Travel for a Hair Transplant? Think Twice Before Pursuing Treatment in Turkey

Thinking of traveling for a hair transplant? You’re not alone. Medical tourism is a booming industry. An estimated 14 million people travel internationally in search of medical care each year [1], many of them for cosmetic procedures. However, just because medical tourism is growing doesn’t mean it is right for everyone. There are increasing concerns about medical mistakes, inappropriate treatments, poor outcomes, and lack of training tied to medical tourism.

If you are considering a hair transplant, you may have heard about the popularity of treatment in Turkey. Before booking a ticket to Istanbul, it is important to consider the risks of hair transplant treatment in Turkey. Once you have the facts, you may decide to stay stateside for better hair transplant outcomes and care.

What is a Hair Transplant?

A hair transplant involves removing hair from one part of the head and transplanting it to an area with thinning or no hair, where it will take root and grow.

Why Travel to Turkey?

Turkey is a popular destination for hair transplant procedures since the cost of the procedure there is generally lower than in other countries. But the cost of a hair transplant procedure should only be one among several considerations, including the training and experience of the surgeon and the results and success rate of the clinic. No one wants to receive a sub-par hair transplant, no matter the price.

Risks of Treatment in Turkey

Hair transplant is both art and science, so it is important to connect with an experienced surgeon and a facility that has a track record of success. Finding a knowledgeable surgeon and well-regarded facility can be more challenging in Turkey due to differences in medical training and language barriers. It is important to consider the risks of hair transplant procedures in Turkey before traveling for the procedure.

Risk #1: Differing Education and Standards

Medical standards created to maintain quality of care differ greatly from country to country. To perform most procedures in the United States, doctors must be board certified, which ensures they meet certain requirements including a three to five-year medical residency. In Turkey, doctors need only have completed six to nine months of residency to practice medicine. This is a significant difference in training and education which can impact the quality of medical procedures and the patient healthcare experience.

Risk #2: Unrealistic Expectations

Client education and setting appropriate expectations are vital for a successful hair transplant experience. However, doing so can be challenging with the language barriers many people face in Turkey. Additionally, having a client travel from a distance can raise the stakes of a procedure and lead a clinic to overstate anticipated results. Without honest expectations and an understanding of potential risks, clients may leave Turkey feeling dissatisfied with their results.

Risk #3: Upselling

Clients who travel to Turkey for hair transplant procedures often report being sold on additional services, cosmetic treatments, and medications, all under the guise of boosting their success. Having traveled overseas, clients may feel pressured to do all they can to ensure success, making them an easy target for upselling.

Risk #4: Overharvesting

The increase in medical tourism for hair transplant procedures in Turkey has highlighted concerns about surgeons who overharvest hair from the donor site. When too much hair is removed from the donor area for transplant, both the donor site, where the hair is taken from, and the transplant site, where it is placed, suffer. The last thing someone dealing with hair loss wants is a procedure that results in lower quality hair in both the donor and transplant site. Modern advances like those used in SmartGraft hair transplants can allow providers to harvest fewer follicles while delivering excellent outcomes.

Risk #5: Excessive Density

We all want full, thick hair, but hair transplant surgeons must be precise in their placement of follicles. Too much density in a hair transplant procedure can result in complications, a particular risk of having the procedure in Turkey. When a scalp is overloaded with follicles or grafts, or they are placed too close together, the appearance can be unnatural. The excessive density may result in complications including scarring and infection.

Risk #6: Poor Hairline Design

Your hairline has a significant impact on your appearance, especially for men. Creating a natural-looking hairline with a hair transplant procedure is complex work best performed by an expert. Hair transplant procedures performed in Turkey carry the risk of poorly designed hairlines such as those that appear too straight and/or have unnatural angles. To create a natural hairline, a surgeon must consider several factors including a person’s age and the unique shape of their face. When the creation of the hairline does not factor in, the transplanted hair may not naturally blend with the existing hair.

Risk #7: Incorrect Angles

You probably take for granted that your hair grows in a consistent direction, but this is just one of many factors that transplant surgeons must consider to ensure natural-looking results. Follicles must be precisely placed at appropriate angles and in correct directions during the hair transplant procedure. Without a focus on this detail, some procedures performed in Turkey have resulted in hair that appears irregular and inconsistent.

Risk #8: Limited Follow-Up Care

Traveling to Turkey for a hair transplant poses the risk of a lack of vital follow-up care after the procedure. Since the client lives in another country and must return home, aftercare appointments are often ignored or limited, which may impede recovery and impact long-term success.

If Not Turkey, Where?

While the price of hair transplant procedures in Turkey can be appealing, it is important to weigh the risks. There are affordable hair restoration options stateside. Achieve the result you want with less travel and fewer risks. Let us introduce you to our experienced surgeons and share examples of our results at AdvancedYOU Hair Restoration.