Its a total minefield out there....
I had my first HT around 15 years ago... and yes... the only research I did was ring the first ad I saw in a magazine and see their rep, now I know that he was just a salesman... the advert and the sales rep both promised an answer to my balding misery... (looking back at photos I really had nothing to worry about as my hair loss was very minimal)..... but I guess at the time even this was affecting my life....
I was lucky for around the first 10 years as my existing hair hid the HT.. but soon the plugs started to show and then friends / family / strangers etc started to glance.. my life stopped... we all know what happens... so no need to bore anyone again..
You have all read similar stories time and time again... but the point of the above is this..
I found a forum that showed I could be repaired... and for those who know me know the story of my repair and two years later I am happy.... no more stares and people make eye contact not hairline contact when they talk to me...
When I had my repair I was told that I was lucky as my original HT was bad but no where near the worst Dr Feller had seen... my donor area had the "racing stripe look"... but only if I had my hair cut shorter than half and inch and my hair plugs did not stand out too much due to the fact I have very fine hair... this was down to mother nature and not the UK butcher...
The main reason for this post is to tell you guys that while I was arranging my repair, just out of interest, I called my original HT surgery (The Hair Clinic at John Bell & Croydon, London).... I was surprised they were still up and running as I had thought with the bad work they performed there was no way they could still be in business... but all those years later they were !!!! I told them that I was unhappy, their original HT had left me with a dolls head hairline....... the answer they gave was pathetic.....
They told me that I could be be back in their surgery having one of their "NEW" procedures within a week.. and I would totally natural within 6 months....
YEP... just turn up, sit down and let them cut me about.... and this was without even seeing me for a consult.... just pay the deposit by credit card there and then and my life would be sorted !!!!!
My reply to them contained several swear words and how dare they be still wrecking peoples lives.......ended up with the guy I spoke to hanging up !!!!
So years later these butchers are still destroying peoples lives...
Its sad to think that some poor sod was in their surgery chair only yesterday.... now sitting at home was a bandage around his head and thinking that his problems are all over.... yet in reality they are just beginning....
As I have said before... this forum is not only helpful its a bloody miracle... if BigM, BN, Janna, NN etc etc etc can steer just one person in the right direction and help them avoid these butchers then all their efforts are worth it.... as we know they have already steered many of us in the right direction and for that there are no words that can express the wonderful service they give......
Hats off to you all.... in more ways than one, you are literally life savers.. ¬b`