Conflicting advice from Dr Ball and Dr Reddy

[Guest!]

Unless youve paid a deposit you cant live with losing (or cant get back) then it's best to do a little more research and feel comfortable with the clinic youve decided on. You should at least be aware of a clinic's results, what type of work they produce and what a worst case scenario looks like. Aside from Wayne Rooney I dont think ive ever seen a patient result from Harley Street Hair Clinic (although admittedly I have never made any effort to look at them).

I really like Reddy's hairline designs, although I saw a recent result here where there were a few multis in the hairline. As you are in the UK and close to Belgium id also strongly recommend consulting with both Feriduni and Bisanga if possible.

I also believe Salazar was responding earlier to OP Craigones in that post who only has a small bald spot on his crown.

 

[Salazar]

Hi LaurieH.

As Qui Bono pointed out, I was replying to craigjones1982. However, I took a look at your photos, and I think that your hair is also looking pretty good. You've lost some ground at the temples, but if the hairline is sufficiently low -- which I'd say yours is -- then you can pull it off. Maybe it's the styling (which you mentioned), or the fact that you have light hair and fair skin (which minimizes the contrast), but your crown doesn't look too bad either.

I’m currently booked in with Dr Vida at the Harley street hair clinic but have my concerns as I can’t find any reviews on him as a surgeon.

I'm unfamiliar with Dr Vida, so I want neither to encourage nor dissuade you, but I thought that you might like to know that the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS), which only recommends 4 surgeons in the UK, endorses him. Now whether you put much stock in that is entirely your business. I wished only to let you know. I think your best bet is to contact the clinic, express your concerns, and ask if they can provide you with photographs showing Dr Vida's work or, better yet, even arrange for you to speak to a former patient. All the best.

 

[LH1992]

Hi LaurieH.

As Qui Bono pointed out, I was replying to craigjones1982. However, I took a look at your photos, and I think that your hair is also looking pretty good. You've lost some ground at the temples, but if the hairline is sufficiently low -- which I'd say yours is -- then you can pull it off. Maybe it's the styling (which you mentioned), or the fact that you have light hair and fair skin (which minimizes the contrast), but your crown doesn't look too bad either.


I'm unfamiliar with Dr Vida, so I want neither to encourage nor dissuade you, but I thought that you might like to know that the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS), which only recommends 4 surgeons in the UK, endorses him. Now whether you put much stock in that is entirely your business. I wished only to let you know. I think your best bet is to contact the clinic, express your concerns, and ask if they can provide you with photographs showing Dr Vida's work or, better yet, even arrange for you to speak to a former patient. All the best.

Hi Salazar,

Thanks for your response.

admittedly I’ve always come away feeling reassured after my consultation with the Harley Street Hair Clinic however, I have seen other people post on this forum about how they also found a lack of information on Dr Vida when doing a search which of course then cast some doubt in my mind.

I was aware he was registered with (IAHRS). I came across an article by Spencer Stevenson who is globally recognized as a leading hair loss and hair transplant mentor and works with various surgeons in the industry such as Dr Bicer, Dr Bisanga and various other well know surgeons.

I did email Spencer directly regarding my reservations about the HS hair clinic after having conflicting information from my consultation with Dr Reddy to which I did receive a reply.

It came to light that Spencer does in fact work alongside the Harley Street Hair Clinic and receives compensation for doing so and has actually had surgery there himself.

I think all of this has made it very difficult for me to know if I’m making the right decision or not.

Money doesn’t really factor into my decision as I want it to be right but I also don’t want to think I’m paying an extra 5k for no reason.

I think my previous images may have also been a little misleading given my hair was styled to cover my loss. The image below give you a better indication of how bad my temple recession is.

Thanks again for your advice so far.

 

[Salazar]

It came to light that Spencer does in fact work alongside the Harley Street Hair Clinic and receives compensation for doing so

That may be true. But I also don't think that he would associate his name with a clinic if he was unhappy with their results.

all of this has made it very difficult for me to know if I’m making the right decision or not.

I think that you need to contact the clinic, explain to them your concerns, and ask if there is anything that they can do to reassure you. If they're genuine, they should be happy to do so. All the best.

 

[Salazar]

P.S. I meant so say that if you contact the clinic, please update to let us know how you got on. I hope that they're able to address your doubts. All the best.

 

[Salazar]

Hey LaurieH. Did you have any luck in contacting the clinic?

 

[LH1992]

Hi Salazar,
I have decided to book in with Dr Reddy for the 2 day option. It’s put my mind at rest as I couldn’t settle with my original decision and just didn’t feel comfortable moving forward with the HS Hair Clinic.

I do believe they’re a reputable clinic and have been around for a long time however, the fact that Dr Reddy is prepared to restore my crown region and other clinics wouldn’t has played major part in me changing my mind.


Ideally if I can possibly avoid having to have surgery again down the line it makes sense to get it all done in one session whilst continuing to take finasteride.

My surgery is booked for the 19th/20th of September so I will try and document my journey.

 

[Salazar]

It’s put my mind at rest

That's the most important thing. I'm glad you're now at peace. Just out of curiosity, did you have to forfeit your deposit? (You don't have to answer me if you don't want to.)

My surgery is booked for the 19th/20th of September so I will try and document my journey.

I wish you the best of luck. I'm sure you're in a safe pair of hands. I look forward to seeing your result. All the best.

 

[Salazar]

Dr Reddy took a different view - that a transplant was possible and can help, and that his technique is subtle enough to avoid endangering good hair.

I'm curious about this too. I've noticed a few cases were Dr Reddy has being willing to operate on the crown while other clinics have considered it too risky. Is it purely a judgement call or is there something unique about his technique?

 

[LH1992]

I'm curious about this too. I've noticed a few cases were Dr Reddy has being willing to operate on the crown while other clinics have considered it too risky. Is it purely a judgement call or is there something unique about his technique?

I asked the question and he called me on FaceTime to have a discussion about it. I was told that he carefully analyses the gaps in that particular area with a microscope to establish where old follicles used to sit and will implant into those areas only.

He didn’t seem concerned at all with tackling the loss in my crown.

 

[Salazar]

I was told that he carefully analyses the gaps in that particular area with a microscope to establish where old follicles used to sit and will implant into those areas only.

That's interesting to know. Thanks for the info.

But it's tough getting conflicting advice and leaves me uncertain about how to move forwards.

Hi Craig. Did you decide what to do?