61 Years Old, SMP Procedure - Los Angeles, CA

As a physician, I usually don’t announce this fact (unless I am asked) because I want to see how I am treated as a “general patient.” As a patient, I evaluate the physician’s technical skills, interpersonal skills, ability to answer my questions in simple, understandable language, and reputation. I went to Dr Pak to have him do SMP to add volume to my thin hair. I am 62 years of age and will not have progression of balding; I also had hair transplants decades ago. I wanted SMP to add some “illusion” of volume but also to cover hypopigmented scars on the back of my head from the old ‘punch graft” approach of previous transplants 30 years ago. I could not be happier with Dr. Pak’s approach and the results. He (and his staff) was superb and did a great job. I was looking for improvement, not perfection and he was very honest and realistic about educating me about the range of what the expected results might be, which I think is challenging for patients where added coverage for existing hair is desired. I also love the fact that he and Dr Rassman are also highly respected by their peers and publish extensively in the scientific literature; I am impressed by a physician whose peers ask him to write a review of methods and techniques in a leading medical journal. I see no "con" of having had this procedure. I did not do any price comparison for two reasons: 1) I am financially fine, and 2) regardless, when going with an elective cosmetic procedure, my goal is to seek improvement and avoid any chance of an adverse (undesirable) outcome - so I only decide on the best as my criterion.

Specifically, I had 3 full sessions of about 7 hours each on 3 separate days. Each session was very comfortable. I chose to relax rather than watch a movie. Because some of my scalp had decreased sensation from prior hair transplants, I didn't feel I needed any local anesthesia while they were doing the tattooing but at some places I required some local injections - no big deal. I live out of town but on the West cost so I just flew in the night before showed up the next day at 7:30 am and took an evening flight back home! Very simple (also I had no discomfort)