People researching their hair transplant options online often come across ads for hair transplants in Turkey.
The CDC reports that medical tourism of all types is growing at a fast clip, especially for in-demand cosmetic procedures like hair restoration.
Trips for cosmetic surgery tourism are often promoted as being lower cost and hassle-free.
Medical Tourism is on the Rise
And one of the top types of medical procedure being pushed to prospective patients from the US is hair transplant surgery for men dealing with hair loss.
Many hair restoration clinics abroad characterize their services as all-inclusive package vacations, where everything is taken care of and you return looking better than before.
Turkey has become a very popular destination for these hair transplant procedures, with clinics there investing quite a lot into recruiting international patients from the US.
With Turkish hair restoration clinics seemingly popping up everywhere and such great demand for these procedures, many people facing hair loss are curious about whether a hair transplant surgery in Turkey might be a good option.
Although a low-cost hair transplant in Turkey may sound appealing, there are many drawbacks to having your surgery done in a foreign country – and several potential risks you need to take seriously.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of getting a hair transplant procedure done in Turkey.
The Allure of Getting a Hair Transplant in Turkey
The number one reason why people consider going to Turkey is their supposedly affordable prices – the average cost of hair transplant surgery is advertised as being lower there.
Hair transplant costs, both here in the US and abroad, vary widely depending on how much you need done, which clinic you choose, what type of procedure you opt for and more.
Which means that your hair transplant in the US may work out to being just as affordable as one in Turkey.
But generally speaking, hair transplant prices can sometimes work out to be lower in Turkey, making them a seemingly attractive option for those in the early stages of research.
However, those competitive prices usually come with a tradeoff – lower quality of care and, often, less-skilled practitioners.
The outcomes are frequently not what was advertised, resulting in the need for expensive re-treatments and even corrective surgeries to cover undesirable or disfiguring results.
The True Cost of Turkish Hair Transplants
Here at North Atlanta Hair Restoration, we have unfortunately had to fix botched hair restoration procedures performed in Turkey for hair transplant patients displeased with their results.
We have also had to basically start from scratch when a Turkish hair transplant has failed – which is a challenge, because many of these surgeries leave the best donor sites overharvested.
The result is a much greater expense than what a US hair transplant would have cost and added time, stress, anxiety and even shame.
These experiences are not uncommon, and lead many to wonder: Is a Turkish hair transplant really worth it?
The Downsides of Turkish Hair Transplant Surgery
Lack of Oversight and Training
The proliferation of low-cost hair restoration clinics in Turkey means there are a lot of clinics out there doing less-than-expert hair restoration surgeries.
Access to the latest training, tools and technology are essential – and something not all Turkish hair restoration clinics have.
A looser regulatory structure also means that Turkish clinics may be subject to less strict oversight and lower training standards, resulting in less clinical expertise and potential safety and hygiene concerns.
Many of these clinics may also rely heavily on surgical techs to perform their procedures, with little or no guidance from highly trained and experienced hair transplant surgeons.
This lack of expert surgical oversight can put you at risk, resulting in less-than-successful results or something as serious as an infection.
Of course, there are certainly some Turkish hair transplant clinics that do good work that’s safe, effective and hygienic.
But finding these reputable clinics can be a challenge, especially with so many low-quality clinics operating freely.
Language Barriers
Even the most minor surgical procedure can be a little scary, and that anxiety can be compounded when you’re in a foreign country with little knowledge of the language or customs.
While many Turkish transplant clinics feature slick websites written in perfect English, the reality once you get there is often very difficult.
Many of the “hair transplant specialists” you wind up dealing with speak imperfect English, if they even speak English at all.
You may find yourself communicating through a translator – or not be quite sure who you’re talking to during your experience.
Even a slight language barrier can mean the difference feeling comfortable, well-informed and safe and feeling like you have no control over what’s about to happen.
It’s important to recognize the dangers of poor communication with your medical providers, especially if you have health concerns or challenges your doctor needs to understand clearly.
Limited Post-Operative Support
One of the biggest drawbacks to having hair transplant surgery done abroad is the lack of access to quality post-surgery support.
Many of these hair clinics in Turkey offer no in-person follow up care for their foreign clients – and little in the way of remote support afterward, either.
Good support after your surgery can be crucial to the success of your hair transplant.
Having easy access to medical advice after your procedure can also help assuage any post-op anxiety or concerns.
Access to expert medical advice and care is also essential in case complications should arise from your surgery.
A skilled surgical hair transplant team can advise you, work to manage any complications, and help coordinate care if you need it.
Poor Monitoring, Poor Outcomes
One of the biggest wildcards when it comes to having hair transplant surgery abroad is gauging the success of the procedure.
Transplanted hair follicles can take a few months to root in place, and follicular viability is always a concern.
Of course, expert extraction and advanced techniques for placement are key to having lots of healthy transplanted follicles.
But without access to an experienced surgeon and his team nearby to monitor how everything is healing and taking root after the surgery, you won’t even know if you can expect a good outcome.
What’s more, even the best hair transplants won’t show any new hair growth until several months after the procedure.
That means you might be waiting, and waiting, for an unsuccessful procedure to grow.
Good post-op monitoring and follow up care with your physician can give you excellent insight into how well everything is coming along.
That means your surgeon can assess your progress regularly and amend your hair restoration treatment plan to achieve the results you want in a timely fashion.
The alternative is guessing, and hoping, and waiting up to a year to see if the hair is growing in with the desired thickness.
Then, if it isn’t, that means spending more money to fly back to Turkey for another roll-of-the-dice hair transplant procedure – or paying to have your failed hair transplant corrected by a qualified hair restoration surgeon in the US.
The Better Alternative to Hair Transplants in Turkey
The team at North Atlanta Hair Restoration has been helping people achieve their hair restoration goals for over a decade.
Our physician-led practice specializes in the latest surgical hair transplant techniques, including gold standard transplant procedures like Shave-Less FUE, which doesn’t require shaving the head.
Daniel A. Danyo, MD, MBA, is an experienced hair transplant surgeon and one of less than 250 doctors who hold the title of Diplomate from the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery – the only recognized certification for hair restoration surgery.
He founded North Atlanta Hair Restoration in 2012 to provide advanced hair restoration in a medically safe environment, and he and his team will perform your hair transplant operation using expert technique and care.
When you opt for hair restoration surgery at our practice in Alpharetta, Georgia, you’ll receive:
- Clear answers to all your hair restoration questions
- A personalized consultation and treatment plan
- World-class surgical care from our veteran team of expert hair transplant specialists
- Post-operative care to monitor your healing and progress
- Easy access to members of your care team, including Dr. Danyo
- Ability to schedule follow up care whenever you need it
We think you’ll find our high standard of care to be a better value than any hair transplant you might get in Turkey.
Choose the Safer, More Reliable Way to a Full Head of Hair
Don’t take any chances with your safety, sanity and appearance.
Let the experts at North Atlanta Hair Restoration help you achieve the fuller head of hair you’ve been missing with natural-looking results – all in a safe and familiar environment.
Call us today at (678) 845-7521 or book online to schedule a virtual or in-person consultation.
