24 month + update
Im not sure where where to start. Quite a lot to say and I’ll try and keep to the point. Overall, I’m really unsatisfied, not just with the result but also how I’ve been treated.
I’m going to give a full overview. I’m neither going to minimise or exaggerate my experience and keep it fact for fact as much as possible.
After years of research, I had a consultation following seeing Luke’s story on Lad Bible and the repair following poor surgery in Turkey. Dr Arshad was very personable in my consultation, his credentials and reputation appeared positive and I saw a lot of good results from his clinic. I didn’t feel pressured as I had done with some other clinics and it just felt like the right decision to go with them.
The day of surgery, I sensed a few things that didn’t feel right. Firstly, one of the technicians did not seem confident, and I asked Dr Arshad and Sommiya if they were a trainee - I was told they were not a trainee, but I still suspected they were. Secondly, I was informed during my consultation that Dr Arshad would do the majority of the surgery, including extractions and implantations - this did not happen. Dr Arshad harvested the grafts and did the punches for them to be extracted and implanted. I know that technicians are needed - surgeries are long and time consuming, but Dr Arshad left the room for long periods and occasionally came in to check. No concerns were identified by him. I was informed I had “beautiful grafts”, that I would get a dense result, and I could wear my hair at a 2 and maybe even a 1.5 which no scars visible.
Important to note before my head was shaved, my donor was patchy from cutting my own hair during lockdown. Once my head was shaved it was confirmed my donor was excellent and no concerns about harvesting - (the clinic would later down the line use this as an excise for scarring, claiming my donor was average and forgetting they confirmed it was strong after my head was shaved).
The punches in the donor area seemed that they were being done quickly (1-2 seconds each punch), I’m not sure if this is standard or not but I expected it to be done slower, it just felt rather rushed. When Dr Arshad left the room initially; I had anxiety, as I remember discussing with him in my consultation how a surgeon in Turkey Dr Tayfun, would not do much of the surgery and leave the room to allow his technicians to perform most of it, (I had 2 friends who had surgery with Tayfun and their results were not good). Dr Arshad was clear with me he would not do this, but he didn’t do the extractions or implantations as promised. I didn’t say anything at the time as Id already had incisions done and just thought it would be ok. I left that day thinking the clinic have had brilliant results so everything should be fine and not to worry.
The following 3/4 months, I asked for my pre and post op pictures. It had taken me asking a few times, and what I received initially were only pre-op head shaved. These pictures were taken from somebody using a smartphone to take pictures of the photos on a laptop screen (not the originals and you could see the reflection on the laptop screen from somebody taking them). This might seem nit picky, but spending thousands of pounds you expect clear original pictures sent. I then asked for pre and post op original photos. I had asked for immediate photos taken in the surgery room but was told the clinic have lost them.
I hadn’t seen much growth and eventually the clinic booked me in for a review on month 7. Dr Arshad shared my concerns and said it would be 50/50 where I get a decent yield. He offered to do a repair if the transplant fails. I came out feeling taken care and supported. I was also informed to start using minoxidil.
Following using minoxidil, I did start to see further growth, I also let my hair grow longer. What I didn’t realise at the time, was the minoxidil made my hair appear fuller than without, similar to a style product - I’ve realised this later down the line.
Although I saw some growth, it wasn’t yield I was satisfied with and I was also concerned about donor scarring. I updated my thread pretty much each month about this and I attended a 12 month update. I was informed that my thread upsets Sommiya and if I have concerns with growth, to go to them directly. I did go to Sommiya directly on some occasions, but was just told to wait, until month 10/11/12 etc. I didn’t feel my concerns were heard and rightly so was looking for advice on the forum regarding views of others.
On my 12 month update, I was informed by the clinic they were happy to offer a “top up”, to offer oral minoxidil, PRP, donor restocking to fill in the scaring (they even offered to add grafts in a historical scar I have). I was also told if donor restocking does not work, they’d offer SMP. Dr Arshad said he felt I was being reasonable. I was really pleased with them offering this, I felt they’d gone above and beyond. Important to note that on 12 month update picture they clinic had taken, Dr Arshad carefully combs my hair to cover the recession. Looking at a glance of these pictures, it appears my hair is full and a complete transition - however, my crown is combed forward to cover diffuse thinning, and my temples are brushed to each side to cover the recession. This is not giving a true reflection of the state of loss/thinness. In contrast, my pre op photos my hair was pushed up and to the side to show recession and thinning.
We decided to wait 18 months with giving the none surgical treatments a go. If anything, I felt bad with the clinic going above and beyond costing them, when I shouldn’t have felt this way.
Between month 12 and 18, was when we started to see a pattern of poor results from the clinic being posted by other forum users, I sent the clinic an email offering advice for a possible solution, which included setting up an exclusive video conference with those who’ve had poor results, to address the continual postings of poor results and offer us all some transparency. I also raised concerns about the care quality commission report with the clinic using contractors and employing staff without firstly checking references. The video conference call was refused and I was informed that people posting are fake accounts from competitors. The odd thing here is, the accounts I’ve seen posting about poor results have been genuine patients. Sommiya also sent me my 12 month update picture as she always does, (the one with my hair combed carefully into position, to try to demonstrate my result being good).
Around this period, I posted a 13 month update, and a reputable surgeon posted a response stating my hair should have progressed more, (you can check this on my thread). I whatsapped Sommiya about to ask her opinion and she was very short with me. She was completely defensive. This was the one of the first occasions I felt her passive aggressiveness and abrupt attitude.
Following this, I started to get mixed messages on treatment options. During follow up visits, Dr Arshad started to suggest not doing the top and focusing on my temples. In contrast during a video call, Sommiya said they could do the top and I’d need 300 grafts. I’d then soon get communication back saying they’ve spoken and believe I don’t need the top doing (they obviously were not communicating with each other).
I also need to point out that there were some days that they seemed to forget I had a follow up visit booked in, and they’d ask me to come in at a different time that day, which I wasn’t able to do. I lost holidays doing this, and time. No apology was ever given.
When I went for my 18 month update, all the offers were changed. I was told that they were not going to do donor restocking, not SMP, and were only going to offer doing the temples. They gave reasons that they were satisfied enough with my crown, that I’ll have further scarring if I get a top up and they’re aware I’m conscious about scarring, and I’ll have shock loss. They said if I wanted the top done it would be charged. I asked how many grafts were needed and they said around 1000 on top, which isn’t a small number. This is actually the number they said it would need the first time. I told Dr Arshad I wasn’t expecting perfection, his response was that I was expecting perfection. I did start to question myself and asked myself if I am being unreasonable. I Just felt massively deflated. I’d asked for my final PRP, Dr Arshad was busy so Sommiya offered to do this. She had taken my blood and injected the plasma. On reflection, I’m not even sure if she’s qualified to do this?
I then updated my thread with a series of pre and post op photos, not seeing a huge difference, asking peoples opinions. I also messaged Sommiya - with the hope they’d reconsider doing the top as part of my top up (repair). Sommiya spoke to me in a really poor manner - passive aggressively, abrupt and what felt like bullying. Sommiya said my thread has caused significant damage to the clinics reputation, that I’ve not been a good advocate for the clinic and she alleged I’m just wanting everyone on the forum to agree with me. She also claims to have spent hours “counselling” me. I wasn’t aware she had a counselling qualification and I’ve had around 3 phone calls with her which haven’t lasted hours. Sommiya again sent me the 12 month update pictures where my hair Id combed carefully to cover recession, and told me she can’t understand why I’m not happy with my result. She told me to go and get a 2nd opinion and that I was no longer able to whatspp the clinic. I was never rude and politely challenged what I was being told.
I did go and get a 2nd opinion from a highly reputable surgeon in person (highly regarded in the industry and by the clinic themselves). The surgeons opinion was my donor has been over harvested (although not the worst they d seen) and my result is poor. With this information, I felt it was important to raise it with the clinic, but firstly wanted to see my health records.
I requested my health records, including all pictures they’ve taken, my Norwood state, graft count left, offers made, case notes and a full chronology. I was told on the 23rd March they would be sent in 30 workings days. 30 working days had well passed and I didn’t receive anything, I again emailed them, but my records were not sent until after the 7th June, coming up to 3 months after asking. I was told a staff member was on leave and this was why they were late. You’d expect them to have admin staff covering for these duties.
Unfortunately, the records don’t appear full or accurate. Firstly, the majority of pictures sent were pictures I have taken myself and sent to the clinic? There was no current Norwood assessment, no current graft count, no case notes, no info on offers made and retracted, and also informs me stating I was happy. I never said I was fully happy with my result; I have have mentioned being happy with progress since month 7, but never satisfied.
On the 13th July, I raised the concerns of records not being full, as well concerns with my overall experience. I didn’t hear anything, so I sent a further email on the 22nd July asking if anybody has read my email. I didn’t get a response until the 25th apologising and saying Sommiya was on leave and would respond when she returns. As I don’t feel Sommiya has treated me fairly, It would feel a conflict of interest to complain about her treatment of me, and she deal with that complaint. I then sent an email the next day expressing I want Dr Arshad to deal with my concern and not Sommiya. I was told Dr Arshad was also on leave and would get back to me when he returns after the 15th August (over 2 weeks later). Oddly, I’d seen new patients post on the forum about having surgeries performed by Dr Arshad on the days they claimed he was on leave, so it seemed a complete dishonesty.
On the 16th August, I still hadn’t heard so had I raised this in a further email, advising Id be looking to escalate further, and was then abruptly emailed back by Sommiya later that day addressing the points I raised regarding my concerns in the email I had sent. As always, Sommiya had attached my 12 month update where my hair is combed carefully to cover the recession. The 2nd opinion from the reputable surgeon was disregarded and was deemed as “unethical” by Sommiya. My concerns with her behaviours were not accepted. I’d put in my prior email of concerns that the clinic have caused me significant stress, and her response was to go to my GP.
Sommiya also claimed the clinic spent 80 hours of follow up after care and referenced the amount this has cost them. She also stated my records were sent in full to a high standard. There was no integrity, no accountability and just completely not acknowledging their mistakes and the impact it’s had on me.
I don’t want to sound morbid, but in recent years, I lost my dad. Everything began to spiral, my self confidence, etc. Getting this procedure done was part of me taking control and trying create happiness, moving forward. I can’t begin to describe how I feel with what the clinic have done and how I’ve been treated. I’ve only tried to be fair and balanced on my thread, and if I’m honest, I probably diluted how I was feeling initially out of fear that the clinic would not offer further treatment. But my own ethics couldn’t allow me to act as though it’s all been great. I felt not just for myself but other people on the forum, it’s important they’re able to read a genuine account of someones experience to make the best decision for themselves.
In relation to the poor results we’ve seen, I’ve read and have screen shot the moderator of another forum that recommends them, claiming Dr Arshad had found what the issue was with the pattern of poor results, and has made changes to rectify this (something along those lines). Why has the clinic been open with a moderator of another forum in private, but hasn’t been open with me or what it seems many others because nobody seems to know what the issue was and what changes have been made?
I finally want to say, to the people that are continuing to defend the clinic, despite whether you’ve had a good result, really consider the impact you’re having. Lives are and have been significantly impacted by the clinic and poor results. Just because you may have a good result, it doesn’t mean you can’t share peoples concerns and call out poor work. The forum is a platform to call out poor work where it’s done, but this has gone way beyond the expected isolated cases (2%) of when repairs are required. More the reason to stop defending the clinic at any given point.
To the guys that have been affected and are struggling, I am really sorry. I’m happy to offer advice and be of any help I can. My updated pictures are attached.
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