Having hair transplants abroad has become even more popular recently. According to WhatClinic.com, it has seen a 180% increase. In the UK, a hair transplant can cost around £3000 to £13,000, while in Turkey, it could be as low as £1600
Patients from UK and Europe travel to Turkey to seek affordable treatments. But Turkey's proximity also plays a factor in why patients prefer to travel to it.
Aside from saving costs, it is a low-risk procedure
Many patients feel comfortable having a hair transplant abroad because a hair transplant abroad carries lower risks compared to other invasive treatments.
Hair transplant success rate abroad
Most clinics abroad report a success rate of 92% to 95%, reflecting the level of expertise and quality of the treatment.
Confidential and private
Some patients want to keep their medical choices private, so seeking treatment abroad provides them with more confidentiality. Medical tourism offers a solution for this problem; you can publicly announce you're going on holiday while seeking the treatment you desire.
Access to excellent hair transplant surgeons
Renowned institutions with international accreditations have top-class surgeons, and they are trained and with years of experience in hair restoration. You can evaluate their experience based on the awards and credentials on their website or the clinic website.
Have a clear expectation of the results: understand the procedure plan you need. Visit your local doctor and check what treatment best suits your case.
Prepare a list of questions for your doctor: prepare a list of questions to ensure you receive quality treatment. Common questions to ask - do they provide a translator? Do they have patients' testimonials? Is the clinic registered with the national association?
Create a shortlist of possible clinics abroad: research the clinic you're planning to visit overseas. Most reputable clinics will have an official website, and you can examine the doctor's expertise, reviews, and credentials.
Check the local regulation: It is essential to know how dental treatment is regulated in your chosen country. This will help you identify reputable clinics registered with the governing body or national association. It will also tell you about your rights.
If you're concerned about your hair thinning and have good hair follicle density in your donor area, you're an ideal candidate for a hair transplant.
Some of the factors that affect the cost are the location of the clinics, the surgeon's experience, and the technique used.
Country | Estimated Cost |
UK |
€5000 - €30,000 |
USA |
€4000 - €15,000 |
Turkey | €1600 - €2450 |
Australia | €8000 - €13,000 |
Learn more about Hair Transplant in Turkey by comparing costs and reviewing the clinics and doctors.
An overnight stay is not required.
4 to 8 hours.
Patients can usually travel immediately after the surgery, but it is advised to stay for at least 3 days after the surgery.
The patient should stop the intake of any soft drugs, alcohol, anti-inflammatory medicine, aspirin, vitamins, supplements, and herbs at least one week before the surgery.
Patients may feel itchy sensations and some pain during the first weeks after a hair transplant. During this time some bleeding may occur but it’s unlikely. A study by M.A. Nilforoushzadeh and his team reveals that post-operative effects can include swelling, numbness, or infections which can be easily treated with antibiotics.
The success rate of this procedure depends heavily on the recovery period and the patient’s ability to follow the surgeon’s guidelines. According to a study on hair transplant by Alfonso Barrera M. D., patients usually experience a success rate of 95% after a year – “success rate” refers to hair growing naturally in the recipient area.
The patient must have a clear understanding of the procedure itself and what to expect from it. The immediate post-operative recovery period is essential for the success of the operation but results come into full effect only a year after surgery when the hair in the recipient area starts growing naturally and is indistinguishable from the rest of the patient’s hair.
You can expect to get back to work 3 to 7 days after the surgery.
1 week after the surgery.
FUT or Follicular Unit Transplant is one of the more traditional hair restoration techniques still in use in certain medical centers around the world. The Follicular Unit Transplant procedure begins with the doctor outlining a thin strip of the scalp from the back of the patient’s head.
This area is usually unaffected by alopecia and hair follicles have a higher chance of growing successfully after transplant. The hair follicles are then removed from the strip of the scalp with the help of a microscope – they will be later divided into single units containing 1-3 hair follicles.
The patient’s scalp is then sewn back together and the implant phase of the procedure can begin. FUT hair transplants are generally more affordable than other hair restoration techniques simply due to the fact that the extraction phase is much quicker but patients who prefer short hair usually opt for a different technique since FUT leaves a long scar along the patient’s back of the head.
Patients prone to keloid scarring should opt for a different technique since the scar will be quite noticeable.
FUE or Follicular Unit Extraction is another established hair restoration technique where instead of a strip of the scalp being removed to harvest hair follicles, a punch is used. The punch creates a circular mico-incision around a group of hair follicles or single hair follicles,
removing it from the scalp. The Follicular Unit Extraction technique leaves small open holes in the scalp which will heal within a few weeks, leaving tiny white scars once fully healed. Once enough hair follicles are extracted through this method, the surgeon is ready to start implanting them into the desired area.
The biggest advantage of FUE over FUT is the minimal scarring after the procedure and the fact that patients can resume their daily activities faster. Unfortunately, FUE is somewhat more expensive than FUT, since this technique is more time-consuming.
In some cases, the survival rate of transplanted hair follicles can be lower with the FUE technique, if the hair follicle roots are affected during extraction. By opting for an experienced hair restoration surgeon, patients can minimize any risks and enjoy a higher survival rate for implanted follicles.
Direct Hair Implantation is sometimes called a “Micro-FUE” hair transplant since it uses the same basic technique but with some differences. DHI does not cut into the scalp as with FUE, using only very small micro punches with a diameter of 1 mm or less.
These small punches are minimally invasive, ensuring no scars are left in the donor area. One of the differences between FUE and DHI is the fact that with DHI the hair follicles are carefully extracted one by one before being transferred to the receiving area.
This procedure is always done by a highly trained specialist in order to ensure the best results. The hair follicles are then implanted in the receiving area in a process similar to the FUE technique – a technician will create reception holes in the receiving area before starting to implant the donated hair follicles.