Hair loss has become something of the past, as hair transplants are being used more and more to combat it. The procedure is growing more and more popular each day, and thousands of tourists and travellers are treating and overcoming their baldness.
Hair loss due to baldness, whether hereditary or not, has a huge effect on a person’s general look. People want the luxury of being able to style their hair however they like, so they have opted for the transplant method.
In Istanbul, Turkey, the city is brimming with hair transplant clinics. One of them being Cosmedica. Dr Levent Acar, the head doctor at Cosmedica, has researched and invented various improved techniques for the operation and he specializes in creating natural hairlines. His preferred hair transplant method is the FUE method, specifically the DHI sapphire FUE method.
The FUE method, which can be further divided into the DHI method and the DHI sapphire method, involves removing hair grafts from one part of the scalp and implanting them into balding areas of the scalp. The DHI method follows the regular FUE method procedures, but with the DHI sapphire FUE method, the results are even better.
Dr Acar makes use of a special pen called the implanter pen to remove the hair grafts without breaking or destroying the hair roots. Then, using a scalpel that is made with a sapphire blade, he creates small incisions in the scalp and inserts the hair graft into these incisions using the implanter pen.
If the follicular units in the donor area are weak, then the procedure might not give optimal results. Hence, hair restoration becomes impossible.
The FUE hair transplant method is the most popular type of hair transplant carried out in Turkey; the scarring is minimal, and it is less complicated. The length and procedures often depend on the number of grafts to be used and the area of the balding.
Are hair transplants from Turkey good quality?
Image: One of Cosmedia Clinic's modern operation rooms
Over the years, Turkey has become the leading country where hair transplant operations are taking place. Over 50,000 tourists seeking medical attention arrive in Turkey every year to visit hair transplant clinics as they are desperate to regain their hair or to get free consultations concerning their hair growth issues.
What are the different hair transplant techniques?
There are two major ways by which hair can be transplanted:
• Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT or Strip method): This involves removing a portion of skin from the back of the head, dividing it into parts that contain 3 or 4 hair grafts
• Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): This involves removing individual hair follicles or grafts from the donor area of the person receiving treatment and transplanting them to the recipient area
How long do I have to stay in Turkey for a hair transplant?
The hair transplant process can take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours, depending on the procedure and location of the transplant area. Patients are usually placed under local anesthesia and can be discharged on the day of the surgery or the day after. Visitors in Turkey who have undergone surgery may only need to spend 3 nights at their hotel, which includes the day before the surgery, the day of the surgery, and the day after.
After the surgery, and once the hair begins to grow out, the transplanted hair will remain in the recipient area permanently.
How much do 4000 grafts cost in Turkey?
Image: 4000 grafts hair transplant before and after comparison of a Cosmedica patient
In Turkey, 4000 grafts can cost anywhere from $1200 to $8000 which usually includes the cost of transportation and accommodation for the few days the patient would need to stay in Turkey. Most clinics offer all-inclusive packages, however, where the price is independent of the actual number of grafts transplanted.
Why are hair transplants in Turkey so cheap?
There are many high quality clinics in Turkey that are dedicated to improving the quality of hair transplants and making them as affordable as possible. The competition among these clinics often causes the cost of surgery to reduce eventually, along with the fact that hundreds and thousands of tourists and citizens alike are seeking this permanent hair growth solution.
Can hair transplants fall out?
Although the healing process may vary from person to person, after about one month on average, a patient who has undergone a hair transplant in Turkey may notice some hair falling out, but this is normal. Hair falling out is common even with natural hair, but for the newly transplanted hair follicles, this means that the hair roots have been completely embedded into the scalp and the patient can now experience hair growth normally. The hair that will grow will likely be full and the hair density will be like that of natural hair. But still, the hair outside the surgery areas is prone to falling out and will likely continue to fall out for those with male pattern baldness. They would be required to get another surgery to treat those areas at some point.
Successful hair transplants in Turkey
Just like with any other type of transplant, one must research and plan the procedure properly to ensure an optimal outcome:
• Proper planning and consultation: Since the reasons for hair loss vary from person to person, a consultation usually determines the optimal type of surgery and all the details. In a case where the hair is lost because of a disease, like in Alopecia, it is impossible to carry out a transplant since the follicles will be too weak for that. The first step to getting a transplant is a good consultation.
• Method Determination: Although the FUE transplant method is frequently used, this approach might not benefit all individuals. Some doctors, after a consultation, determine that the FUT method is a more suitable process.
• Clinic and Team: this is the most important part of the procedure. The right clinic with the right doctors plays a major part in how well your surgery will go and helps to reduce the risk of complications. A team that is focused on getting the best hair transplant results for your scalp is what you should look out for.
Why Cosmedica Clinic?
This is where Cosmedica Clinic comes in: The head doctor at Cosmedica, Dr Acar, has under 20.000 operations under his belt. He is also fluent in English and has treated lots of British celebrities. Please have a look at the hair transplant Turkey before and after page on their website for results and more information.
Image: Cosmedica's Dr Acar marking the patient's future hairline before the surgery
Cosmedica Clinic is offering hair transplants as all-inclusive packages, meaning there are no hidden costs, and you know exactly how much you spend before you get on a plane to Turkey. Included in the packages are accommodation, transfer service to and from the airport/hotel/clinic, as well as a consultation beforehand and an aftercare package and service after the surgery.
July 2022
In collaboration with Cosmedica
Images courtesy of cosmedica.com
Hero image: Cosmedica Clinic's futuristic-looking reception area