{"id":2406,"date":"2019-01-07T13:24:25","date_gmt":"2019-01-07T21:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dispatch.barbersurgeonsguild.com\/?p=2406"},"modified":"2023-11-23T03:26:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-23T03:26:41","slug":"bosley-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbersurgeonsguild.com\/es\/magazine\/bosley-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Bosley and BSG: An Overview and Review"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/span>If you haven\u2019t heard of the Bosley Medical Institute, Inc., you\u2019re probably new to the world of hair restoration. Bosley touts themselves as \u201cthe world\u2019s most trusted and experienced hair restoration expert,\u201d and they\u2019ve got a point. L. Lee Bosley, M.D., founded Bosley in 1974, and over the last 40 years, Bosley has completed 300,000+ hair restoration procedures in 60 different countries.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Lee Bosley was so successful that in 2002 he sold his company to Aderans, a Japanese wig manufacturer, for $45 million. In 2013, Aderans purchased Hair Club for Men for $163.5 million, making Bosley\u2019s parent company a powerhouse of hair restoration in Asia and North America.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Corporate acquisitions aside, Bosley’s legacy still stands: They pioneered the hair transplant procedure, taking it mainstream and making it a popular option for balding men and women. So it\u2019s worth delving into an overview and review of their business practices compared with another business that learned a lot from them, Barber Surgeons Guild.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What Does Bosley Offer?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Bosley offers two hair loss treatments: non-surgical and surgical. The non-surgical options include suggesting that patients try the Laser Comb, which the FDA has approved for safety and effectiveness. Bosley professionals also prescribe Propecia, a medication that is supposed to invigorate hair growth. (Note, however, that Propecia has not been approved to be prescribed for women.)<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Now for the surgical options: A Bosley proceduralist can perform a surgical hair restoration (or \u201chair transplantation\u201d) either through the FUT (\u201cfollicular unit transfer\u201d) or FUE (\u201cfollicular unit extraction\u201d) methods. These are bedrock terms in hair restoration, so let\u2019s go over each one.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>FUT: A surgeon performing follicular unit transplantation removes a strip of tissue from the back of the patient\u2019s head \u2014 the zone of the scalp known as the \u201cdonor area.\u201d After that, the surgeon\u2019s team harvests individual follicles and transplants them to the \u201crecipient area\u201d (usually the top or front of the scalp, where the balding has occurred). In most cases, Bosley writes, \u201cFUT is the preferred method because it allows the physicians to fully utilize the scalp area to deliver results consistent with patient expectations.\u201d But they also make clear that some patients report that FUT leaves them in pain because the tissue removed can swell following the procedure. Also, FUT leaves a scar where the tissue has been removed. (That scar is about 1mm in diameter, although it can be quite thicker than that.) While the scar is supposed to fade, patients will have to wear their hair long to hide it.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>FUE: With the FUE method, hair restoration clinicians take each follicular unit from the scalp without removing strips of tissue. Here\u2019s Bosley\u2019s description of FUE: \u201cHair follicles are removed in a random fashion and the result is less density in the donor area that many say is not even noticeable.\u201d That snippet seems to imply that Bosley prefers FUT to FUE. But they do list FUE’s pros: low pain management and zero (or minimal) scarring. (Which, admittedly, is a relief.)<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Here are some other hair restoration services that Bosley offers:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Capillus Laser Caps<\/b><\/h2>\n

Also \u201cFDA-cleared,\u201d the Capillus laser cap is a battery-operated wearable that looks like a baseball cap. The inside is studded with nodes that pulsate with low-level lasers programmed to spur growth in hair follicles. The model is designed to be flexible so that any patient can wear it, and patients only need to put it on for six minutes a day. Clinical studies also found that the Capillus laser does not result in negative side-effects, and participants experienced 11%-189% more hair at the end of a 17-week trial than they had at the beginning of it.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Scalp Micro Pigmentation<\/b><\/h2>\n

<\/b>While most hair restoration options try to spur new hair growth, micro-pigmentation instead draws hair onto your scalp. Bosley employees are \u201cspecially trained\u201d to apply the pigmentation onto a patient\u2019s scalp thousands of times over. The result? A certain pointillism of impressions consistent with the patient\u2019s natural hair color that fills in the thinning patches. Bosley recommends this option for patients who are looking for non-medical and non-surgical solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)<\/b><\/h2>\n

<\/b>Bosley advertises LLLT as \u201cone of the most effective, easy, and safe ways to treat hair loss.\u201d The technology is essentially the same as the Capillus cap, except Bosley clinicians, use a handheld instrument to guide lasers over areas in the head that have suffered hair loss. The laser sends out a wavelength of light that the clinician can adjust to stimulate hair regrowth in the targeted zones.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Bosley Professional Strength Products<\/b><\/h2>\n

<\/b>Think of this option as Bosley\u2019s homegrown system to strengthen their patients\u2019 follicles. A 6-month supply will put you out $449, and they break into these five steps:<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Step 1: A shampoo designed to cleanse toxins that cause hair loss.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Step 2: A volumizing conditioner that makes hair thicker and more robust.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Step 3: A hair regrowth treatment solution (applied twice daily).<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Step 4: A dietary supplement formula.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Step 5: A follicle energizer.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Bosley cautions that you won’t see hair regrowth until 4-6 months after you apply the solutions, and even then you\u2019ll have to keep applying them to see ongoing results.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>The other services that Bosley offers include eyebrow restoration, plus a slew of laser treatments \u2014 TriGen with PRP, Theradome Laser Helmet, and Bosley HairMax Laser Band. All these services have been successful enough to make Bosley a household name in hair restoration.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Bosley Reviews<\/b><\/h2>\n

On their website, Bosley showcases an extensive Before\/After page, replete with from-above shots of their patient\u2019s heads with and without Bosley\u2019s services. In their own words: \u201cWhen you come to Bosley, you can be confident that you are going to get results that look completely natural and are virtually undetectable.\u201d Bosley’s Reviews section, too, seems to bear out that promise, with its pages of 5-star reviews. Here are just a few examples of how Bosley has delivered on customer satisfaction:<\/span>
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\n<\/span>\u201cThe anxiety & anticipation was far worse than the actual procedure. Very glad I did this, but I expect I will truly be happy when the new hair growth becomes permanent.\u201d<\/span>
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\n<\/span><\/i>\u201cThey offer a consultation and it was really helpful on letting me understand which way I need to proceed. I am very thankful for Bosley because 5 months in and I\u2019m starting to have my hair back and feel younger again.\u201d<\/span><\/i>
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\n<\/span><\/i>\u201cEverybody there was absolutely awesome. It was the greatest experience, the whole experience was amazing. My results are amazing! I wish there was more hair in a couple of spots, I would consider going back but can’t afford to do it yet.\u201d<\/span><\/i>
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\n<\/span>While Bosley does share a lone one-star review on its page (\u201cHave absolutely no regard for the customer satisfaction\u201d), it seems like a token tidbit of criticism amid all the 4- and 5-star reviews surrounding it. Other reviews online aren\u2019t quite as glowing. Granted, this one comes from <\/span>Pissed Customer<\/span><\/a>, but it starts with a warning for any prospective Bosley customer: \u201c<\/span>BEWARE!\u201d <\/span><\/i>From there, the tone hardly softens:<\/span><\/p>\n

“I have NEVER experienced so much PAIN. I was told I would not feel anything. \u2026 I was in agonizing pain for the entire procedure and she was not even there. Everyone could hear me and my pain yet they did not give me the pain relief. \u2026 Lastly, she only showed up in the first couple [sic] minutes and last 10 minutes to do very small amount of work. She didn\u2019t even stay in the room. I would give Zer0 stars [sic] if possible. \u2026 Monetary Loss: $5500”<\/span><\/i>
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\n<\/span><\/i>True, that review doesn\u2019t seem all that balanced, and it should be noted that the average Yelp review gives Bosley 3.5 stars. Still, potential customers might be worried to know there are sites titled \u201cBosley Reviews – Is it a Scam or Legit?\u201d, plus an entire website dedicated to hesitations, complaints, and disappointments related to Bosley. Here are just a few choice lines from that website:<\/span>
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\n<\/span><\/i>\u201cDON\u2019T DO IT!!!\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel as though Bosley simple stole $8950 for me.\u201d<\/span><\/i>
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\n<\/span><\/i>\u201cThat means you will basically still be bald after the $7000+ procedure.\u201d<\/span><\/i>
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\n<\/span><\/i>\u201cIf there were an option to give this place ZERO stars I would gladly do it.\u201d<\/span><\/i>
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\n<\/span><\/i>\u201cIf Bosley institute has any decency or integrity, they would give back my money soon!\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One customer describes how the Bosley doctor he met with seemed to try to rush him into the procedure room, didn\u2019t ask what hairline type he wanted, sketched a hasty line across his forehead, and said, \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d The patient insisted that the doctor hear what he wanted to be done before the procedure, but it didn\u2019t matter \u2014 \u201cLong story short \u2026 1-year post op, little to no growth and a HUGE scar on the back of my head.\u201d<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Reading through these reviews, a number of common themes seem to arise:<\/span>
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