Hair Transplant in Turkey: The Ultimate Guide for 2024
Hair Transplant in Turkey- Avrupa Sac Ekimi Clinic
With its crystal clear beaches and historical sites located all over the country, Turkey has become a prominent player in the tourism sector. In 2019, Turkey hosted up to 6.6 million tourists. While many of them visit Turkey solely for recreational purposes, a vast number of tourists come for medical reasons as well.
Nowadays, Turkey occupies a leading position as a medical destination due to its powerful healthcare infrastructure. Specifically, hair transplant procedures which drastically altered the medical tourism sector and attracted thousands of patients on a monthly basis.
Hair transplant in Turkey is one of the quickest booming industries which outperformed its counterparts in the U.S and Europe. According to recent statistics, 5000 patients arrive each month to Turkey just to do hair transplant. Most of the patients come from European and Arab countries. some expect these figures to double in the upcoming years. You are certainly wondering what made Turkey grow so fast within just a few years and occupy this prestigious position. Well, you will find the answer to this below in this article.
What is hair Transplant Procedure?
Hair transplant is one of the best solutions to restore hair and solve the problem of baldness radically. The team carries out the procedure by transferring hair follicles located in the back of the head (donor area), which are most resistant to hair loss. Then implanting those healthy follicles in bald areas, in the hair as well as in the beard, eyebrows or lashes.
What distinguishes this procedure is that its results are lifelong and the transplanted hair never falls out. This is due to the fact that male hormone (dihydrotestosterone DHT) doesn’t affect those follicles causing hair loss. At the beginning when this procedure first appeared, there were some flaws associate with it. But with time and technology advances, hair transplantation has eliminated most of its problems. Today it has become one of the most important and demanded cosmetic procedures in the world.
Why is hair transplant in Turkey very popular?
1. Cost Advantage
No wonder why Turkey’s hair transplant sector earnings has surpassed one billion dollars during the year 2018. With the cost-effective deals it offers, the country has made its way to become the world’s hair transplant hub for international patients. The low hair transplant cost in Turkey gave it a competitive advantage over countries such as the U.S. and U.K., France and Spain. Due to Turkey’s relatively low living expenses, the prices of hair transplants are one of the core factors that attract international patients. Prices range between $1800 to $3000 depending on the type of treatment, location and the doctor’s expertise.
Side Note: Lower prices doesn’t necessarily mean lower quality. Many reasons make hair transplant cost in Turkey comparatively low and to mention a few:
- Low living costs.
- Lower taxes.
- Lower healthcare costs.
- Cheaper labor force.
2. International Accreditation
Many healthcare institutions and hair transplant clinics in Turkey have authorization by the Turkish Ministry of Health. Not only that but also, it has managed to gain international recognition from associations such as: The Joint Commission International (JCI) and the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS).
According to statistics, Turkey has attained the highest number of JCI certified healthcare facilities around the world. And that alone is one of the most powerful reasons to gain patients’ trust in the quality of the medical services provided.
3. Compliance with Medical Ethics and Practices
Most of the hair transplant clinics in Turkey adhere to strict work ethics and practice the profession with high sincerity. They abide by the international medical rules and the Turkish Ministry of Health inspects them periodically, in order to observe the quality of health services a clinic provides to patients, ensure that all the medical staff are legally practicing their profession and that they follow high international sterilization standards.
Warning: In recent years, we have witnessed the emergence of massive numbers of unauthorized clinics who deceive patients. These are commercial centers that acquire no medical experience whatsoever. They depend on heavy marketing campaigns and offer very cheap hair transplant prices only to close a deal with patients. we advise to stay away from cheap clinics
Please be careful when choosing the best hair transplant clinic, or you may contact us and we will gladly assist you.
4. Competency of the Turkish Hair Transplant Surgeons
Turkish hair transplant surgeons have gained a prominent position and an international reputation in the field of hair transplantation. The constantly increasing demand from local and international patients has obliged the doctors to advance their expertise and expand their knowledge.
Hair transplant surgeons are always keen to participate in hair transplant related workshops and trainings to improve their skills. They keep an eye on any updates in the industry and continuously adopt new techniques to achieve high quality results.
The best hair transplant surgeons in Turkey have performed a myriad of procedures with outstanding outcomes and high satisfaction rates. They have acquired a huge number of successful hair transplant stories all over the internet with pictures before and after the surgery.
5. New Technological Innovations
In the last few years the field of hair transplant has seen a dramatic breakthrough in the techniques used. And this didn’t happen by coincidence. This sector is not only concerned with performing procedures, it also diligently works to discover new techniques and tools.
Which comes as a result of observing pitfalls in old hair transplant techniques and trying to exceed patients’ expectations. Consequently, several hair transplant clinics in Turkey, including ours Avrupa Sac Ekimi attempt to apply the latest technological innovations and this provokes the competitive spirit between clinics.
6. Additional Services for International Patients
In alignment with the mentioned factors that encourages patients to select Turkey for hair restoration is the inclusive packages it offers.
Hair transplant clinics in Turkey offer an all-inclusive package that includes all services to facilitate the travel arrangements for its patients.
These packages usually cover the hotel accommodation, airport pickup and drop off services, transportation between the hotel and the hospital. The list doesn’t end here, these service packages also include the blood test expenses, pre-consultation, post-operative medications and immediate interpretation.
With all these facilitations clinics offer, it takes a big burden off patients’ shoulders and eases their stay in Turkey. As many clients report that clinics greeted them with generosity and all their needs were addressed.
Facts you need to know before planning a hair transplant in Turkey
Sometimes people who travel abroad for medical tourism purposes feel perplexed and need to be reassured about the medical procedure. Given that the industry of hair transplant in Turkey is on the rise. It’s critical for patients to understand everything related to the procedure and be aware of any complexities.
Over the course of our years of experience, we have encountered many patients who feel stressed about having the operation. Therefore, we felt that it’s our duty to clarify some vitals matters regarding hair transplant to make our patients’ visit as relaxing as possible.
Who is the perfect candidate for a hair transplant in Turkey?
Before commencing with your hair transplant plans it’s wise to understand and learn more about your eligibility and who makes a perfect match for it. Just like any other surgical or non-surgical procedure, knowing if you qualify for the surgery prevents many complications. Also, you get the chance to know the expected outcomes so that you avoid any frustrations afterwards.
✔ Abundant Hair in the Donor Area
Every patient has a different density in the donor area and it’s not logical to handle all cases in the same approach. During consultation hair transplant specialists approach each case individually and understand their expectations.
The density of the hair in the donor area compared to the degree of baldness is a determining factor in your suitability for the procedure. If the patient has a limited donor area and an advanced baldness they may not be suitable for the hair transplant. Or they may only qualify for one session where the hair follicles will be distributed naturally in the frontal area of the head.
At this point it’s important to understand the patient’s needs. Some people aim for a realistic result while others look for a full coverage. In this case, the doctor should openly discuss the fact that this is unrealistic due to the weakness of their donor area.
✔ Degree of Baldness
There are nearly 7 stages of baldness as classified by the Norwood Scale. In the first stage there is no obvious hair recession or bald patches. Starting from the 2nd stage, a minor recession of the hairline and temples occur which continues until the head gets completely bald. Some people will experience baldness on the vertex area which requires hair transplant to cover the crown area. In this case a thorough plan must be done in order not to consume the donor area for future sessions.
Normally, we don’t recommend those between stages 1-2 to do a hair transplant as it’s still in the early stages. But, we rather prefer to use preservative ways to increase the density and reduce hair loss. However, those with stage 3 and above who suffer from genetic hair loss, require hair transplant to cover the gaps. At this stage hair resembles the shape of M, U or V letters.
✔ Type of Hair Loss
Candidates with a stabilized hair loss and who suffer from pattern baldness or traction alopecia qualify for a hair transplant in Turkey. Pattern baldness is a hereditary condition where certain parts of the scalp – mainly the front, middle and crown area – are affected by hair loss.
Whereas traction alopecia is a condition where the hairline recedes due to pulling of the hair and tight hairstyles. Also, hair loss caused by traumas such as burns and accidents, it can be covered by hair transplant.
On the contrary, individuals who suffer from diffuse hair loss such as alopecia areata – an immunity disorder that causes round patches – are not eligible for the procedure. The reason is because alopecia areata could target the donor area and the transplanted hair as well causing the follicles to die.
✔ General Health Condition
Certain medical conditions may interfere with undergoing a hair transplant in Turkey. Some of these are chronic diseases such as heart problems, diabetes and blood pressure disorders. These patients need to clearly discuss their health issues with the doctor beforehand to prevent any serious complications.
The other classification would be blood-borne pathogens, which are viruses or diseases spread through contact with blood and body fluids. For instance, individuals with all types of Hepatitis, HIV. Actually, blood-borne diseases doesn’t have a negative effect on the results of hair transplant but these are precautionary measures in Turkey.
✔ Age and Gender
When it comes to the perfect age to undergo a hair transplant there are contrasting opinions. Medically speaking, 20 is the age an individual is allowed to have a hair transplant but that doesn’t apply to everyone. Patients with a stabilized hair loss and who belong to stage 4 and above on the Norwood Scale are entitled for a hair transplant.
But, if they only suffer from hair thinning then it is advised to wait and resort to alternative and non-surgical solutions. This is due to the possibility of continued hair loss after the operation. In such a case, patients might not be pleased with the results and feel like they had no significant change.
✔ Ethnicity
The ethnic background of patients has an effect on the results of hair transplant. Caucasians have the highest hair density, Asians comes next and lowest hair density is found in Africans. Although we might think that Asians have the finest hair but it’s actually thick, and the curliness of African hair makes it look thick while it’s fine.
These variations must be taken into consideration when setting your expectations after the surgery and the thickness you will get.
Determining the best treatment to restore your hair
Now after you have made a clear idea about who is a good candidate for hair transplant in Turkey. And discussed all the related issues with your doctor, it is time to decide the right hair restoration treatment for you.
There are myriad treatment options to help restore your hair which might cause you some confusion but worry not! Your doctor will walk you through all the available options and the best choice for your condition. Some of these treatments are surgical and others are non-surgical methods.
Overview about the Surgical Hair Restoration Treatments
Surgical hair restoration treatments can be classified into two main categories: Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). Under FUE hair transplant technique falls some modern methods such as:
- MicroFUE hair Transplant
- Sapphire Hair Transplant
- Direct Hair Transplant (DHI) or aka (Choi Implanter Pen)
Follicular Unit Extraction Technique (FUE):
To start with, most of the hair transplant clinics in Turkey uses widely Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). It is a delicate and slightly invasive surgery which is performed under local anesthesia. The first step after applying the anesthesia on the donor area doctors extract the hair follicles.
To remove the hair follicles easily, doctors inject a special serum into the scalp to lift the skin. After that, they use a special motor-powered device called the Micro Motor to remove the hair follicles one by one.
The micro motor comes equipped with punches of different sizes that doctors change according to the size and thickness of the follicle. doctors may use diameter 0.7 mm for thin hair and 0.8 mm for thick hair.
Doctors take hair follicles from distributed parts of the donor area that contains healthy and thick hair. The hair follicles doctors extract are kept in a petri dish dish that contains a special solution to preserve the grafts.
Hair follicles comes in single, double, triple and quadruple groups. That is to say, a hair follicle could contain 1, 2, 3 o 4 hair strands. teams then group Follicles based on the number of hair shafts it contains.
Once the team collects the hair follicles, the surgeon prepares the area to for implantation by creating incision to place the follicles.
a surgeon may make several incisions on the scalp with the assistance of a special blade attached to a forceps. The punctures mimic the size of the hair follicle and then the surgeon opens in the same direction as the natural hair.
Once the surgeon makes all the incisions, the teams places the grafts inside the punctures to allow natural hair growth.
Facts:
- The canal opening phase is an important stage in the process of hair transplantation. It must be performed by a skilled physician with high skills in determining the direction and angles to match the natural hair.
- The donor area is the only safe area to take hair from. Because the follicles in that region are known for their resistance to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hormone causing hair loss.
Advanced Techniques Derived from Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
We talked above about the Follicular Unit Extraction technique and how it works. Now we will elaborate more about the methods developed from the FUE.
Before we start, we want to draw your attention to something very important. All these methods fall under the FUE technique with the same manner. The only difference is in the way of opening the channels and the tool used to do so.
✔ MicroFUE Hair Transplant Technique:
Some people believe that Micro FUE hair transplantation has become obsolete due to the intensive promotion of other techniques. But what many people don’t know is that this is an extension and more developed method of the FUE technique.
The micro motor device used to remove the follicles has been improved to be more precise and suitable for the extracted follicles. In this way it ensures that no visible scars or patches appear in the donor area even after shaving. All the remaining steps are the same and follow the same process as the FUE method.
✔ Sapphire Hair Transplant Technique:
Sapphire FUE technique is done in the same manner as the regular FUE method. Nevertheless, the difference lies in the tool used to open the channels. This tool is made of a kind of durable gemstone known as a sapphire with a V-shaped ending.
The way in which the gemstone blades are designed allows to minimize the size of the incisions to match the follicle size. Moreover, it reduces scab formation after the operation, thus speeding up the healing process.
✔ Direct Hair Transplant (DHI/Choi Implanter):
The Direct Hair Transplant or known as Choi Implanter Pen is a derivative of FUE technique and appeared before the Sapphire FUE. This technique relies on the use of a special type of tool similar to pens called the Choi Implanter pen.
After extracting the follicles, these pens are filled with the hair follicles one by one and implanted directly into the scalp. The main purpose of this method is to merge the two steps of opening channels and implanting the follicles. Therefore, this technique doesn’t require prior opening of the channels.
✔ Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT):
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUT) is the first hair transplant technique that preceded the FUE. This method differs from FUE in terms of follicle extraction. Unlike the FUE, the team separates hair follicles in this technique by surgically removing a strip of the scalp. This strip comprises of hair follicle units which are being detached under a microscope.
The team then keeps these follicular unit in a special glass dish filled with a preservative solution to protect it. The surgeon then will stitch the area where he took the strip from and will make incisions in the recipient area to insert the follicles. Nowadays, doctors and patients do not favor this technique because of the longitudinal scar it leaves behind the head.
Besides, the number of follicles obtained is limited compared to the FUE and does not give the required density. Patients who have undergone hair transplant using the FUT technique demand another procedure using FUE to cover the scar and increase density.
Steps of performing hair transplant in Turkey
Whatever hair transplant technique a doctors uses they all follow the same procedure as summarized below:
Step (1) Blood Test
The day patients arrive in Turkey somebody will take them to the hospital to do the necessary blood tests. This tells the doctor if the patient is in good health condition before starting the surgery.
Step (2) Consultation
On the day of the surgery, the patient meets with the hair transplant surgeon or specialist. The doctor will analyse the patient’s hair condition, degree of baldness and the density in the donor area. At this stage, the patient and doctor discuss all the expected outcomes, the number of grafts and the coverage.
Step (3) Hairline Design
During the consultation, the hair transplant doctor draws the hairline according to the facial features of the patient. Every patient has a different face composition, thus; the hairline is drawn accordingly.
After approving the hairline design, the patient is being prepared for the operation and accompanied to the operation room.
Step (4) Shaving the Hair
Before beginning with the operation, the hair is being shaved. According to the areas to be transplanted the doctor will decide whether the hair will be partially or fully shaved. Shaving the hair is very crucial to guarantee favorable results. If the hair is not shaved, it will act as a barrier to clearly extract and implant the hair follicles.
Therefore, it is recommended to allow the clinic to shave your hair either partially or completely.
Step (5) Application of local anaesthesia to the donor area
Hair transplant in Turkey are performed under local anaesthesia. The anaesthetic is applied to the donor area before starting to extract the hair follicles. It takes effect a few minutes after being injected into the scalp. Anaesthesia is also injected in the recipient area before opening the channels.
The patient doesn’t experience any pain during the entire operation. After the procedure, patients are given a pain killer so that they don’t experience any post-operative pain.
Step (6) Hair follicles Extraction
Before extracting the follicles, the donor area is being sterilized. In the FUE technique extraction is done using the micro motor which removes the grafts one by one.
The extracted hair follicles are being grouped and kept in a petri dish until the implantation stage. This stage lasts from 2-3 hours depending on the number of grafts that will be transplanted.
Step (7) Opening Channels in the Recipient Area
Before opening the channels the recipient area gets injected with the local sedatives. When the anaesthesia has taken action, the hair transplant surgeon starts creating tiny incisions. Incisions are opened using the special blades either by the Microfue, Sapphire or Choi pen method.
Incisions are made with the same course of the natural hair. A doctor who is able to give you that natural flow of hair is what guarantees the success of the operation. But if the final appearance is very clear to others that you have transplanted hair. Or if the hair looks pluggy, then unfortunately the operation was not successful.
Therefore, you should always choose a skilful and talented hair transplant doctor. This step also takes from 2-3 hours depending on the amount of grafts that will be implanted in the recipient areas.
Step (8) Hair Follicle Implantation
The channels are now ready to receive the extracted hair follicles. Usually, single hair follicles are placed in the hairline to give a natural appearance.
Non-surgical Hair Restoration Treatments
In some cases hair transplant may not be the perfect option to restore the lost hair, especially in conditions like hair thinning. For that reason, there are few alternative and non-surgical treatments to prevent hair loss.
Minoxidil:
Minoxidil or as commercially known by the name Rogaine, is a topical hair loss treatment for both men and women. It comes in two different concentrations, 2% is mainly used by women and 5% is used by men. This treatment helps in preventing excessive hair loss and increasing hair density.
In order to gain results, individuals should use it on a continuous basis for at least 6 months. Minoxidil comes in two forms, spray and foam. It’s up to you to decide which form you want to use. This treatment is an over-the-counter drug which is approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Finasteride (Propecia):
Finasteride is a medication used to treat hair loss and thicken the hair by preventing the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is recommended to be used only by men since the daily dose didn’t show any significant change in women. Additionally, it shouldn’t be used by pregnant women as it can cause birth defects in the newborn.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP):
Plasma is one of the main blood components that contains growth factors. It has been widely used to treat hair loss and stimulate hair growth after hair transplants. Many hair transplant clinics in Turkey offer a free PRP injection after the procedure to help activate the follicles.
Plasma is being drawn from the patient’s own blood. Then it’s put in special tubes in a centrifuge that spins at high speed to separate the plasma from the blood. After that, the plasma is then injected into the scalp. To obtain results, patients have to do more than one session. It’s not recommended to do more than 6 sessions per year to observe a change.
Tips to select the best hair transplant clinic in Turkey
When people decide to have their hair transplant in Turkey, they spend a great deal of time to find the best hair transplant clinic. With the increasing number of clinics in Turkey and specifically Istanbul, it could be a time-consuming task. Some people spend years until they make their final decision.
This is due to the fact that Turkey embraces a large number of centers. Some of which are not controlled by the Ministry of Health. Therefore, it’s very essential to do your research about the reliability of the clinic. In the following tips we will shed light on the key aspects you should never overlook when selecting the clinic:
The number of successful operations:
The number of successful hair transplants performed at the clinic and the high satisfaction rates imply the competency of the clinic. The best hair transplant clinic is the one that has dealt with many different cases and has ample number of previous surgeries.
The years of experience:
Check how many years the clinic or the hair transplant specialist has been performing this procedure. The longer the years of experience the better, especially when the clinic is rated as one of the top hair transplant clinics. Clinics with over 10 years of experience in this field and with no negative reviews, means they have been performing very well.
Also, throughout these years they get the chance to improve their skills and adopt modern techniques to provide the best results.
Credibility and Certification:
Clinics that Turkish Ministry of Health endorses follow strict medical guidelines. For this reason, you should always ask about the accreditation of the clinic. If you want to check more, ask if the clinic has any international affiliation from the JCI or ISHRS.
Before and after pictures:
It is the patient’s right to ask for before and after pictures and the clinic must be willing to meet your request. If you feel that the clinic is hesitating to show you their previous work, then maybe you should reconsider your choice. A well experienced hair transplant clinic is the one that shows confidence in its work.
And is ready at all times to show you their before and after cases even before you ask for it. Some clinics even have their patients’ hair transplant stories documented in trustable websites and forums. These stories include all the details about the patient’s hair transplant experience supported with before and after photos and videos.
Reputation of the clinic:
Nowadays, it became easy to know more about the reputation of the clinic thanks to the forums and customer review websites. Take your time to read more about previous patient’s experiences in hair transplant related forums. You can also seek assistance from trusted websites which are tailored to review medical clinics.
These websites rate clinics based on the customer’s reviews and experiences. And what is better than knowing more about the clinic from a former patient. Some patients even leave their contact details for anyone who has inquiries regarding the operation. So don’t miss this chance!
Responsiveness:
Another indicator that shows the credibility of the clinic is their readiness and prompt responsiveness. The best hair transplant clinic will make sure to make itself available for its clients at all times. They will be ready to answer all your questions and are never reluctant to provide you with the needed details.
Where the operation takes place:
Many fraud clinics which are not authorized by the government perform hair transplant in their own offices or flats. Be aware of these places because hair transplant is a surgical operation which needs to be done in a hospital environment. Many people who were deceived by such clinics reported serious complications and infections after the operation.
Ready to plan your hair transplant trip to Turkey?
Now after you learnt about the facts of hair transplant in Turkey and selected your destination clinic, it’s time to plan for your trip.
1- Book your flight ticket:
the clinic will schedule the operation date in coordination with the patient. It’s not advisable to confirm your flight without consulting the clinic as there might not be available appointments. Usually, the packages offered by hair transplant clinics in Turkey don’t include airfare.
2- Confirm Your Appointment:
After booking the flight, patients send a copy of their ticket to the clinic for confirmation. The clinic sends an appointment confirmation letter to the patient with details regarding airport pickup.
3- Arrival day:
the clinic representative will welcome the patient and escort him to the hotel. Before going to the hotel, they will take the patient to the hospital for blood tests, which doesn’t take more than a few minutes.
4- Operation day:
On the day of the operation, the patient arrives at the clinic and meets with the hair transplant specialist. The specialist asks the patient to fill in some personal details and then the patient is being accompanied to the diagnosis room. During the diagnosis, the hair transplant specialist analyses the patient’s baldness condition and plans the areas that need to be implanted.
The specialist starts drawing the hairline and specifies the areas that need transplanting. After approving the hairline the team shaves hair and the patient gets prepared for the operation. The operation lasts somewhere between 5 to 8 hours according to the degree of baldness.
5- Donor Area Dressing
Once the operation finishes, the donor area will be dressed using a gauze in order to protect it from infection.
6- Resting after the operation
Before leaving to the hotel you will be given a light snack and a pain killer tablet. After that, the coordinator working at the clinic will accompany you to the hotel. You must rest very well and drink lots of water. Make sure to follow all the instructions given to you by the clinic and in case of any inquiries immediately contact the coordinator for assistance.
7- Second day (Bandage Removal):
On the day following the hair transplant operation, patients come to the clinic for a short follow up to remove the dressing.
8- Third day (Washing Day):
On the third day, patients visit the clinic to do the first washing of the scalp. Before washing the scalp, a special moisturizing lotion is applied on the scalp for 30 minutes. After that, the nurse washes the hair in a very delicate way using a special medical shampoo. The patient is given all the needed instructions on how to wash the hair for the next 2 weeks.
9- Farewell
Patients can immediately travel after washing their hair or they may stay an extra day. After that we drop them off to the airport and make sure they arrive safely.
Precautions before the surgery
1-2 weeks before your hair transplant
- Refrain from smoking 2 weeks before your scheduled hair transplant appointment. Smoking including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vape and hookah could interfere with the flow of oxygen to the blood and eventually prevents the blood supply to the hair follicles.
- Cut any alcoholic consumption a week prior to the operation.
- Abstain from using any medications such as blood thinners or vitamins at least one week before the operation.
- Stop drinking coffee a week before the operation to avoid the risk of bleeding.
The day before the operation:
- Sleep well the day before the operation, so that your body gets enough rest to continue the day without exhaustion.
- Try as much as possible to have a full breakfast on the day of the operation, while avoiding caffeine.
- On the day of the operation, wear comfortable or loose clothes that don’t need to be taken off the head. Preferably a front buttoned top.
Post-Operative Care and Guidelines:
- doctors prohibit Smoking and alcohol after hair transplantation. So stay away from them for two weeks after the hair transplant procedure, so that no complications occur.
- Stay away from hair dryers for at least two months. After that you can use it on low heat but not directly on the transplanted hair.
- Avoid physical activities and exhausting sports such as jogging, football, weight lifting so as not to damage the follicles.
- we advise to avoid sexual intercourse a week after the operation.
- Do not bend or sleep on the sides for the first 5 days so as not to increase swelling.
- You should not cover your head after hair transplant for at least two weeks.
- Avoid any contact with the transplanted hair including scratching or peeling off the scabs.
- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight during peak times for the first two months.
Common side effects after hair transplant and how to relieve them
Most people with interests in hair transplants constantly ask about the negative effects of the procedure. We all know that that any surgical procedure – either difficult or simple – has side effects that might take a while to recover, right? But with hair transplant in Turkey it is quite different. Because there are no risks or damages associated with the procedure and the recovery period after the hair transplant doesn’t take long. But this doesn’t mean that this procedure is free of some minor side effects that disappear after the first week of the operation. These side effects include:
Bleeding:
Minor bleeding after hair transplant usually occurs the night after the operation. You will realize some blood stains on the pillow due to movement while sleeping. To stop bleeding, slightly press over the donor area with a sterilized gauze. But be careful not to lift the gauze or rub your scalp so as not to displace the hair follicles.
Liquid discharge from the donor area:
On the second day after the operation, many people notice a discharge of pink fluid mixed with blood which worries them. But there is no need to worry, because this is the serum the surgeon injected into the scalp. The body disposes these liquids within 48 hours after the operation.
Swelling:
The most common side effect after hair transplant is bloating of the forehead. Due to gravity factor it could move down to the eyes and cheeks. The discharge of the serum from the scalp causes the swelling. Sleeping in the wrong position or frequent movement during sleeping increases swelling.
To reduce the prevalence of swelling we advise to elevate your head when sleeping and not to bend too frequently. You could also apply cold compresses on the forehead, under eyes and cheeks to reduce the appearance of swelling. If you follow these instructions it won’t take long until the swelling disappears. Within 4 to 6 days your face will return to normal.
Itchiness in the donor area:
Some individuals suffer from an itchy sensation in the donor area during the first month and this is quite normal. Some may not tolerate this feeling, in this case the clinic prescribes a special ointment to relieve itching.
Numbness of the scalp:
In the first few weeks after hair transplantation patients suffer from scalp numbness. This is because of the effect of the anaesthetic drug during the operation. It won’t last long until you gradually feel your scalp again.
Pimples:
In some cases, pimples filled with pus appear in the donor area behind the head. These pimples will disappear on their own if they are small. But mostly these pimples are due to inflammation associated by folliculitis which is a sign of hair growth
Note: The side effects we mentioned such as bleeding, swelling, redness, itchiness etc. are supposed to recuperate within 1 week. If you notice it took longer than this period, then you should immediately get in touch with the clinic. As it could be an indicator of an infection.
Hair growth time lapse after hair transplantation
Hair transplant results vary from one person to another depending on the type of hair and the growth rate. Some people say they got results within 8 months while others may wait up to 12 or 18 months to obtain final results. we will dedicate this section to clarify the stages of hair growth through a simplified hair transplant timeline.
| Time Period | Hair growth stages | |
| 1 | 1 week post hair transplant | During this period the side effects that we discussed above will appear such as swelling and redness. At this stage you will not observe hair growth. |
| 2 | 10 days post hair transplant | Scabs that appear on the scalp start to fall off by washing the hair daily as instructed. |
| 3 | 2 weeks post hair transplant | The scabs fall and the transplanted hair begins to appear. At this point the hair will be short as if it was recently shaved. |
| 4 | One month after hair transplant | The transplanted hair starts to fall out and this is normal. You don’t need to worry as this is a new hair growth cycle. |
| 5 | Two months after hair transplant | The transplanted hair falls out completely. It can be a bit frustrating because the hair will look the same as before the operation. You just have to be patient and wait for the next stage. |
| 6 | Three months after hair transplant | From the third month, the transplanted hair begins to grow again. This is the beginning of a new phase in your life. |
| 7 | Four months after hair transplant | After 4 months of hair transplant do not expect your hair to grow with high density. The hair is still thin and brittle as it needs some time to become stronger and denser. |
| 8 | 5 months after hair transplant | The length of the newly transplanted hair is now about 5 cm and the hair is thicker than the previous period. Some patients gain hair transplant results after only 6 months. This is impressive, but it doesn’t apply to everyone. |
| 9 | One year after hair transplant | By this time most patients will see the end result. The transplanted hair after a year becomes longer and thicker. You can now treat it just like your normal hair by shaving, styling and trimming it. |
Hair transplant before and after
Here we will share with you the experience of one of our patients in details. We’ll also attach a link so you can check his photos before and after hair transplant.
Paul is 33 years old who visited our clinic from France. His suffering with hair loss started right after he finished college and his hair loss pattern was different. As he explains, Paul started losing his hair on the crown area then it slowly moved to the mid-scalp and front area. Since he recently graduated from college, he wasn’t able to do a hair transplant in France or Europe because it’s very expensive. That’s when he started to look for alternatives and consider having his hair transplant in Turkey.
He spent almost one year researching for the best hair transplant clinic. Until he came across our clinic in 2017. Paul contacted us for a pre consultation but he still hasn’t made his final decision. After a while, when he collected enough information about our work. And the previous cases we performed he decided to do the operation at our clinic. Paul booked an appointment with us in summer 2017. He is very happy with his results and says that he made the right decision because it completely changed his life. Click here to see Paul’s entire story with pictures before and after hair transplant.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle for better hair
If you want to retain a healthy hair you must include new changes in your lifestyle. Hair needs continuous care because whatever you eat and your psychological status has a direct effect on your hair. Therefore, you must make new changes in your daily routines to protect your hair from internal and external factors. Our tips for you are as follows:
- Include foods into your diet that contains vitamins and supplies your hair with proteins that are necessary for your hair. Eggs, fatty fish, spinach, nuts, beans, yogurt, and berries are some of the nutrients rich in vitamins that enhance hair growth.
- Drink lots of water. We recommend not less than 2 liters per day.
- Try to stop smoking as much as you can because it has the potential of harming your hair follicles. It also block the flow of blood and oxygen to the hair follicles.
- Relax and minimize your stress levels. We all know that stress triggers hair loss. So do your best to maintain low levels of stress. You can practice yoga exercises to relax.
- Give your hair a rest by avoiding daily styling and exposing the hair to heat and chemical products.
- Buy sulphate free or medical shampoos that stimulate hair growth.
- Use natural oils that stimulates hair growth such as castor oil and coconut oil.
Additional treatments after hair transplant to get the ideal results
If you want to go the extra mile and boost your hair transplant results, we suggest you follow these recommendations:
Platelet Rich Plasma Sessions (PRP):
We highly recommend PRP treatment sessions after hair transplant as it has the ability to stimulate your hair growth. At our clinic, we offer a free PRP treatment for all our patients. After that, they can continue the treatment for maximum 6 sessions per year.
Minoxidil (Rogaine)
Hair transplant doctors prescribe Minoxidil spray or foam especially at the early stages after hair transplant. Minoxidil helps in improving and accelerating hair growth.
Supplementary Vitamins and Shampoos
The first 3 or 6 months after hair transplants it is wise to use hair growth vitamins that helps to strengthen and repair the hair. Normally, hair transplant clinics sell these vitamins and shampoos and you can get a 6 month package for a special price.
Sightseeing after hair transplant in Turkey
Some patients plan their trip to Turkey only for 3-4 days to merely undergo a hair transplant. While others prefer to extend their trip to 1 week or more for tourism purposes and sightseeing. Patients can go sightseeing or shopping from the second day following the operation only under one condition.
They must not spend long hours outside and shouldn’t walk too much because it might increase the swelling. we recommend to rest for 15 minutes every hour. There are many leisure activities to do and touristic areas to visit in Turkey. Here is a list of places you can visit if you come to Istanbul:
- Go to Sultanahmet area and visit the following historical attractions: The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, and the Spice Bazaar.
- After Sultanahmet you can head towards Karakoy and visit the famous Baklava shop Karakoy Gulluoglu. Baklava is a traditional Turkish pastry sweet.
- From Karakoy you can go to Galata Tower and walk all the way up to the Istiklal Street in Taksim.
- Take a Bosphorus cruise for a one-hour tour and enjoy the scenery of both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.
- Visit the Dolmabahce Palace which was the main governmental center during the Ottoman Empire and during the regime of Ataturk.
- If you go to the Asian side don’t miss out the Maiden’s Tower located in a tiny islet in the middle of the Bosphorus strait.
Hair transplant cost calculator
FAQ
Finally, we wanted to share with you the answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding hair transplant in Turkey.
1- Is hair transplant in turkey istanbul cost less than Antalya?
Not really. Prices are quite similar in all of Turkey and most competitive in Istanbul.
2- where to get hair transplant in turkey?
Avrupa sac Ekimi is a very trusted clinic to have a hair transplant in Turkey. Some of the reasons are:
1- We are one of the first to start this treatment in Turkey. We received not less than 40 international and local prizes in excellency in FUE and MicroFUE techniques
2- We are a 5 star clinic at ClinicAdvisor and WhatClinic
3- We were selected by members of hair arab forum as the most popular and trusted clinic
4- We are amongst the 10 best hair transplant clinics according to the famous platform 10besthairclinics
5- We have thousands of before and after cases; contact us to send you the closest ones to your case
6- Finally and most importantly, we only perform two operations per day on average to guarantee the best and most accurate results; this has been our trend since we started and will continue
3- Can you provide us some hair transplant in Turkey before and after cases?
Yes , we got thousands and some of them are on the internet published since 2012 and updated with the results!! Contact us for details
4- Why is hair transplant cheap in turkey?
There are some reasons such as low cost expenses and wages, high competition and high demand
5- how to get a hair transplant in turkey?
Super easy. Contact us and one of our english speaking coordinators will guide through all the procedure
6- is hair transplant cheaper in Turkey than the rest of the world?
Yes it is.
7- Is it possible to transplant hair from another person?
Certainly not. Because in this case the immune system of the person will form antibodies leading to serious and dangerous results.
8- How long does a hair transplant last?
Hair transplant lasts between 6-8 hours depending on the degree of baldness and the number of hair follicles to implant. This procedure consists of 3 main stages and each stage lasts almost 2 hours on average. Cases with only a receding hairline doesn’t last more than 5 hours.
9- What are the expected results? And how does the new hair grow?
If we speak about FUE hair transplant technique, the results of the operation are very satisfactory. The newly transplanted hair will grow naturally having the same texture and characteristics of hair extracted from this scalp. Patients can normally take care of their hair by styling and shaving it as desired.
10- Why should I shave my hair before hair transplant?
The accuracy factor is the main characteristic of FUE technique which differentiates it from other conventional methods used in this field. To ensure this, the surgeon must shave the donor area with the amount that helps him to remove the follicles appropriately and safely.
11- Are there any risks that associate with the operation?
No. Hair transplantation is very safe and has no health risks or complications, as long as a professional and experienced medical staff performs it.
12- Are hair transplant results permanent or it may fall in the future?
Hair transplant is not like any treatments that has a temporary effect. Hair transplant results are permanent and it never falls for the rest of your like. The transplanted hair comes from an area which DHT hormone that triggers follicles causing hair loss doesn’t affect.
13- I have grey hair in the donor area, will the transplanted hair have the same color?
Definitely yes. The transplanted hair remains all the characteristics of the extracted hair from the donor area. It keeps the same color and texture.
14- I noticed hair falling while taking a shower, will it grow again?
The hair that falls during the first 2 months is a normal hair growth cycle. What falls is the hair not the follicle. At this stage, the follicles attache and settle in the scalp so there is no way of losing them. The newly transplanted hair will grow again starting from the 3rd month.
15- Is it possible to transplant over 5000 grafts in a single session?
Unfortunately not. we do not recommend to excessively extract hair follicles and transplant it in balding areas. Doctors say that exceeding 4500 or 5000 hair follicles is risky and has serious complications on the patient’s health. Some clinics promise patients to transplant 6000-7000 hair follicles.
But what patients don’t know is that these vast numbers blocks blood supply causing the death of tissues known as Necrosis. Therefore, we suggest you follow what the doctor says and not to insist on transplanting big numbers as it’s not in your favor.
16- Is hair transplant painful?
Some patients may feel a very mild pain during anesthesia but it’s bearable and fades away within 3-4 minutes. Once the anaesthetic drug takes effect patients don’t feel anything. When the operation finishes patients take a pain killer as to not feel any pain whatsoever.
17- Will there be visible scars on the donor using the FUE technique?
No visible scars appear on the donor area because surgeons extract of follicles using very tiny punches. Even when patients shave their head the scars are barely visible and almost not obvious.
18- Does hair transplant cause cancer?
No body has proved any association between cancer and hair transplantation. Because the grafts a surgeon implants are not from someone else, but from you. Hence, there will be no transmission of diseases or cancerous cells. Bottom line, there is no definitive link between cancer and hair transplantation.
19- When do hair grafts securely anchor in the scalp?
This is one of the most common questions “When will follicles take a fixed place after hair transplantation?” In response to this question we say that the follicles begin to embed themselves in the channels during the first month. Therefore, we recommend that you do not exercise any physical activities or strenuous sports so as not to affect the follicles in the first period. Also avoid direct contact and touching the grafts.
20- Why do scabs form after hair transplant?
Scabs are normal reaction to wounds that appear as a result of follicle extraction and opening of the channels. The body begins to form those scabs until wounds heal completely. The scabs in the implanted area begin to fall within 15 days after the procedure. Try as much as possible to avoid peeling it, but rather wash your hair daily for two weeks by applying a soft massage. Massaging the head will accelerate the process and makes the scabs fall. It also stimulates blood circulation thus allowing the transplanted hair to grow.