Hair Transplant Turkey (2024)
Turkey is not only a popular destination for tourists, it is also known as capital for hair transplants. This is mainly due to the lower prices. But which doctors are recommended and which are not? And what are the risks and best methods? Read all the answers on this page.
Facts
| Costs | $1,893 - $7,562 |
| Methods | FUE, DHI, FUT |
| Duration | 5 - 9 hours |
| Length of stay | 3 days in Turkey |
| Side effects | Swelling and redness |
| Recovery | 10 days after FUE / DHI |
| Clinics | 8 top clinics in Turkey |
- Age: 31
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: DHI
- Age: 29
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: DHI
- Age: 28
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: FUE
- Age: 27
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: FUE
- Age: 43
- Hair loss degree: V+ (advanced)
- Method: FUE
- Age: 38
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: FUE
- Age: 45
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: FUE
- Age: 24
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: FUE
- Age: 29
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: FUE
- Age: 32
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: FUE
- Age: 30
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: FUE
- Age: 34
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: FUE
- Age: 33
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: FUE
- Age: 40
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: FUE
- Age: 43
- Hair loss degree: III and IV (medium)
- Method: FUE
| Clinic and Doctors | Methods and Location | Price per Graft in USD (for 2.500 Grafts) |
HLC (Dr. Özgür) | FUE (Manual) | Ankara | 2.75 USD (6,875 USD) |
Dr. Demirsoy | FUE | Istanbul | 1.50 USD (3,750 USD) |
Dr. Pekiner | FUE (Manual) | Ankara | 2.50 USD (6,250 USD) |
Dr. Kesser | FUE (Manual) | Ankara | 3.00 USD ( 7,500 USD) |
Asmed (Dr. Erdogan) | FUE (Manual) | Istanbul | 2.50 USD (6,250 USD) |
Dr. Turan | FUE | Istanbul | 1.50 USD (3,750 USD) |
Dr. Gür | FUE | Istanbul | 1.50 USD (3,750 USD) |
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MEDIHAIR CLINIC OVERVIEW
3 Clinics in Turkey
Verified clinics meet the standards of the medihair clinic certification process. The quality assurance includes verification of the medical license and memberships in associations, evaluation of medihair results and clinic visits.
Verified clinics meet the standards of the medihair clinic certification process. The quality assurance includes verification of the medical license and memberships in associations, evaluation of medihair results and clinic visits.
Verified clinics meet the standards of the medihair clinic certification process. The quality assurance includes verification of the medical license and memberships in associations, evaluation of medihair results and clinic visits.
| Pro | Cons |
|---|---|
| Low price: Our current hair transplantation cost study shows that hair transplantation in Turkey cost only one-third per graft compared to the UK. | Normal risks: Since hair transplantation is an operation, there will be some risks, but these can occur in both Turkey and the UK / US. |
| All-inclusive offers: In the UK and US, individual offers are usually made depending on the amount of hair loss. In Turkey there are often all-inclusive prices. This makes planning for the total cost easier. | Methods, hygiene and personnel: UK or US hospitals have high hygienic and technical standards. The qualification of the doctors is also more consistent in the UK. Turkish hospitals are not required to adhere to the same standards of hygiene. |
| Operation with vacation: A hair transplantation in Turkey can be perfectly combined with a warm and sunny vacation. | Remote consultation: Due to the distance, no personal consultation can take place before the hair transplantation. This means that the patient cannot get an idea of the personnel, hygiene and methods before deciding on a clinic. Aftercare also takes place remotely. |
| Specialized professionals: Many clinics in Turkey only perform hair transplants. Some doctors in UK and US also do other cosmetic surgery which implies they are less focused on improving their hair transplantation skills and knowledge. | Travel: Travel after the operation can be an additional burden. |
Is a hair transplantation in Turkey worthwhile?
The cost of the previously mentioned best hair transplant clinics are way above the average in Turkey because of their reputation. As we previously mentioned, the cost for a hair transplant is typically much cheaper in Turkey with 1.07 USD per graft less than in the UK (3.22 USD per graft). But is the normal hair transplantation in Turkey still cost-effective with the addition of travel expenses, hotel costs and food?
Flights to Istanbul cost an average of 150 USD each way from the UK, which means one would spend 300 USD total for flight expenses. An overnight stay in a reasonable hotel costs roughly 80 USD. If one assumes that one day is necessary for the journey, one for acclimatization and pre-treatment, one for the operation, one for regeneration and post-treatment and one for departure, the cost for the four nights oft accommodation is approximately 320 USD. If we calculate with an average of 30 USD per day for meals, with half the meals per day for arrival and departure, the total is 120 USD. You would have to add about 740 USD to the cost of the hair transplant. The calculation example is greatly simplified and in reality, other additional costs are possible but would continue to be relatively cheap, since Turkey is a very inexpensive country.
Since hair transplants are often charged per graft, hair transplantation in Turkey is only worthwhile after a certain number of grafts. For example, let’s assume that you would need to have 500 grafts transplanted: In Turkey this would cost 935 USD (Cost per Graft plus base fee) and in UK 1,610 USD. If you add the 740 USD of additional costs to the price of the procedure in Turkey, you would spend 1,675 USD. Thus, hair transplantation in Turkey for a small number of grafts would be more expensive. The so-called “break even”, i.e. the point at which the costs are identical in both countries, would be about 520 grafts. However, since a large number of grafts are usually transplanted, selecting to have the procedure performed in Turkey is financially worthwhile for most patients – even with additional costs. According to our hair transplant statistics most patients have medium norwood hair loss degree (NW4) and need therefore between 2,500 and 3,500 Grafts.
In addition, many clinics in Turkey now offer “all-inclusive packages”. These packages often cover all additional costs besides the actual operation – from flights to hotel costs. This simplifies the process for patients and makes Turkey an even more appealing alternative for residents in the UK.
However, the price should not be the main decision criterion. It is far more important to assess the quality of the doctor and clinic. An excellent way to evaluate the quality of treatment is to read the experience reports from previous patients for the respective doctors in our results section.
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Best hair transplant doctors in Turkey
32 doctors and clinics verified by Medihair offer hair transplants in Turkey. Of these best hair transplant doctors , 28 hair surgeons are based in Istanbul. An overview of the results of these doctors in Turkey is provided in the before and after section above, simply click on the respective result for more information about costs and the evaluation. According to our research around 700 clinics offer hair transplants in Turkey. However, only a part are licensed clinics or doctor’s practice as shown in the following graphic.
| All-Inclusive | Mid-Tier | Highest Quality |
All-inclusive package ranging from 1,500 USD – 3,000 USD. | 1 USD per graft – 1.5 USD graft | 2 USD per graft – 3 USD per graft |
Minimal involvement from the surgeon, the majority of the procedures are performed by typically less experienced technicians. | Higher surgeon involvement than in the All-Inclusive category. | Highest amount of surgeon involvement with the surgeon performing all of the graft extractions and incisions. |
Some clinics will see up to 30 patients seeking hair transplants in a single day. | Only one to three patients a day meaning each patient receives more personalized care. | Only one patient is seen each day, this category gives the most personalized care for the patient. |
No limit to the number of grafts extracted, even extremely large amounts from 4,500-5,500 are done in one session. | The clinic sets a limit of 3,000 grafts in one session. | The clinic has an even lower limit than Category 2 with only 2,000 grafts being extracted in one session. |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very affordable price. | The actual hair transplant is performed by technicians rather than the surgeon. |
| All-inclusive package deal. | Up to 30 patients treated per day. |
| Hairline design and consultation are usually performed by the surgeon. | No limit to the number of grafts extracted per session with as many as 5,500 grafts being extracted in one sitting. |
| Can pay for a “VIP” package to receive higher doctor involvement. | Little to no knowledge or experience with performing repairs for hair transplants. |
| Treatments are performed quickly instead of the patients needing to stay for an extended period of time to complete multiple sessions. | Unnatural looking hairlines are most commonly found in results from this category of clinics. |
| The hair transplantation process tend to be rushed due to the large influx of patients, leading to improper management of the donor area. | |
| Little to no consistency in results. |
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| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Prices are adjusted based on the number of grafts needed. | The surgeons in this category are sometimes not as skilled at creating a high density of hair as surgeons in the Highest-Quality category. |
| Higher degree of surgeon involvement with the surgeon always making the incisions as well as conducting the consultation and the hairline design. | More costly than the all-inclusive category of clinics. |
| The limited number of patients means there is a more personalized approach to the treatment. | These clinics have less experience with using graft extractions of body hair for hair transplantation on the scalp. |
| Single grafts are placed along the hairline giving it a more natural appearance. | Patients must find their own hotels, flights and meals and must pay these costs in addition to the cost of the hair transplantation. |
| There is a limit placed on the number of grafts extracted each day, this prevents tiredness and the loss of precision. |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The most natural looking results come from the clinics in the Highest-Quality category at the most consistent standard of quality. | These clinics are the costliest option for hair transplants in Turkey. |
| These clinics are the most skilled at hair restoration, particularly in the crown and temporal areas. | Patients must find their own hotels, flights and meals and must pay these costs in addition to the cost of the hair transplantation. |
| The surgeons in these clinics have the most experience using body hair to transplant to the head. | These clinics take the longest amount of time with a full treatment lasting three days for roughly 4,500 grafts. |
| The doctors at these clinics have the highest degree of involvement performing personal consultations, hairline design, graft extraction, and incisions. |
Our tip
The prices and quality of hair transplant clinics in Turkey vary greatly. Every day, we receive excellent results from patients as well as cruel and unnatural results. This makes it all the more important to be well informed before deciding on a clinic in Turkey. We have extensively reviewed many hair transplant providers in the Turkish market and our experts are happy to inform you about the results. Request results now ->
Save up to $3,200
Save time and compare without obligation, free of charge
and quickly several hair transplant offers.
Hair Transplant methods and costs in Turkey
The average price for the FUE method in Turkey is only 1.07 USD per graft. In the UK average of 3.22 USD per Graft is charged. It is nearly impossible to find a cheaper rate in the UK or US.
In Turkey, the FUE method is almost exclusively practiced and the FUT hair transplant is very rare. DHI hair transplants are also often offered. Modern removal techniques, such as the ARTAS robot, are not yet used in the country. Also, alternative hair loss treatment methods, like PRP therapy, are not widely offered. However, some doctors do offer micro hair pigmentation (MHP). However, hair pigmentation in Turkey is not significantly cheaper than in the UK or in the US.
- The hair transplantation industry in Turkey is extremely competitive which is partially why the clinics there offer such low prices for their procedures to help attract patients especially from foreign countries. However, this can lead to medical tourists only looking at price as a factor for choosing a clinic and receiving an undesirable result from an inexperienced physician. Researching clinics and the surgeon’s experience prior to deciding where you will have your transplant is very important.
- Medical tourism is very popular in Turkey, each year more than 100,000 people travel to Turkey to receive a hair transplant. Many people feel a sense of shame or as though they are only person who would make the decision to travel to Turkey for a hair transplant when in reality, they are one of thousands.
- In Turkey hair transplantation clinics are separated into two major categories, those which are all-inclusive and provide package deals for the treatments or those which charge patients based on the number of grafts. While the all-inclusive category is convenient, it can also be an indicator of low-quality work. The transplants performed at these clinics are carried out by technicians rather than surgeons. The results are therefore inconsistent because of the varying degree of experience each technician has. The second category is more expensive, but the work is carried out by the surgeons rather than technicians, so patients can expect higher quality results with more consistency.
History of hair transplants in Turkey
The history of hair transplants in Turkey dates back to the first ever procedure performed by Dr. Menahem Hodara in 1897. While treating hair loss caused by ‘favus’, Hodara harvested follicles from the unaffected scalp and inserted them into the favus-affected region. The results were amazingly successful and the rest is history!
The Rise of Medical Tourism
Over the years there was a significant development in hair transplant methods all over the world, notably in Japan, the USA, and Europe. Turkey may have been the destination for one of the first few hair transplants in the world but Turkish medical tourism didn’t take off until 2003. That’s when airlines started offering low-cost flights to Turkey from western European countries like the UK.
With cheaper flights, a low cost of labor, and a convenient location, Turkey was all-set to disrupt the international medical tourism market. To boost revenue earned through medical tourism, Turkey reformed its healthcare system to rival that of western countries. In 2013, the country introduced a publicly funded healthcare system that included the inauguration of world-class public hospitals.
By 2014, the Turkish Ministry of Health was focusing on acquiring accreditation of healthcare providers to raise the country’s medical standards. Marketing, translation services, and other areas were being fine-tuned to support the medical tourism industry. Turkey even implemented initiatives to boost the number of medical school graduates and other incentives that encouraged healthcare institutions to cater to foreigners.
At the forefront of this revolution were hair transplant clinics and professionals that were turning hair restoration into the biggest medical tourism niche in the country.
The Turkish Hair Transplant Industry Today
Today, medical tourism in Turkey is a 7 billion USD industry with hair transplants being the most lucrative niche. Furthermore, the latest statistics indicate that there are somewhere around 250 hair transplant clinics in Istanbul and 700 hair transplant providers in Turkey. It is estimated that 1,05 million people traveled to Turkey for a hair transplant in 2021 alone. In 2019, 750,000 hair transplants were performed in Turkey. The turkish hair transplant clinics generated a revenue of 1.8 billion USD in 2021. This may have contributed around 10 billion USD to the Turkish economy as a whole (tourism, accommodation etc.).
Turkey’s medical tourism is growing by approximately 22.6% each year. There’s no doubt that the country’s investment has paid off and resulted in a massive improvement in its healthcare sector. With a successful collaboration of the tourism and medical industries, Turkey has established itself as a world leader in affordable, world-class hair transplant services.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does hair transplant cost in Turkey?
Is it safe to get a hair transplant in Turkey?
Which is the best hair transplant clinic in Turkey?
Why are hair transplants so cheap in Turkey?
Is a hair transplant permanent?
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