Hair transplant in Turkey: what to know before you book

A hair transplant moves hair you already have. Follicles are taken from the back and sides of the head, where hair is usually resistant to the kind of thinning that runs in families, and placed where hair has thinned. No new hair is created. That one fact shapes nearly every decision, from how many grafts are possible to whether a surgeon thinks you are a good candidate at all.

Turkey receives many patients for this procedure from Europe, the UK, the Middle East and further afield. Clinics range widely in how they work. Here is what helps you compare them.

FUE and DHI in plain words

Most clinics in Turkey offer FUE or DHI. A third method, FUT, is less common there.

• FUE (follicular unit extraction). The back of the head is usually shaved. Individual follicular units (small natural groups of one to four hairs) are removed one at a time with a tiny punch. Small cuts, sometimes called channels, are then made in the thinning area, and the grafts are placed into them. The NHS notes that FUE leaves many small scars that are usually not very noticeable.
• DHI (direct hair implantation). The grafts are removed in the same way as FUE. The difference is in placement: each graft is loaded into a pen shaped tool and inserted, making the opening and placing the graft in one movement. Clinics often present it as allowing closer placement.
• FUT (follicular unit transplantation). A thin strip of scalp is removed from the back of the head and divided into grafts. The NHS says the wound is closed with stitches and leaves a scar that is usually hidden unless the hair is very short.

Which method suits you depends on your hair, your donor area and the surgeon's own practice. Ask why they recommend one over another for you.

Who does the work

This is the most useful question you can ask a clinic, and the answer varies a great deal.

A hair transplant has several steps: planning the hairline, giving local anaesthetic, extracting the grafts, sorting and keeping them, making the cuts in the recipient area, and placing the grafts. In some clinics a doctor does most of these. In others, a doctor plans and gives anaesthetic, and technicians do much of the extraction and placement.

Ask, for each step, who will do it. Ask the name of the doctor, and whether you will meet them before the day of surgery. Ask how many patients the team treats on the same day. The NHS advises asking about the surgeon's qualifications, how many procedures they have done and what follow up care is included. If a clinic is vague about who will be holding the instruments, take that as information.

Turkey's Ministry of Health runs a health tourism department that issues authorisation certificates to facilities treating international patients and publishes lists of authorised facilities. The UK government's travel advice for Turkey also notes that the Ministry lists approved providers on the HealthTürkiye website. Ask the clinic for its authorisation details and check them on the official list.

Graft counts

Quotes are usually written in grafts. A graft is one follicular unit, so it may hold one hair or several. The number on the quote is a plan, not a measure of quality.

Your donor area is limited, and hair taken from it does not grow back. Doctors usually plan with your future in mind, because thinning often continues around the transplanted area. The NHS mentions that hair may keep thinning around the transplant. Taking too many grafts at once can leave the donor area looking thin. A higher number is not always better.

Ask how the clinic counts grafts, whether you will be told the final count after surgery, and whether a second session might be needed later. A surgeon may also advise against surgery, for example if your hair loss pattern is still changing quickly or the cause of the loss is unclear. That advice is worth hearing.

The first two weeks

You go home with the grafts still fragile. The NHS gives a typical outline: bandages usually come off after 2 to 5 days, you should not touch the grafts, you can gently wash your hair by hand from about day 6, and any non-dissolvable stitches come out at 10 to 14 days. It suggests you may need 1 to 2 weeks off work. Common effects for a few days are a tight, aching, swollen scalp and scabbing. Less common problems include bleeding and infection.

Clinics usually ask you to stay a few nights after the procedure. The clinic usually does the first wash and gives written instructions on sleeping position, washing, sun, sport and medicines. Bring a loose top that buttons at the front, so nothing rubs your scalp on the way home.

Turkey's e-Visa at evisa.gov.tr covers tourism and commerce only. Patients usually need a medical treatment visa from a Turkish mission; if your passport is visa-exempt, ask the mission whether you still need one. Check before you book.

The months before results

This part asks for patience. The NHS says the transplanted hair often falls out after a few weeks and later grows back. New hair usually begins to appear after about four months, and full results can take 10 to 18 months. Many people find the middle months harder than the surgery itself, because the scalp can look thinner than before.

Take photos at regular intervals in the same light. Send them to the clinic when they ask, and keep your own record. If you notice redness, swelling or discharge that is getting worse, see a doctor near you.

The UK government advises talking to your own doctor before having treatment abroad and doing your own research, noting that private companies have a financial interest in booking your treatment. That applies to us too. MediCurage collects quotes from clinics so you can compare what each one includes and who does the work, and you decide. Your own questions, asked clearly and answered in writing, protect you more than any brochure.