Yes, this is an extremely long review but is truthful AND detailed as I want to make sure no one makes the same mistake I did. I went to Dr. Pak on December 17th, 2022 for my first FUT hair transplant. I had a consultation prior and we both decided on 1000 hair grafts, which at $6 dollars a hair= $6000. At the time, they were offering a 10%discount so I got the procedure for $5400. I should mention that I am a younger female and was mostly concerned about the top, very front middle part of my head where I part my hair. When I met Dr. Pak at the consultation he did seem like he had a good bedside manner and that I was in good hands... It wasn't til after he received his payment that I would learn that he was only concerned about money.
From the start I knew I had made the wrong decision. I was given versed to sleep and I was NOT MARKED on where I wanted the hair to be transplanted to before he started the surgery. Even though there was a WHITE SURGERY MARKER sitting to the left of me, It was not used, and I was extremely upset when I woke up. I am an Aesthetic RN, there is absolutely a reason WHY you MARK a patient before surgery, it's to make sure that you and the patient are both on the same page and the patient is happy with the results. I knew it was going to be unhappy because I could tell that they didn't focus on the area I was concerned in the first place. SO I did make a fuss and Dr. Pak came into the room to calm me down. (YES, that's right he leaves the room as it's his hair "technician" that does the actual transplant, he only pokes the holes) Dr Pak reassured me that if i was unhappy with the results, there have been people that have come in for a couple of hairs here and there for no big deal. I SPECIFICALLY remember this because he said for certain "particular patients" (meaning picky patients) could come back for couple of extra grafts and it wouldn't be a big charge. I was immediately unhappy because it was not focused on the area I was concerned about, I knew that from the MOMENT I woke up. I am the first to admit I am PARTICULAR, but I DID just pay thousands of dollars for a surgery, so yes I expect it to be done well, THE FIRST TIME.
BUT I trusted the DR. and thought that he knew best. I waited a whole 9 MONTHS before I EVEN MENTIONED my unhappiness again. I really gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Why am I so unhappy? Because there is a distinct bald spot as big as a thumb pad right in the middle front of my forehead. This is the PRECISE SPOT I was concerned about in the first place. This precise spot looks as though it DID NOT receive ANY GRAFTS. It's very noticeable to me, and it bugs me so much. I know it may not be a big deal to some, but it is to me. ESPECIALLY since I paid thousands of dollars for it to be fixed, ESPECIALLY since that was THE PRECISE area I was concerned about.
September 8th 2023, 9 months after my initial FUT transfer I had the consult with DR. PAK and he was the one that suggested a THUMB PAD size transfer. I was on board, I told him i'm thinking like 50hairs, he agreed, just enough to fit this area that REALLY BOTHERS me. He agreed and said that it could be 50 hairs, less than and hour, and I wouldn't even need the versed medication. I was on board with it all....BUT THEN COMES THE PAYMENT PART....
Because it was such a small surgery the doctor said it was no problem to fit me into a day where there was already another patient. I was game, I knew it would be less than an hour so it should be easy. His assitant comes back from chatting with him and says it's no problem and SHE THEN SAYS, "normally we don't CHARGE ANYTHING LESS than $3500, but for YOU we would ONLY CHARGE $1000." HA.
SHE then proceeds to tell me that "I was getting a deal"... UM WHAT?! You think I'm paying YOU $1000 DOLLARS to FIX WHAT YOU DIDN'T DO CORRECTLY in the first place. She proceeds to say the, "MINIMUM they charge is $1000 DOLLARS...."
She tries to explain that they were "NOT making a profit" and THAT $1000 dollars would ONLY BE to cover the doctor and his employee charge. REMEMBER this is for less than an hour of his time, while he's already at work for another patient. MEANWHILE, She JUST got done telling me they would fit me into a day there was already surgery and everyone was already there... BUT then proceeds to tell me that they would have to bring in staff and that would just cover cost. lol WHAT? GET YOUR STORY STRAIGHT. I was PISSED.
I was shocked by the lack of Compassion, Empathy and the outright MONEY HUNGRY AUDACITY. ON Dr. Paks website It states $6/hair for FUT and $8/hair for FUE. I wanted to do FUE this time because I didn't want the horrible cut. So I was willing to PAY $8 X 50 HAIRS= $450. I was willing to pay $450 to fix THEIR mistake. BUT to say to a patient that they were "GIVING ME A DEAL" by charging $1000 was unbelievable. Honestly this could have been handled SO MUCH better, but the MONEY hungry office only cared about ONE THING. read more