Hair Transplant Costs In Turkey: Is It Worth The Risk?

Turkey is a popular hair transplant destination because of its low upfront cost. While there are some excellent hair transplant clinics in Turkey, many unlicensed surgeons also offer black-market hair transplants. These clinics have a notoriously poor safety record, with over 96% of International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery members reporting that up to one-quarter of the hair transplant repairs they performed in 2022 were due to previous black-market surgeries.

Is a hair transplant in Turkey worth the risk? Let’s discuss the cost and risks and what Dr. Heil recommends.

Hair transplant is cheaper in Turkey…

Istanbul is Turkey’s central hub for international tourism, including clinics offering Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). Hair transplant research in Turkey shows:

The average hair transplant in Istanbul costs $1,840
The cheapest price quoted price was $1,050, while the highest was $3,150
The average price per graft was $0.69
On average, surgeons have twelve years of experience in completing hair transplant surgery

If you have progressive hair loss and need many grafts, traveling to Turkey for your surgery could substantially reduce the cost of your transplant. But the high number of grafts quoted puts you at an increased risk of overharvesting, so you may need more donor hair left if you need future procedures. And while the cost per graft is low, you could be quoted a higher number of grafts than you need, artificially inflating the price of your transplant.

…but may have a higher rate of needing repair later on

According to Ricardo Meija, MD, even the larger, more established hair transplant clinics in Istanbul don’t always adhere to the legal requirement to have a doctor carry out the hair transplant procedure. Some clinics are estimated to perform up to 50 surgeries daily, resulting in unsuccessful transplants and medical complications. The data suggest that Turkish clinics harvest more grafts than needed. More significant scarring is another risk if your surgeon is inexperienced or unlicensed.

Getting a hair transplant in Turkey is the right choice for many people because they find licensed clinics with conscientious health and safety measures. In turn, they get a quality, lasting hair transplant. If you’re considering a hair transplant in Turkey, consider the following:

Check patient reviews and conduct thorough research to ensure the clinic follows high health and safety standards
Who’s assessing your hair loss, and how? If your consultant is inexperienced or unqualified, the number of grafts you’re quoted may not be accurate.
Are the added extras worth it?
What can they do to fix your transplant if it goes wrong?
What action can you take against the clinic if needed? Turkish clinics open and close quickly, leaving you with little to no options if they botch your hair transplant.
What kind of aftercare will you receive?
What happens if you’re unhappy with your long-term results?

Dr. Heil advises against cut-rate hair transplant procedures

Dr. Heil recommends against medical tourism deals that offer superior results at bargain prices. Surgeons need expertise for these procedures to look natural and avoid increased risks of complications.

If you are seeking treatment for hair loss, you must feel confident in your doctor’s professionalism, skills, and experience. At our Center for Hair Restoration, we work closely with men to help them achieve a younger, more vital look with hair loss treatments, all performed in a comfortable, private practice in Pittsburgh and Wexford, Pennsylvania. Dr. Heil has achieved prominence in plastic surgery and offers his male patients the most advanced hair restoration technology.

Hair Transplant Costs In Turkey: Is It Worth The Risk?