Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

I responded to a radio commercial advertising Strax Rejuvenation's Hair Replacement Service (Florida). Strax is a very busy, well marketed clinic that specializes in several (many) different forms of cosmetic treatments.  I had a small area on my crown that was thinner than I would like, with my hair being black and scalp white, I had been investigating treatment options available to me.  Prior to visiting Strax, I went to see one of the very best hair replacement specialists in Florida, whom I will not name here to ensure that no one confuses this professional Doctor with what I experienced at Strax Rejuvenation.  I will refer to him as Doctor A. The important point is that I had a complete analysis and detailed photographs prior to my visit to Strax from an objective party and medical specialist in the hair replacement industry, Ie. a before to the Strax"after".

 

I went to Strax Rejuvenation specifically because they advertised a very competitive price on the FUE procedure that I inquired about with Doctor A.  Possibly too good to believe ***

 

Responding to an advertisement on the local radio station,  in April of 2011, I called the offices of Strax Rejuvenation to schedule an appointment for the advertised FUE Hair Transplant Procedure, which was being offered at a reduced "special" rate. An appointment was confirmed with a Dr. Paul Riley.

I met with Dr. Riley for about 25 minutes, when he explained the options for my procedure. He told me that the latest technology was the F.U.E. method (one-by-one, not grafted) and he said they had just gotten the "new" FUE equipment (which appeared to be a microscopic drill, it operates very differently than a plug a leaves much less scarring and a better result if used properly.) We agreed that the FUE method was the best option so that I would achieve my objective while minimizing scarring and damage to donor area. After meeting with Dr. Riley,  i met with a Patient Coordinator with Strax. I was given a formal quotation for FUE Hair Grafts and issued a check for the full amount at that time,  The FUE transplant was scheduled for mid-May, 2011.

 

On that day, I arrived at the place where the surgery was to be performed. After waiting approximately 45 minutes, I was asked to walk from the waiting room to what would be the room where my “procedure” was to take place. According to other experts in the filed, this should have been a sterile environment.  In that room were three individuals at the time, an assistant named Carlos and two women. Once I was in the room, after several moments, Dr. Riley walked into the room.

 

Dr. Riley sat at the table between myself and the window and I heard him say, I can’t work with this. He left the room and did not return for the rest procedure, I have not seen or spoken to him since, he never returned to the room and refused to fill a prescription after the procedure.

As it would turn out, it appeared quite evident to me that no one at Strax was properly trained with the FUE system. After just a few tries at using the FUE method, the assistants and the main person handing my procedure abandoned the FUE methid and began to use a the ancient and very painful "plug" system, which is not the procedure I agreed to. The technicians used a great deal of novacaine to numb my head throughout the procedure.

At the end of an 8 hour procedure, yes 8 hours of total agonizing pain and a procedure that i never signed for, my head had been pernanenty scarred and damaged and was bleeding very heavily and had started to swell severly.  Both assistants  at Strax told me that it was procedure to not allow a patient to drive home after this procedure,  but they told me I could get around it by sending for a cab and just having them drive me around the lot and then I could get into my car a drive home. I took their advise and did just that.

Once I started  driving, my head began to hurt, bad. I became dizzy and barley made it home. Once I arrived I spent a night I will never forget. I called my Mother and told her to call me because I wasnt sure if I was going to need to go to the hospital or if I was going to pass out from the pain.  I actually thought my head my blow up as it was swelling so much. The headache was unbearable.  I can say this was the most painful event I have ever experienced.  The back of my head was swollen very badly. I  would say that my head was swollen 4 to 6 inches larger than normal.

I am concerned that Dr. Paul Riley and Strax Rejuvenation may systematically be substituting the "plug" system for the FUE system or at least that was what happend to me. I don't think I am alone, but maybe.

 

 I have suffered loss of feeling in both the donor area and the area where the plugs were put in. I have permanent scarring and suffered tremendous pain, itching scabbing, etc.  Not surpisingly, I developed a rather serious infection which resulted in major, quarter-sized boil-type lesions on my head.  Dr. Riley refused to fill a prescription for the antibiotic I needed to kill the infection that I contracted in the unsterile procedure/lunch room. I was forced to find a dermatologist who analyzed my infections at a lab. The lab results were: Tinea Versicolor, Pyoderma, Seborrheic Dermatitis and scarring were all noted by the Doctor I went to see. a well-known dermatologist. I never had any of these conditions previously. I was given an injection and medicine to treat the infection. After about a two weeks, the welts and boils went down and then they came back again. After a year it still itches.   

The results of course were not even close to what was promised.  Regardless i did not authorize, sign up for or was ever even asked if Strax could substitute the plug sytem for the FUE I had authorized.

After the surgery, I went back to Dr. A, who told me clearly that the FUE system was not used. He coudl tell by the dimension of the holes from my donor area. He also said that I had major infections and that the plugs had been put in all different directions and some of them were upside down, causing the hair to grow in not out, which caused my head to itch like the dickens, it was almost unbearable.

I find this very, very disturbing. I feel like Dr. Riley should not be allowed to perform hair tranplants surgeries. He never came into the room where the procedure took place, not once over the 8 hour experience. I do not believe anyone at Strax had any formal training on the FUE system i was left to 3 latin speaking people, who were eating rice and beans in the same room where the procedure took place. Even though  he did not participate in my procedure, he IS responsible for what happened and I do not feel is an ethical physician. As far as Strax Rejuvenation Center? I later found out that there had been actually been death(s) at that clinic (or a result of a patient being at that clinic).  

I am planning on making formal complaints with regulatory agencies and the medical board for the unbelievable lack of professionalism, ethics and blatant disregard for my health and basic standards of care.  Before I file, I would like to know if someone else has a horror story about Dr. Paul Riley and/or Strax, or even a good story. Maybe I was just a guinea pig for them and they later learned how to use the FUE system. Regardless, this isn't right and did not feel right. Not trying to be dramatic, but I am glad I am here to be able to tell my story. I have never thought I might die from a procedure such as this, but from the pain that evening, I wasn't sure if I was going to wake up.