Times of economic downturn can be an unintended positive for those consumers treading the minefield of the hair loss treatment industry.
It appears that most consumers are presently less inclined to be taken in by the ‘guarantees’ and promises of the commercial hair loss centres, studios or ‘Institutes’.
New clients I see have often conducted comparative research on service and treatment costings. They tell me they are not prepared ‘on faith’ to part with $$$thousands or be locked into a contract for a hair loss program.
These are points I’ve long expounded:
- Why must male consumers pay $$$thousands for treatments that can essentially be purchased at a pharmacy?
- Why is it necessary for commercial hair loss companies to demand a 50% or full ‘up front’ payment before commencing their respective ‘programs’? The consumer has absolutely NO bargaining power once these companies have full payment.
One well known hair loss centre currently airs a television commercial that has a white-coated actor looking as earnest as he’s able whilst informing us:
“Every consultant at…..has successfully completed a medical treatment program…they know what it feels like to lose hair and they’re PROOF …..our regrowth program works”.
Whilst I commend them if they are genuinely taking steps to skill-up the knowledge of their sales consultants – I’d like to ask a few rather obvious questions:
- What is a ‘medical treatment program’ for a sales person who is paid for the numbers of treatment programs he/she sells? I’ve attended two of this company’s ‘free’ consultations in the past, and whilst the consultant admitted to having no formal science qualifications – he insisted they were “trained to the highest standard……”
- In stating their sales consultants “know what it feels like to lose hair and THEY’RE proof….program works” – what does that infer precisely? Those who are SELLING the hair loss treatment programs are hardly going to say the treatment program DOESN’T work are they?
Honest testimonials from actual satisfied clients would give far greater credibility than stating ‘the people who are selling the program say it works…’??
I suppose at least they are saying they want to become more proficient at what they do – which is more than the other mob! They know what they are and appear to have no desire to advance to anything higher.
Back to our ever-so-sincere actor in the white coat…. his previous television commercial always intrigued me: “…..clinical trials PROVE 98% of our patients successfully regrow more hair….”
Question: As the primary treatment for this company’s MALE treatment program is Minoxidil + Retinoic Acid topical solution combined with Finesteride (Proscar) oral tablets – then wouldn’t ALL programs using this treatment regime (including my own where appropriate) have a 98% success rate?
Here is my direct cost comparison for those two primary treatments for eight months:
- Minoxidil 5% + Retinoic Acid 0.025% 100mls X 5 bottles = $775.00
- Finesteride (as Proscar) 30 tablets (taken as ¼ tablet daily) = $212.00
- TOTAL PRODUCT COST = $987.00
If a client has appropriate private health insurance they may claim a rebate on the cost of these two prescription medications. Depending on the client’s health cover and table, they usually receive $30-50 PER ITEM for these medications.
If private health rebate was $30 per item, then total product cost would be reduced to $777.00. If private health rebate was $50 per item, then total product cost would be reduced to $637.00.
I do ask a consultation fee of $180.00 – this includes ALL baseline pathology testing I feel appropriate (blood, gut function (CDSA), Saliva Hormone Profile (SHP) or Functional Liver Detoxification (FLDP) for my clients, and should be added to my total fee structure.
I always have my clients undertake a baseline blood test prior to commencing treatment. I habitually find – even in the fittest looking young males – less than optimal zinc, Vitamin D, Iodine and even iron levels.
When a person is deficient in these vital nutrients you could bathe them in Minoxidil and it would make little difference – they lack the nutritional-metabolic support for their hair to grow.
I’ll leave it to the consumer to decide what represents better treatment value if you have to “act fast” (but no white coat)!!