Medical tourism in Turkey has been on the rise in the past few years, with thousands of patients from all over the world visiting the country every week. While medical procedures are relatively sought after, it’s the cosmetic surgery that attracts such high numbers of visitors.
And one cosmetic surgery that takes the cake as the most popular one is hair transplant.
Over 50% of men and women globally suffer from androgenic alopecia – the most common form of hair loss – and countless others experience hair loss due to other medical conditions and diseases, medical treatments, and injury.
As thinning hair and hair loss can impact a person’s overall quality of life, it’s not surprising that many people opt to have a transplant in Turkey. The treatment is a permanent solution, and the final result of this procedure is natural hair appearance.
With this in mind, let’s see why traveling to Turkey for hair loss is such a popular choice, and take a closer look at what a hair transplant entails.
The Rising Popularity of Hair Transplant Surgery in Turkey
It’s expected that the global hair transplant market will reach over $30 billion by the end of 2025. In short, what this means is that the demand for the procedure is at an all-time high. And subsequently, there’s a rising number of clinics that offer it.
So, since there’s an abundance of institutions across the world that offer surgical solutions to hair loss, why would patients want to travel abroad, and more specifically – travel to Turkey for treatment?
The answer’s simple – it’s more affordable.
Hair transplant in the UK can cost anywhere up to £30,000. In the US, it’s between $4,000 and $15,000, and since it’s a cosmetic procedure, insurance doesn’t cover it.
In Turkey, that same procedure would cost around $2,000, so it makes sense that the low price became a determining factor for patients.
Of course, the lower price doesn’t mean lower quality. Turkey is home to renowned, internationally-recognized surgeons and experts that provide hair transplants of the highest quality. The lower price is simply attributed to the lower costs of living.
Free Consultation Online with an Experienced Surgeon
Many hair transplant clinics in Turkey, including the renowned Dr. Cinik Hair Hospital, offer free consultations online to foreign patients.
While the transplant surgery takes only a few hours, it requires extensive preparations since each patient is different, and each hair loss condition needs a customized approach, so a consultation beforehand is a must.
During the free consultation, you’ll first need to send images of your hair. High-quality pictures of the bald spots and thin patches will help the surgeon determine the best treatment and course of action for your specific condition.
Your doctor will give you a cost estimate, and you’ll set a date for the surgery.
The most appealing part for the patients here is that their only responsibility is booking their flight. The clinic usually takes care of the transportation between the airport, hotel, and hospital – all of it included in the cost estimate received.
The Most Common Hair Transplant Procedures in Turkey (FUE, FUT, DHI)
There are several different hair transplant procedures available in clinics across Turkey. The most common ones being Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT), Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), and Direct Hair Implant (DHI).
FUT Technique
FUT is the most invasive of the hair transplant procedures, and it’s slowly becoming obsolete. It involves removing a strip of the scalp from the donor area, usually the back of the head, separating it into dozens of individual grafts, and inserting the grafts into the recipient area.
Patients are left with about a 10-inch scar in the back of the head, which shouldn’t be noticeable once the hair grows longer.
While FUT offers appealing final results, the procedure is rarely recommended by hair transplant experts in Turkey. It’s invasive, and the recovery period is longer than after some of the more modern solutions.
FUE Technique
The FUE hair transplant is a much better alternative that’s grown in popularity over the past few years.
The surgeon will primarily shave the back of your head, then apply a local anesthetic, and extract individual follicular units from the donor area. There are no stitches or sutures required.
The hair follicles are then inserted one by one into the recipient area through small incisions, and that’s about it. You can expect to see hair growth within a few weeks.
Since the procedure is less invasive, less painful, and has a shorter recovery time, it’s highly recommended by doctors and patients alike.
DHI Technique
Direct Hair Implant is quite similar to the FUE procedure, the only difference being in the tools used. DHI requires a special implantation pen known as Choi. Choi pen features a small, hollow needle that’s used for extracting individual hair follicles from the donor area, and inserting them into the recipient area.
It’s even less invasive than the FUE technique, doesn’t require shaving of the donor area, and it’s slowly becoming the norm in hair transplant clinics across Turkey. Dr. Emrah Cinik offers both FUE and DHI hair transplant procedures, and you can determine the best procedure for you during the consultations.
Experienced Surgeons Use Cutting-Edge Technology
Hair transplant clinics in Turkey are renowned for using the latest technological solutions to make procedures pain-free and less invasive. The DHI procedure, for example, is the latest innovation only offered at esteemed clinics.
Needle-free anesthesia is another example of cutting-edge technology used by experienced surgeons. During the FUE or DHI hair transplant procedures, the only pain felt is the needle prick when the surgeon applies the anesthetic, and even that’s been eliminated.
Instead of puncturing the skin to apply anesthesia, the surgeon at Dr. Cinik clinic uses the Jet injection system, which uses high pressure to vaporize anesthesia so it can easily pass through the skin and be absorbed.
Such cutting-edge tech is only available at the highest-rated clinics and hospitals, so you can rest assured you’re in good hands when you’re visiting Turkey for hair transplant.
Post-Op Care in Hair Transplant Clinics in Turkey
Hair transplant surgery can take several hours, but the post-op care is pretty simple, and your doctor should guide you through it.
If you opt for the FUT procedure, the sutures from the donor area will need to be removed after about a week to 10 days. If you go for the less invasive DHI or FUE techniques, your post-op care is even simpler.
The donor and the recipient areas could feel sore and swollen right after surgery, so our doctor will likely prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications just in case.
You’ll likely return to the clinic the day after the surgery to talk with your doctor and see if everything’s going well, and you should be able to head to the airport immediately afterward.
Focus on Natural Appearance
Hair transplant experts in Turkey are known for providing their patients with the utmost care and professionalism. Once you’ve had a transplant at one of the most renowned clinics, you should expect a natural hair appearance and barely noticeable scarring in the donor area.
So, as long as you schedule your surgery with a reputable doctor, you should expect more than satisfactory final results at hair transplant clinics in Turkey.
