Anyone have experience with Belgravia Centre?

[Aznstan]

Hello, does anyone have any experience with the Belgravia HairLoss Centre in London, UK?
I wanted to get some specific blood tests done that was suggested by a Hair Transplant doctor I spoke with, but unfortunately the public General Practitioner won't do it for me because its not covered within their budget system. So he said I should go to the Belgravia Centre.
I am interested in going to them to do blood work for me but I don't want to be pressured into buying any of their products. Has anyone gone to them and have any positive or negative experiences to share?

[8868alex]

Hi Aznstan

I was a customer of theirs for ten years. Luckily for me I have had gradual rather than aggressive loss so I managed to move forward without much difficulty. In short, I visited them when I was 19 (and about a Norwood 2.5). I was put on varying forms of Minoxidil and ended up paying £600 a year for that alone. Having felt uncertain about Propecia, I did not start using it until three years ago. The photos taken to track my progress were always under differant conditions (differant lighting, hair length, differant camera, etc). The biggest warning sign came when I had a tracking photo taken by them when my hair was soaking wet (in retropsect, I remember them not giving me time to even my pat my hair after a Laser treatment / wash). They then compared this with the previous photo to prompt me to buy more services. Secondly, when I raised the idea of going on Propecia (a very difficult and stressful time for me) they completely misinformed me by saying that many of their clients use Propecia for a year then switch back to Minoxidil. Do your research and make sense of that if you can!...

Suffice to say, I switched to the boots hair retention program, then finally to a private prescription by Dr Singh on the advice of Spex (look him up, even Spencer endorses him. Belgravia offer legitimate treatment, but make no mistake, they are focused on the hard sell!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzeDACwx9LQ

The above is poor quality, but please listen. Spex is fast becoming the Spencer Kobren of the Uk! If you need help relating to anything related to hair loss I can personally say that this guy has given me direct email advice on numerous occasions FOR FREE

Hope this info helps.

[Aznstan]

Thanks so much for the detailed reply and link! I did have reservations when I was looking at the Belgravia before and after pictures and noticed they were using different lighting between the comparisons.

I don't want to go on treatment again until I've gotten blood work done so I can have a basis to see if any hormone changes do occur from that point on. Do you have any suggestions? The public GP will not do it. Would Belgravia do just the blood work for me? Are there any other options for me for getting blood testing?

Thanks again for the reply.

[8868alex]

Hi

I would contact Spex, no doubt he could advise you and possibly suggest a doctor who could assist with your blood work. If you type in Spex hairloss into Google, you should get to his site and email details. I appreciate your concerns with regards to the medication. I debated whether or not to use Propecia for nearly ten years. When you refer to hormone changes what specifically is your concern?

[8868alex]

My Hairloss -

Glad that you have had a good experience. With respect, there are other issues that need to be looked at. Gayzen was the person I spoke ti about Propecia and she completely misinformed me and actually did give me the hard sell (Buy a years medication - get a free Lasercomb, etc). She also told me that many patients only use Propecia for a year and then switch back to Minoxidil. In my ten years with them I never once saw a Doctor. If you go on their site, the Bio for their Doctor (Elena) has never been specificed. Trichologists are not doctors and are often unqualified to adminster complex medical advice. Also the pricing - £600 a year for Minoxidil and £600 for Propecia? both are exorbitant. All these are facts. Their products work but they are overpriced and underqualified!

[GreatSage]

What treatments do they do? Propecia and Minox you could get on yourself for cheaper.

[8868alex]

Exactly - Both of the above. They do offer complimentary Laser therapy and often give a Hairmax Lasercomb with a year's payment of medication. The medications work, but as you suggest it is all over priced. I have wasted thousands on their products due to overpricing during the last ten years.

[PaulC]

I visited the centre a couple of years ago and was not overly impressed. After a short diagnosis with a trichologist I was whisked off to a sales adviser who recommended products to the value of about £750 for the year with an option to buy in three instalments. I can't recall exactly if they recommended proprocia or minox or both.

A few things annoyed me. I did not have time to catch my breath whilst being transferred from the tricho to the sales women. Fortunately I had already taken the decision not to make any purchases on my first visit but I am sure that they catch a few people who are still in shock after their worst fears have been formally diagnosed.

Most annoyingly, despite the fact that we had always communicated by email they saw fit to send a duplicate copy of their diagnosis to my home address with their logo splattered all over the envelope.

On a more positive note, clearly it is a busy place so they must be helping a lot of people and I guess they provide welcome support to many of their clients and they don’t sell snake oil.

But in reality, beyond an initial diagnosis which you probably know already or some new information concerning your scalp condition I wonder what are these places going to offer that you can’t source yourself once you have made up your mind.

[8868alex]

Paul -

I think you hit the nail on the head. The products are largely bona fide but that is used to cover a multitude of sins. In the States, there are over 50 IAHRS doctors to consult on such issues. In the UK we have 1 - Bessam Farjo

Incidentally - He may be a good person to speak to about getting blood work done .

[matlondon]

Originally Posted by Aznstan

Hello, does anyone have any experience with the Belgravia HairLoss Centre in London, UK?
I wanted to get some specific blood tests done that was suggested by a Hair Transplant doctor I spoke with, but unfortunately the public General Practitioner won't do it for me because its not covered within their budget system. So he said I should go to the Belgravia Centre.
I am interested in going to them to do blood work for me but I don't want to be pressured into buying any of their products. Has anyone gone to them and have any positive or negative experiences to share?

Waste if time, they are only interested in money.