Patient Stories and Comments

If you would like to share a bad experience at Bosley Medical or wish to contribute information relevant to this site please send to info@bosleymedicalviolations.com. Your identity will remain strictly confidential.

Bosley has ruined my life

I was slightly thinning in the bangs area up front and as a professional who needs to look good I thought this would greatly enhance my appearance and make my hair easier to style. Bosley said I had excellent donor hair. After the painful and exhausting procedure I left bloodied and feeling like a mess but the hopes of the new growth kept me spirited. A few days after removing the bandage and looking at was MUCH scalp I panicked and called saying I now looked like I had MUCH less hair than I started with. They assured me it was the blood and matting causing this appearance. After 3 months of crying and calling they said my loss was temporary "shock" that would grow back with the transplants and be wonderful. One year later I am bald to a point I need a wig and after examining me they said it was disappointing but sometimes (women's) grow back slower. So now I am waiting 1 1/2 years (going back in March) It is a crock I know the hair i HAD has been murdered and the transplant is no where to be found. It is affecting my self esteem my wanting to go out and my income. I want to sue... but what price do you put on your appearance and ability to shy away from business meetings?? Who can I call?

Don't believe the hype

Bosley holds themselves out to be the hair experts, but most of their credibility is bought and if you do a little research you will know more. 

The best doctors and surgeons operate by referral and don't need to advertise. Their counselor system is a joke, you can go in for a serious medical consultation and get someone trying to give you medical advice who used to sell cars. They (the counselors) know just enough to make them dangerous. The doctor contradicted most of what the counselor said so I was obviously very confused. During my consultation a doctor did make a brief appearance but only stayed to answer a few questions and then whooshed out of the room (like his pants were on fire).

I found your website and wanted to give you a copy of the letter I recently sent to Dr Bosley. They responded with a prescription medication for nerve damage that hasn't helped at all, and they can offer no other help.
Dr Bosley, I had a procedure in your XXX office... I have talked to and seen the XXX office several times since then. I wanted you to be aware of the situation. Since the day of my procedure after the anesthesia wore off, there has been an extreme sensation of tightness and pulling of my scalp originating from the donor area, affecting my whole head and scalp. The problem hasn't let up or gotten better over time, as your employees told me it would. Its been the same since the procedure, and I'm not sure who to turn to or what to do. A doctor in the XXX office advised me that there are some nerves cut in the donor area. I don't know what happened or what the hell they did to my head... There is a definite feeling of physical trauma and injury to my head/scalp. If you can picture your own head and scalp and picture that your scalp is very loose and malleable. Picture taking your hand and grabbing a handful of your scalp on the back of your head, pulling the scalp extremely tight and creating extreme tension in the rest of your head and scalp. Imagine how your face and scalp would feel. Then imagine having that feeling every minute of your life for 8 years. That's a decent description of what I feel. I feel trapped inside my head and scalp, for lack of better words. This is a very, very, debilitating feeling. There is constant tightness and pulling, my head can never relax. So this causes constant stress and my nerves are about shot. My balance and equilibrium is way off, and I have zero sense of well being anymore.  I basically am unable to physically live in this state of being much longer. Its sapped my spirit. I've gotten thru the last 8 yrs on shear will and hope that this will be gone when I wake up some morning. I'm seeking any help you can offer. Thank you.

I am one of those men who fell for Bosleys sales pitch... It was exactly as your web page described. I still have all my receipts and the large drawing that a "medical sales person" by the name of Mark in Seattle used to describe how I would look after the fourth session. The lies continued. I thought if you needed a witness from that time or even if you just needed a witness to help defend the lawsuit against you I would be overjoyed to present myself to Mr. Bosley. I know there is a statute of limitations but if there is any way to join a lawsuit or if there is any legal way to pursue Bosley I would greatly appreciate the help. I just don't think its right that Dr. Bosley can intentionally disfigure someone for profit and than have no recourse about it. While Dr. Bosley lives in pure wealth completely untouchable. Thanks

Thank you. Three years ago I went to Bosley for free consultation. I walked away feeling that they gave me a good analysis, but felt also like the guy I talked to was "salesy". When I asked him if it only took one procedure, he said it could certainly end like that, but that getting the new hair was like a legalized drug, and I would probably want to do more as time went on. Anyway, my hair loss wan't so bad, so I put it off. I have been seriously thinking about going for the procedure in the next few months since I've lost a bit more hair over the last two years, and I just happened to catch the infomercial again... Needless to say you've given me quite an eye opener and everything you had to say seems very consistent with this uneasy feeling I came away with after my first visit... If I ever have someone in the future mention it, I will refer them to your site also. Thank you for this public service.

False Advertising

I was a victim of the Bosley Medical Group, but never did anything about it because I was to embarrassed. I am now getting the courage to find an attorney but I don't know where to look. Do you recommend anyone. I Live in Los Angeles. Please respond even if you cant help me. sincerely, xxxxx

Re: so happy I found this website

I do not know if the medical board could respond to this. Basically, I was promised 95% of the hairs would grow in, the counsler took a misleading photo, when actually only 5% of the hairs grew in the doctor told me it appeared that all of the hairs had grown in because he compared the before and after photo. I know a horrible scam was pulled on me, but I can't prove it. I know I told him a misleading picture was taken and my husband was in the room to hear me tell him that, but there is no way to prove it. Also, as I stated in the original e-mail they worded it to look like I was planning to have more than one hair transplant right after each other when we verbally spoke of me having one years down the road. I am willing to make a complaint, but these people are good at the scam they pull. Also I wouldn't just blame the counsler/salesperson. The doctor was pretty slick in insisting that it had worked. My hairdressers all said they saw almost no hairs growing in, yet this doctor keeps telling me there are lots of hairs growing in everywhere. He said this surgery turned out better than expected. They are all working together. Again, I was really scammed by the best scam artists around. They wouldn't be still in business and making millions if they wern't so good at their scam. As I said earlier, I will give them one week to answer, then I will follow whatever I need to do to try and stop them scamming another. I will let you know-xxxxx

(pt.2)  They aren't saying it didn't grow in as vigorously as it should of. They are saying, not only did it grow in, but it grew in even better than expected! They are saying they had fantastic results with me, but I misunderstood and expected more. They are saying that I got the wrong impression. Do you remember the Emporor's New Clothes where they were telling him his new clothes looked beautiful and he said he couldn't see them. They convinced him he was not only wearing clothes, but the most beautiful clothes in the kingdom, yet he was walking around naked. This is what happened with Bosley and me. I KNOW that only 20 hairs grew in out of 500. They are telling me every hair grew in. He said he sees them growing in all over, then got a mirror and said "can't you see them?". When I said "no" he acted like I was being rediculous to tried and convince me they were everywhere. THE EMPERORS NEW HAIR Thanks

My experience at Bosley

I had a procedure done at the end of January of 2000.  I had what would be considered the early stages of male pattern baldness (some receding of the hairline and some thinning).  I agreed to a procedure of approx. 600 grafts, and supposedly, received about 660 grafts.  Besides the fact that the procedure wasn't pleasant, the results were horrible.  It seems as if almost none of the grafts became hair.  At BOSLEY they would say that you should see some results in 3-6mos., and see the finished product within 9-12mos.  I am fairly certain that no more 100 grafts could have possibly taken (probably more likely in the 15-75 range).  What's worse is that I feel as if I've lost more hair do to the procedure.  As I'm sure you're aware, your head is constantly treated with a saline solution and other various chemicals during the procedure.  Immediately after the procedure your head is bandaged and wrapped up tightly, and for several days it remains this way.  A few days after the procedure, the biggest joke to my younger brother, other than the hideous swelling in the forehead area, was the fact that it looked as though I had less hair than I started with.  I can't blame the staff for having the procedure done, it was totally my decision.  However, it certainly seemed as though they tried to drill into your head (no pun intended), that follow up procedures may be necessary to achieve the desired or optimum results.  Again, I am a young man with most of my hair, so I can imagine how they string someone along with much less hair.  BOSLEY has tried to get me back for a one year follow up visit(and I'm sure more procedures).  I had originally scheduled an appointment to give myself an opportunity to voice my displeasure, but cancelled and decided it wouldn't be worth the effort to get into a disagreement about the results, of which I was most certainly sure of.  Unfortunately,  I didn't do enough research into BOSLEY and his(its) terrible record.  I would be willing to formalize a complaint, but knowing the difficulty in bringing any medical malpractice to the fore, I am yet to do so.  Since my only long-term problem was the fact that the procedure didn't work,  I felt as though the complexities involved in proving that point would be too great.  If you or anyone else needs any additional information I would be more than happy to help.  I would hate to see more people being scammed and more importantly scarred or botched up entirely.  It seems as though the real problem is that the review process and, penalties involved if wrong-doing is found, by the medical boards and state medical licensing agencies are completely sub-standard.  I'm sure most rational people would assume that Dr. Bosley would no longer have any medical license, or the ability to obtain one in the future, just by reading the info in your website.  Again, anything I can do to help someone else, or negatively impact BOSLEY, just let me know.

-----Original Message----- From: xxxxx   Subject: Out of state discipline

I would like to know if any action is being taken against Larry Bosley in Indiana based on action taken in California ,Minnesota,New York,and several other states.I have filed a complaint with the attorney generals office [file no.01-c-706] I also filed a complaint before [file no.96e025] I have a letter dated june 16,1998,from Beth Compton ,which states that Indiana would take action based on out of state discipline.I have made trips to the attorney generals office to have the interviewer not be there...]I was told I had to file another complaint. I have had analyst quit and then nobody knows what is going on.You really need to overhaul the whole system. I would like to be contacted. I can be reached at (number deleted). 

Reply:  Dear Mr. xxxxx, Larry Bosley, MD was placed on Indefinite Probation on January 18, 2001. The terms of the Indiana Board to be governed by the terms and conditions of the California Order. If you would like copies of this order, please request this in writing and we will be happy to provide a copy to you. Angela Smith Jones, J.D. Director Medical Licensing Board 402 W. Washington St., Rm. W041 Indianapolis, IN 46204 ph: (317) 233-4404 fax: (317) 233-4236 email: ajones@hpb.state.in.us 

Bosley Former Patient

I am a licensed physician who used to practice in Ca. and did 2 years of a surgical residency before changing specialties. I had multiple procedures done (and spent over $30,000) at Bosley in Beverly Hills, Ca.. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would never had any procedures done. My results were not as remotely as good as the results that were depicted in the brochures and I have massive scarring in my donor area. The brochures depicted pictures (close-ups) of impeccable hairlines...certainly not the results that I achieved. I had MP reduction (4 times) procedures done that barely filled in at all; the transplanted grafts simply would not take!!! I am left with an abnormal appearing longitudinal scar that I cover with Couvre and Toppix concealers. My "surgeon" never informed me of the significant failure rate!!! In 1997 before leaving Ca., I sent a leter to Dr. Bosley. He called me back in person and I subsequently met with him and my surgeon. He told me that he could significantly ameliorate the frontal hairline and repair the scar left by the MPRs. This was to be done by performing two Z-plasties (scar rearrangements) and subsequent graft placements. I had the (2) Zplasties performed which resulted in some improvement. When I flew out to Ca. in Jan. 1999 for my graft placement, the surgeons told me that they could safely transplant only 200-300 grafts that would not result in any significant improvement. They also stated that the crown area (MPR scar) was "too beat up" to receive grafts.

In my opinion, this assessment was the only honest and realistic assessment I ever received from Bosley. In my opinion, the only reason that I met with Dr. Bosley was to thwart any potential litigation (there is a one year statute in California. I feel that their advertising is extremely misleading at the very least. In my case they were dishonest and and abrogated their moral and ethical responsibilities to inform me of significant risks. Only irrational people would undergo MPR procedures if they were aware of the significant failure rate. In his ads Dr. Bosley uses petty demagoguery to dissuade men from trying other solutions. Believe there is nothing worse than a bad hair transplant. I would urge you to try to seek other solutions to your hair loss and hope that a truely effective, non-surgical solution becomes a reality. For those of you who doubt the voracity of this post, I am a licensed physician in the state of N.H. I am writing this post only in an effort to help others avoid making mistakes. Sincerely, xxxxx@xxx.com

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

At first glance (and from what they lead you to believe) it would seem that the whole process is just moving hair from one place to another. THIS COULD NOT BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH. They are removing entire sections of your scalp. The hairs are just a small part. Where is the common sense in that. I think for most people it is more important to keep your scalp than have more hair. It's a shame when a business operates without complete honesty, but when it happens in the medical field... Bosley takes advantage of the trust we naturally have in doctors to act in our best behalf but they will let you walk head-long into destructive procedures when there is no guarantee there will even be an improvement in your appearance (you will likely find this out after the fact if you have a complaint). To them surgery is just routine but to you its a lifelong decision.

If you would like to share a bad experience at Bosley Medical or wish to contribute information relevant to this site please send to info@bosleymedicalviolations.com. Your identity will remain strictly confidential.