Are Hair Transplants in Turkey Safe? A Complete Guide

Turkey has become a top destination for medical tourism, with thousands traveling for affordable dental work, plastic surgery, and hair transplants. Hair transplants in particular have exploded in popularity in Turkey.

With prices often 80% less than in Western Europe or North America, it’s easy to see the appeal. But this massive price difference does raise an important question – are cheap hair transplants in Turkey safe?

In this complete guide, we’ll look at:

• The risks and safety concerns with getting a hair transplant in Turkey
• Price comparisons between Turkey and other countries
• How to find a safe, high-quality hair transplant clinic in Turkey
• Questions to ask any clinic you are considering
• Aftercare and being unable to see your surgeon post-op
• Making the decision between home country vs. Turkey

Understanding the Risks of Hair Transplants in Turkey

While Turkey has many skilled surgeons performing high-quality hair transplants every day, there are some risks to be aware of:

Unlicensed “Black Market” Clinics

Turkey struggles with a large “black market” of unlicensed clinics offering cut-rate procedures. These clinics often fail to follow proper safety protocols and hire unqualified staff. This puts patients at greater risk of:

• Infection
• Permanent scarring
• Unsuccessful grafts and poor hair growth

Up to 25% of procedures done by reputable surgeons are to fix hair transplants done at illegal clinics.

Overharvesting

Some Turkish clinics recommend higher numbers of grafts than a patient actually needs. This is concerning because it:

• Increases the cost of the procedure
• Can use up too much donor hair, compromising options for future transplants if needed

Inexperienced Surgeons

While many Turkish surgeons are highly skilled, the massive demand also means some clinics hire new surgeons with little training or experience. This significantly raises the risks of a poor outcome.

Language Barriers

English proficiency varies widely in Turkey. Not being able to effectively communicate with your surgeon is risky.

Limited Legal Recourse

Clinics open and close frequently. If you have a poor outcome or issues arise, taking legal action can be difficult if not impossible.

No Local Post-Op Care

You must return home shortly after your transplant. If concerns come up during recovery, you won’t have your surgeon available to examine you in-person.

Cost Comparison: Hair Transplants in Turkey vs Other Countries

Price is usually the top consideration for those seeking a hair transplant in Turkey. Just how much cheaper are procedures compared to other destinations?

A survey of hair transplant costs in the UK and Turkey found:

• UK: Average cost of £4,820, ranging from £1,995 to £15,000. Average of 1,610 grafts recommended.
• Turkey: Average cost of £1,464, ranging from £850 to £2,490. Average of 2,822 grafts recommended.

The average cost per graft was £3.25 in the UK compared to just £0.55 in Turkey – approximately 83% cheaper.

For a patient needing a large number of grafts, this represents massive savings. However, the much higher number of grafts recommended in Turkey raises concerns about overharvesting.

Finding a Safe, Reliable Hair Transplant Clinic in Turkey

While risks exist, thousands still safely undergo hair transplants in Turkey every year. Here’s how to find a clinic you can trust:

Research Thoroughly

Spend time reading reviews, talking to past patients, and researching each clinic under consideration. Some warning signs include:

• Reluctance to have an in-person consult before booking surgery
• Offering free flights or other deals if you book quickly
• Bad reviews mentioning safety issues, infections, or poor outcomes

Choose an Accredited Facility

Look for accreditation from:

• The Joint Commission International (JCI) – Verifies strict health and safety standards. Turkey has the most JCI accredited hospitals outside the US.
• The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) – Ensures surgeons meet experience requirements and follow best practices.

Meet Your Surgeon

Have an in-depth video consultation with your surgeon to ask questions and assess their skills and English proficiency.

Ask how many procedures they have performed, look for training in the US or Europe, and verify board certification in hair restoration surgery.

Understand the Clinic’s Safety Protocols

Inquire about specific safety measures like:

• Sterilization procedures for equipment
• Screening of grafts, blood, and tissue for infectious diseases
• Use of antibiotics before and after surgery
• Steps taken to avoid bacterial infection and graft failure

Essential Questions to Ask Any Hair Transplant Clinic in Turkey

Don’t be afraid to ask any potential clinic plenty of questions:

• How many grafts do you recommend, and why? Be wary of numbers significantly above averages.
• What training and certifications does your surgical team have?
• How many procedures has the surgeon performed? Generally 500+ indicates sufficient experience.
• What specific safety measures and sterilization procedures do you follow?
• What is your clinic’s graft survival rate? Ask for data on average growth results.
• What type of support do you provide if I have concerns after returning home?
• Do you have a UK office or staff I can contact for follow-ups?
• What steps will you take if I am unsatisfied with my long-term results?

Thorough vetting with detailed questions is critical to avoiding unsafe clinics offering illegally cheap prices. Legitimate clinics will be happy to provide in-depth answers.

Difficulties of Aftercare Following Hair Transplants in Turkey

Undergoing any procedure far from home creates difficulties if follow-up care is needed. With hair transplants, you must return home soon after surgery.

Unfortunately, complications like infection can arise days or weeks later. Other common concerns include:

• Unexpected pain, swelling or scarring
• Grafts failing to take and grow new hair as expected
• Detecting early signs of permanent shock loss

Being unable to simply pop in and have your surgeon examine you is a real downside. You’ll likely have to contact the clinic by email or pay a local doctor for examinations.

This makes it essential to follow all post-care instructions diligently – avoiding bumps or trauma to the scalp, keeping the area clean, taking prescribed antibiotics, etc.

Deciding Between a Hair Transplant at Home or in Turkey

For those considering a hair transplant, is it better to pay more locally or take a chance with lower prices abroad? Here are some factors to weigh:

Considering Turkey

• Cost savings, often 50% or more compared to other countries
• Good option if you need a large number of grafts
• Many skilled and experienced surgeons

Considering Home Country

• More legal protections and recourse if problems occur
• Ability to meet surgeon and clinic staff in advance
• In-person follow-ups and monitoring during recovery
• Less need to travel soon after surgery

For safety, your home country may be worth the added expense. But with proper research and planning, Turkey can also be a more affordable option.

The Bottom Line – Are Hair Transplants in Turkey Safe?

There are absolutely skilled surgeons in Turkey performing successful, affordable hair transplants every day. However, Turkey’s massive boom in hair restoration medicine has also given rise to concerns.

By thoroughly researching clinics, confirming proper accreditation and training, asking plenty of questions, and following post-procedure care instructions, getting a hair transplant in Turkey can be perfectly safe.

But the risks of unlicensed clinics, inexperienced staff, and the inability to follow-up in person mean traveling abroad does require accepting a higher degree of risk. Being unable to have in-person consultations or follow-up care with your surgeon may make some feel more comfortable choosing a local option despite the higher prices.

Ultimately there is no one-size-fits-all answer – there are good arguments on both sides. Deciding what makes the most sense for your specific needs and risk tolerance is a personal choice. But arm yourself with as much information as possible, ask lots of questions, and don’t commit to any clinic that raises red flags or makes you uncomfortable.