Mwamba Bad Angle Repair

[repairmybadangles]

In 2018 I had a horrible botch job by a gynecologist named Shelly Lovitt. IDK WTF I was thinking. I was a lot poorer at the time and was incredibly naive on just how complex and serious a hair transplant is. There were so many bad angles on the hairline and temples. I had my first repair with Dr. Mwamba this June, and I just had my 2nd repair with him last week in Brussels.

This is thread is not meant to tell my whole life story, I just want to give a window into how bad angles are repaired, hopefully this helps someone. In June Mwamba primarily worked on the right side bad angles, and did a bit on the left. For this last surgery, he worked primarily on the left side hairline, but also cleaned up the right side as well

At this post op of this latest surgery, Mwamba did say I will have some bad angles remaining (if they are too close together they cant be extracted in one session), but he honestly and genuinely didn't think the remaining bad angles would really be noticeable.

The great news is he said I could go to a local electrolysis place and they can zap away any remaining bad angles, and their absence shouldn't affect the aesthetic look.

The primary focus talking point of his post op was not the remaining bad angles, but rather the potential density on this left side hairline. He wasn't concerned persay, it was more of a disclaimer, that when he implants in repaired regions, density might be lacking. For example, on virgin hair he may implant 3 grafts in an area, but for an extraction/implant repair he only does 1 graft.

But, he said this exact same disclaimer in June for my right side hairline and that density turned out fine. It also helps that I have very thick hair.

So, if all goes according to plan, density will be satisfactory on the left side hairline, and the last step in my hair transplant journey (God willing ) will be getting electrolysis on a few remaining badly angled grafts.

Below is a diagram of how Mwamba does extractions/implants for bad angles, and pictures showing the left hairline. The black spots are the extracted bad angles.

Feel free to ask my any questions, provide any input or commentary.

 

[repairmybadangles]

@Bigmac I know in our private DM's we have been chatting about how Mwamba's method of repair may be unique, different from other methods of repair, etc.
Based on the diagram, would you still say this is the case, or is this just a "run-of-the-mill" technique that all the elite repair doctors use?

The image is upside down, not sure how to change it.

 

[Bigmac]

I corrcted the image for you. Posting upside down is a sign of you drinking excessively after surgery.
Just pulling your leg.

 

[Bigmac]

@Bigmac I know in our private DM's we have been chatting about how Mwamba's method of repair may be unique, different from other methods of repair, etc.
Based on the diagram, would you still say this is the case, or is this just a "run-of-the-mill" technique that all the elite repair doctors use?

The image is upside down, not sure how to change it.

All the doctors I know and that I have spoken to will punch out grafts, then place them in a different area and let the extraction area heal for whatever time before placing new grafts there.

 

[repairmybadangles]

Posting upside down is a sign of you drinking excessively after surgery.

for how expensive it was I really deserved a whole pharmacy thrown my way haha

All the doctors I know and that I have spoken to will punch out grafts, then place them in a different area and let the extraction area heal for whatever time before placing new grafts there.

so to be very specific, for both the June and last week surgery, on Day 1 Mwamba extracted the bad grafts and placed most of them in my crown (which is/was thinning and needed work regardless). Then on Day 2, I believe he placed brand new donor-area grafts in the newly created holes that were next to the extracted holes.

So when you say "let the extraction area heal for whatever time", I have no clue, but maybe the period between Days 1 and Day 2 is the was enough time needed.

Hope I'm explaining it well enough.

 

[Bigmac]

I`m assuming Dr Shelley Lovett the gynecologist does not specialise in hair restoration. Even though she was trained by Dr Jim Harris, her speciality is gynecology. Once she finished her training, however long it was, who knows if she actually learnt much or put what she learnt into practice.
I`m sorry your result from her was unsatisfactory.
We have chatted extensively on private message about your repair. I really appreciate you sharing your experience/repair surgery as I believe it will help others.
From your diagram Dr Mwamba extracts a mis angled hair by punching it out. He then places this graft to another area.
Then he make an incision in close proximity to the extraction site. Then he places a new graft that was extracted from the donor zone.
Does he make an incision with a custom blade before placing a new graft? Does he use forceps or an implanter pen?

It`s hard to see the quality of the work as your pictures are not that clear. It would be great if you could ask Dr Mwamba to send you the surgery pictures he took so you can add them to this thread. They will show the extraction and incision sites very clearly.

I’m not sure why Dr Mwamba couldn't`extract the few remaining bad angled grafts. Maybe you could ask him and confirm. You could simply pluck them or have electrolysis as suggested. @loui could provide some advice on this procedure.

Hopefully, this second repair will be your last hair transplant that’s allows you to move on and forget about hair.

 

[repairmybadangles]

Thanks BigMac, yes you hit the nail on the head with the Lovitt situation.

Does he make an incision with a custom blade before placing a new graft? Does he use forceps or an implanter pen?

I have no clue. Also Mwamba and the techs are speaking French for much of the surgery, so I was not aware of the very specific details and minute tactics of the surgery.

If it does help at all, he did not have a choi implanter in the first procedure in New Jersey and said it would have come in handy. In Brussels he did have he choi implanter and that he seemed to utilize it alot

I’m not sure why Dr Mwamba couldn't` extract the few remaining ban angled grafts. Maybe you could ask him and confirm.

I am not sure why not either. The cynical part of my imagination can't help but think that he purposefully limits the bad grafts extracted so patients will have further surgeries with him and more $. If he completes a repair in one go its less money for him. I feel like this is irrational thinking though and my imagination running wild.

Mwamba does seem very ethical and nice in person, and thats what others say as well. I just have to assume there is a genuine medical reason he could not extract them.

It`s hard to see the quality of the work as your pictures are not that clear. It would be great if you could ask Dr Mwamba to send you the surgery pictures he took so you can add them to this thread. They will show the extraction sites very clearly.

That's a good idea. I'll ponder that.

You could simply pluck them or have electrolysis as suggested. @loui could provide some advice on this procedure.

And yes I am glad that I could get Mwamba to admit that there will still be a few bad angles remaining after this procedure. I'd rather have a down-to-earth realistic prognosis than him saying he miraculously got all of the bad angles.

I am leaning towards electrolysis mainly because that is the permanent solution. It honestly does make me very very nervous to have some electrolysis lady - who mainly does bikini areas, etc - be zapping on my scalp.

But I asked Mwamba "how hard is electrolysis? Can someone who is not a doctor and no experience with zapping scalp hair, can they still pinpoint the bad angles and precisely get rid of them?" And he said yes. So apparently electrolysis is less challenging that I thought it was, and as of now that is what I am anticipating.

 

[Bigmac]

Thanks BigMac, yes you hit the nail on the head with the Lovitt situation.

I have no clue. Also Mwamba and the techs are speaking French for much of the surgery, so I was not aware of the very specific details and minute tactics of the surgery.

If it does help at all, he did not have a choi implanter in the first procedure in New Jersey and said it would have come in handy. In Brussels he did have he choi implanter and that he seemed to utilize it alot


I am not sure why not either. The cynical part of my imagination can't help but think that he purposefully limits the bad grafts extracted so patients will have further surgeries with him and more $. If he completes a repair in one go its less money for him. I feel like this is irrational thinking though and my imagination running wild.

Mwamba does seem very ethical and nice in person, and thats what others say as well. I just have to assume there is a genuine medical reason he could not extract them.

That's a good idea. I'll ponder that.


And yes I am glad that I could get Mwamba to admit that there will still be a few bad angles remaining after this procedure. I'd rather have a down-to-earth realistic prognosis than him saying he miraculously got all of the bad angles.

I am leaning towards electrolysis mainly because that is the permanent solution. It honestly does make me very very nervous to have some electrolysis lady - who mainly does bikini areas, etc - be zapping on my scalp.

But I asked Mwamba "how hard is electrolysis? Can someone who is not a doctor and no experience with zapping scalp hair, can they still pinpoint the bad angles and precisely get rid of them?" And he said yes. So apparently electrolysis is less challenging that I thought it was, and as of now that is what I am anticipating.

I doubt he purposely wants patients to return for a second surgery. Repairs are usually difficult and result in patients returning for further surgery. I should know, I have had quite a few repairs. Yours were bigger surgeries than mine though.
As long as the person doing the electrolysis is competent with a steady hand you should be fine.
Getting your pictures and surgical data that tells you how many punch outs, new grafts extractions, graft breakdown will al, benefit you.
For now, it’s time to take it easy, let everything heal and see how it grows out.

 

[repairmybadangles]

I doubt he purposely wants patients to return for a second surgery. Repairs are usually difficult and result in patients returning for further surgery. I should know, I have had quite a few repairs. Yours were bigger surgeries than mine though.

yes for sure. For the record for anyone reading this I think Mwamba is extremely ethical and would never purposefully set someone up for more surgeries if he can avoid it. Just my cynical imagination running wild haha

 

[cooty]

Hey Repair, just to say big thanks for posting on the forum...... it will be a great help for some people that have suffered bad angle placements, and I can think of one person in particular who will benefit from your kind gesture of deciding to put this information up for people to see.
Very good of you to share your experience to help others

 

[repairmybadangles]

Hey Repair, just to say big thanks for posting on the forum...... it will be a great help for some people that have suffered bad angle placements, and I can think of one person in particular who will benefit from your kind gesture of deciding to put this information up for people to see.
Very good of you to share your experience to help others

happy to help!

 

[Gasthoerer]

I’m not sure why Dr Mwamba couldn't`extract the few remaining bad angled grafts. Maybe you could ask him and confirm. You could simply pluck them or have electrolysis as suggested. @loui could provide some advice on this procedure.

I am not sure why not either. The cynical part of my imagination can't help but think that he purposefully limits the bad grafts extracted so patients will have further surgeries with him and more $. If he completes a repair in one go its less money for him. I feel like this is irrational thinking though and my imagination running wild.

Mwamba does seem very ethical and nice in person, and thats what others say as well. I just have to assume there is a genuine medical reason he could not extract them.

It is not possible to have a repair which includes removal/replacement of grafts in one session. Check all the other latest fantastic repairs from Feriduni for example. There are several reasons with the most important ones being:

1. 10-20 % of the grafts are in the resting phase and therefore they just cannot be seen and hence not be punched out (same reason the donors recovers after harvesting with FUE).

2. The slits are typically smaller than the round extractions punches. You cannot punch out as closely to each other as you can plant them without risking damage to the skin which leads to scaring.

 

[Bigmac]

The grafts I was asking about were visible to Dr Mwamba. This is why I asked why was he not able to remove them. Of course not all grafts can be removed in one visit when there are so many. The grafts that are resting and the ones that may be transected. When extracting mis-angled grafts a follicular unit could be split resulting in lets say a three hair unit that only one or two follicles are extracted successfully, thus the remaining one will grow out at the incorrect angle.

This is the patients second visit to Dr Mwamba. His first being a surgery over 3 days, this one over 2 days. Will all the mis-angled grafts be sorted? Probably not. Will he need a third visit? Maybe, but hopefully not if they aren’t too obvious and can be camouflaged/managed by the other surrounding hair.

 

[halttheholt]

Do you have pics of your hair when it's grown? Although it seems self explanatory for hairs to be at a "bad" angle, it's kind of hard for me to comprehend.

And this probably is a bad question, but did the esteemed Dr. Shelly Lovitt offer any sort of compensation? Or even apologized for that matter? Probably not, right?

 

[repairmybadangles]

Do you have pics of your hair when it's grown? Although it seems self explanatory for hairs to be at a "bad" angle, it's kind of hard for me to comprehend.

And this probably is a bad question, but did the esteemed Dr. Shelly Lovitt offer any sort of compensation? Or even apologized for that matter? Probably not, right?

No new pics at the moment and honestly I don't have enough energy to take some/post for this thread. But there are numerous threads on the hair forums of bad angles. From a layman's POV I suppose you could say badly angled hair is any hair where its placement makes it look unnatural/looks off. Growing one's hair out longer can significantly alleviate the issue in my case, but its not a fix and some of the bad angles are so visible. Plus no one should be sentenced to a particular hairstyle/hair length in order to hide a bad HT.

My HT was $6k. Also beyond the bad angles, I also had a ton of bad density. Lovitt offered a free 2nd pass. Nothing was done to repair the bad angles, just implanting in the bad density areas. I was still unsatisfied after this, so Lovitt's boss Dr. Harris did a 3rd pass for free. Again, this was not a "repair", but rather implanting in low dense areas.

Keep in mind at this point I was still very naive about HT's, did not realize I needed to repair the bad angles.

So I got 2 free touch ups out of it, but it did not fix the problem at all. It wasn't until later when I became educated that I truly began my repair journey.

 

[halttheholt]

Yeah this whole repair thing can really be tiring. I agree about the hairstyle sentencing but I guess when you go bald you are naturally sentenced to an evasive hairstyle but to spend your hard earned money (I paid something similar for my holt botch) to be sentenced again is beyond imagination.

Okay, so they did attempt to make amends through transplant "cover ups". In hindsight, a refund and additional compensation could’ve been asked for. I feel like having the offending doctor do corrective procedures will only make things worse and thus they aren't actually "free". Heck, they should cover the repair costs.

These subpar doctors prey upon the naïve. I don't know how they live with themselves. They literally have to know that their potential patient/victim is better off seeing another doctor and bank on them not knowing any better long enough to botch them up. Then the patient begins the repair process. You're definitely not the first to suffer bad angles from Dr. Lovitt and sadly won't be the last.

But hopefully Dr. Mwamba will get you to where you want to be.