which he said he would get before quickly changing the subject. Weeks passed with no contact from the clinic regarding my review or photographs and then I went on holiday for three weeks.

On return from my holiday, I saw more negative online reviews which seemed to mirror my own experience. A significant number referred to failed hair transplants by KSL Hair and this prompted me to contact Iain again to request a meeting to discuss my hair. Still, I had received no promised review of my progress which I had insisted on and I felt that the few hairs that had been implanted had grown in patchy with visible gaps and in the wrong direction.

When a meeting was arranged Iain explained he was the new manager of the clinic. I asked Iain how many hair grafts had been implanted in my hair however Iain stated he did not know and would have to contact former manager Andrew Dingwall as he had the taken customer files to Manchester where he was the manager of a KSL Hair clinic there. I took the opportunity again to request my pre and post-surgery photographs and notes taken by former manager Andrew on the day of my surgery but these too were in my files and Iain said I should expect a response the next day.

The next day Iain phoned me to say I had 1,400 grafts inserted in my hairline and in temples on the day of my surgery. I was worried as Iain never mentioned any grafts on my crown despite being the one who insisted I should have it done.

That night I went home and did more research on the clinic as something didn`t feel right about the whole experience. I searched the internet and came across a website called baldtruthtalk.com which is a hair forum for people who have had hair transplants or are interested in the procedure. I couldn`t believe my eyes when I saw so many subjects on how poor KSL Hair was as a clinic and how their transplants had ruined people's lives to the point former clients were pursuing legal action. Their experiences reflected my own.

After seeing the bad publicity and even though I had a meeting with Iain a few days ago I contacted Iain straight away asking for another meeting to discuss my hair. He asked if I would like to see the new doctor KSL Hair had employed which I refused as I wanted to speak to him as the manager of the clinic. Yet again I asked him to make sure my pre and post photographs and notes were supplied at the meeting.

On the day of the meeting, I took a witness with me and Iain attended with CEO Simon. Simon Lindsay started the meeting by introducing himself then strangely stated that he didn`t want an argument, wasn`t a con man and hasn`t conned anyone out of money in his life an odd greeting. This was insulting as it insinuated that my witness and I did want an argument or were trying to tarnish his character.

During the meeting, I again asked Iain about my photographs and he said he still could not source them as they were in Manchester with the old manager Andrew. Personally I would have expected the manager of Glasgow s clinic to have access to all client s files and copies to be available and backed up on the computer. I then asked Iain about the grafts that had been implanted and he said that I had 1,300 grafts inserted on my temples and hairline, not 1,400 as formerly mentioned. Iain also said he was unaware that I had any work on my crown.

During the meeting, I said I also wanted to understand how Iain decided how many grafts I needed at my first consultation and how that amounted to the figure of £8,000. I mentioned that while chatting with various clients of KSL Hair- who started with far less hair than me that I had been charged considerably more money, in some cases up to £3,000 more.

Simon refused to talk about any other KSL cases. I asked Simon if he had any complaints from any other KSL Hair clients about poor results and hair growing in the wrong direction and he replied that he had not. I then showed Simon pictures of clients of KSL Hair who were extremely unsatisfied like myself and had shared their experience with me. Simon yet again stated he would not talk about any other client s cases.

Simon admitted at the meeting that my hair transplant result at this stage was not progressing as expected at the 10 month stage different to Iain`s comments - and even offered to book me a second transplant procedure as early as the next week. This is unusual as all the research I have read states you should wait between 12-18 months before having another procedure.

Simon stated he would refund my £2,500 deposit although I have not received anything. It transpires that this refund is dependent on me signing a document from his lawyer which is yet to be sent. I feel as though the gesture of a refund of my deposit is an empty promise from Simon and he has no intention of returning this money which I feel is too low after paying £8,000.

KSL organised my 12 month final review on January 09, 2018, which sadly manager Iain Russel and CEO Simon Lindsay did not attend and it was another KSL consultant who I had no previous dealings with who completed my review. The so called sales consultant was familiar with my case and already knew I wouldn`t be seeking another procedure due to my concerns and dealings with the clinic. The consultant took a few pictures of my hair and said that I would hear from CEO Simon Lindsay in due course to talk about the next stage moving forward with regards to me seeking a full refund which I had discussed recently with Mr Lindsay.

A year on I am still without the pre and post FUE transplant pictures and notes regarding my procedure which I was promised by the clinic manager Iain Russel and CEO Simon Lindsay. I have further researched the team who worked on my hair and I am led to believe that Paul Heaney who was a technician on my procedure has no medical training and started off as a receptionist working in the clinic. Sadly I do not know who the other older English technician was however I feel he was very inexperienced and unprofessional and I have asked KSL UK for his name with no reply. I also found out my doctor was Dr Juan Ruiz from Madrid and he has never held a GMC license to perform hair transplants in the UK and should have nave never been involved in my hair transplant. I would like to make a formal complaint about Dr Ruiz to the General Medical Council Scotland however I do not know if this is possible as he is based in Spain.

It is my opinion that no one working for KSL knows exactly how many hair grafts were implanted into my head and that is why the clinic will not send my procedure notes. During my FUE procedure, it seems as though the team plucked as many hairs as they could in a short period of time and then implanted these hairs again in a short period of time to get me out of the clinic as soon as possible. If it is true that the clinic did implant 1300 grafts into my head, then that equates to £6.15 per graft which is more expensive than some of the best UK clinics charge.

I was offered a refund from Simon Lindsay but he stated that on the condition that I did not put my experience with the clinic on a public forum. I feel as though Simon had no intention of refunding me, instead, he continued to place obstacles in the way such as terms that I had to agree to and accused me of pestering him when I emailed for further updates.

My experience with KSL from start to finish has been nothing but a disaster. I feel as though I have been duped by flashy marketing and convincing sales tactics but received poor workmanship from a company who have not delivered the product or service that I was promised, and I continue to pay a substantial amount for as I m in contract with a finance company as part as this Pay As You Grow scheme sold to me by the clinic. The whole experience and process have been mentally draining and my insecurities about my hair loss are worse than before I had the procedure. I feel I now have hair that has grown in the wrong direction and have patchiness where no transplanted hairs were inserted during the procedure. I have also been left with an indentation on the left side of my head, just above my temple, where hairs were implanted. I cannot believe how unprofessional Simon and his team have been during my experience as a KSL client - the award winning service that they pride themselves on delivering has been non-existent. While in contact with other KSL clients it seems there is an alarming amount of unhappy clients coming forward though feel having a hair transplant is a sensitive issue and clients are embarrassed about putting their experiences out to the public domain which I feel is being leveraged by KSL which I feel is totally wrong and unacceptable for the clinic to do this.


Here are my pictures one day post operative.


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Here I am 13 months post operative.

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bullitnut

bullitnut

4 awesome repairs with SMG
I truly feel for you pal, your experience completely echoes mine from many years ago with the Norton Clinic. Clearly KSL have no clue on how to treat patients or how to perform hair transplants. I do hope you find some sort of resolution to your hair worries.

I also hope that by you posting this it will give others who have been screwed over by them the confidence to share their own experiences too....hopefully then it will prevent others using such a shady company in the future.

On a side note i realize this whole experience will have left you with a sour taste regarding Hair transplants as it did me too back in the day......but please trust me when i say that there are good clinics out there who are performing exceptional work and i hope one day you will have the confidence to trust another HT clinic should you want to sort things out.

I wish you look for the future dude and thanks for sharing it means a lot.

take care BN;)
 
SADbutTRUE

SADbutTRUE

Valued member
Welcome to the forums n thnks for sharing your story, sorry u had such a bad experience , what shape is your donor area in. Try to stay positive , n dont rush into any more surgeries untill you have done plenty of research ,looking at your pics you still have a solid head of hair, for now a different hair style can cover the weak areas, staying on meds propecia n rogaine can slow loss down .N keep what u have, research alot , n when your ready u can plan ur next move. Pullin for you, hang in there
 
P

Pacman

Valued member
The worry of hairloss becomes compulsive and emotional and unfortunately people will prey on this vulnerability I feel for you it is such a horrible experience when the individuals you put your trust in turn the other cheek. Its scant consolation I know but you have a decent solid head of hair. Are there any avenues open to you regarding the finance company? Personally I would be downing tools on further payments considering you are in dispute
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Hi Tenement_City.
Sorry to hear about your situation with this clinic. I`m hearing from many patients who`ve had unsatisfactory results after using them. It reminds me of the bad old days during the 90`s when unscrupulous clinics, untrained doctors were performing surgery on anyone.
I don`t know who these doctors were who did your procedure but the doctor they use I don't rate at all. The celebrity pictures they post, the grafts are planted in uniform rows with multi haired grafts in the hairline. Once grown out, they won`t look natural.
I do hope you get a good repair surgery, there are lots of excellent clinics around.
Thanks for sharing your story here, it will help others make an informed decision.
All the best.
Bm.

 
H

Hassler

Enthusiastic Amateur
Hi Tenement_City,
I feel for you. I'm also in Scotland and did briefly look at KSL (for no other reason than they happened to be 35 miles away) when I had my HT, but was so shocked at what I saw online that I didn't bother picking up the phone to them. 25 years ago, people got little or no results, or just plain bad results because surgeons simply didn't know any better....it really annoys me that today people are still getting bad results because some clinics don't even attempt to follow the protocols necessary to deliver a good outcome for the patient.
On top of the list of grievances you have listed, I would add another - the FUE extractions from the very back of your head look way too high to me, well outside of a long term safe area. I'm not a doctor, I just look at bald guys heads a lot, and you notice how far down thinning can take place at the very back of the head. That's just a schoolboy error by somebody that doesn't know what they are doing.
There is a Facebook website dedicated to exposing KSL for what they are. Check it out and good luck.
 
D

Dazzster26

Valued member
Thanks for posting Brother you have helped a lot of people sharing this , just go forwards now research and research choose the right Clinic and Surgeon all the information you can find on this forum as well as others , I wish you all the best and hope your expectations get met .

Daz
 
renwick999

renwick999

member
http://www.kslhair.com/blog/ksl-clinic-ltd-heading-towards-success
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
J

JS

Valued member
I echo your experience with KSL Hair Clinic. I`ve had two unsuccessful hair transplants with them. They have continually lied to me and ruined my head.
 
A

Alexhale33

member
Hi Dear sorry to know about your surgery butt i think you don't have to loss hope .you had still hairs on your head may be you should change your hairstyle and cover it until you done your research on your head .
 
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