Hello! We are pleased to provide you with detailed information about the hair transplantation process in this section, offering answers to the most frequently asked questions. Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure performed to restore the natural growth of hair for individuals experiencing hair loss. We guide you with frequently asked questions and their answers. If you have more questions or would like personalized information, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to assist you!
It is recommended to avoid the use of tobacco or tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes), shisha, hookah (water pipe), etc. We advise our patience not to smoke at the day of the operation until a few days after. Nicotine causes excessive bleeding and has an immense impact on the course of the operation and the healing process after the surgery. Regarding the results of the operation, we underline the fact that the toxics in any tobacco product harms the hair follicles and graft. If the patient cannot quit smoking just before the surgery, it is strongly recommended to minimize the consumption of nicotine products before the operation.
A hair transplant is a cosmetic surgery and is mostly not covered by insurance policies.
Turkey has a high number of clinics that perform hair transplant, there are highly recommended clinics in Istanbul. It is your task to inform yourself best about all offers, the clinic or hospital, the surgeons and their team, the procedure itself, the sterile environment during the surgery and the quality of the devices used during the hair transplant and the post-operative care products. You can check the clinics web pages and reviews from former patients.
It is not advisable to consume alcohol, tobacco, green tea, coffee as well as any blood thinners (such as Aspirin) at least 10 days before the hair transplant procedure.
Before the surgery we will take a blood sample and do a hemogram to test the amount of white and red blood cells in your blood to make sure that you do not have anemia or an infection. Simultaneously your blood will also be tested for transmitted disease like Hepatitis B or C, HIV, Syphilis, (…).
You will be asked for the payment on the same day of your operation, and you are free to pay in cash or with credit card. If you decide to make the payment with your credit card, be sure you have your mobile phone with you and data roaming, because you might receive a SMS by your bank to verify the payment.
Your front hairline will be agreed with our medical team before the operation. The creation of the front hairline will be recommended by the team, which will also note the wishes you might bring up (also your age, size of your bald area and face shape).
We warmly advise you to avoid smoking or the use of any other tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes), shisha, hookah (water pipe), etc. The consumption of tobacco products right after the operation causes that your body will not be supplied with enough oxygen and therefore slows the healing process. It also causes that you will not get optimal results with your hair transplant. Always keep in mind, that nicotine in any form causes excessive bleeding and the toxic chemicals tobacco products contain affect the graft and new hair follicles. If you cannot quit smoking just before the surgical intervention, please make sure to drop your consumption to a minimum.
Yes, after the procedure you will be able to walk but you have to make sure that you won’t get a sweaty head and also, that you are in good conditions after the local anesthesia before you start walking again. So, after the operation just take your time to relax a little and start standing up straight and walking a few steps before you leave the clinic after your hair transplant.
After two weeks after the hair transplant, you are allowed to wear any kind of headgear such as helmet, cap, hat or beanie (…).
Usually, it is not recommended to cut or shave the hair in the donor area noticeably short after the operation. The reason for this is that it hinders hair regrowth. After the operation, you will have a lower density in the donor area than before, as the transplanted hair was removed here. For this reason, it can be noticeable for others if you cut the hair in the donor area shorter than a centimeter. We therefore recommend that you do not cut your hair just above the scalp after the operation.
This surgical procedure is the transfer from the grafts in the donor area to those in the recipient area. The removed hair in the donor area does not grow back again because it has been extracted together with the entire bulb or follicles and planted in the recipient area.
It is recommended that you follow a balanced diet such as fruit and vegetables with lean meat, chicken (etc.) in order to regulate your vitamin, mineral and protein balance, which promotes healthy hair growth. Do not hesitate to ask for advice if you follow a specific diet.
Wearing a cap or headgear is allowed 2 weeks after the medical surgery. We can provide you a special protective hat to keep your head from dust, rain or the sun.
After your surgery, a PH neutral shampoo or shampoo without chemicals is recommended and should be used at least 6 months after the operation. Please ask us for any further recommendation.
The visit to the solarium or taking a sunbathe (direct U.V. rays) should be avoided for at least 6 months after the hair transplant.
In the first two weeks after your operation, we advise you to wash your hair every day gently and cautious.
After the operation we bandage around the base or bottom of scalp to prevent it from swelling and occurring swelling on your face. It is rare that the face swells after such procedure. In case it swells anyways it will be gone after one week. We recommend avoiding salty food after the operation and make sure to drink at least three liters of water a day after the surgery.
We highly recommend the use of Minoxidil (5%) spray or foam to prevent existing hair from falling out. It can be used by almost all patients to help increase the density of hair especially in the crown area because blood circulation on the crown of your head is weaker than on other parts of your scalp. With time, the frequent use of Minoxidil will increase the density of your hair. Make sure to apply it gently and cautious with your fingers, not your nails. Do not hesitate to ask our medical team for further advice.
The bandage can be removed one or two days after the hair transplant.
We do not advise to have sex up to two days after the operation. Sexual intercourse increases the blood flow and blood pressure which puts pressure on the grafts and can push them out. Between the third (3rd) and tenth (10th) after the hair transplant you can be sexually active again but need to be very careful that neither you or your partner touches the transplanted area, you do not move too heavy and that you do not lay face down. After two weeks you are free to resume your usual sexual activities.
It is not advisable to shorten the hair with a razor or shaving machine for a minimum of six month after the hair transplant.
We can assure you that the privacy of our patients has absolute priority to us. We respect your right to privacy and according to your wishes we will sign a confidentiality agreement or Non-disclosure Agreement in order to protect your privacy. Otherwise, we will not publish any photos, disclose any information about you without your written permission or consent.
A hair transplant is to date the most effective solution for hair loss and denser hair.
In most cases you will feel a small pain while injecting the local anesthesia for a few seconds. Afterwards the hair transplant itself not causing any pain.
Generally, the patient can have a hair transplant after the age of eighteen. The planning for performing such an operation depends on the density of the hair and the current hair loss. If the patient is healthy and has no health problems that could affect hair growth, performing a hair transplantation or the patient's health, an operation is possible into old age.
The result of a hair transplant and whether one session is sufficient to get permanently thick hair depends on the quality of the hair follicles on the donor area and the type of baldness in relation to the donor area. With our medical team you can be assured that we work with the maximum number of grafts to provide you with a satisfying result.
The hair transplant surgery carries near to no risk. Side effects are not common or minimal. Patients may experience redness, itchiness, dryness or dry skin which are not long lasting and can be treated easily. However, if the scalp is cleaned or regularly washed and the medication taken as prescribed, you may not experience any of the above side effects.
Generally, the hair transplant is a great success since 95% of the transplanted hair grafts will grow.
The result of your hair transplant depends on the density of your hair as well as the density of the donor area. The number of grafts taken from the donor area can vary between four thousand (4000) and five thousand (5000). In rare cases it is even possible to extract up to six thousand (6000) grafts from the donor area.
When it comes to a possible hair transplant, it can be said that active or untreated alopecia will ensure that the hair does not grow in those areas. After successfully treating your alopecia, it is common for hair to grow back on its own. If as a result there are still bald spots, a hair transplant is an option.
The hair transplant is carried out with the FUE method, in which all hair roots are individually removed and inserted so that no visible scars are created.
In most cases the patient can fly within one day after the operation. Some patient want to be on the save side and extend their stay for one day for the professional hair washing before they fly back home.
It is not required to undergo a hair transplant under general anesthesia, because it is not linked to great pain and a general anesthesia would put unnecessary pressure onto your body. The operation will take about six to eight hours under local anesthesia in which you lay and are able to watch tv, read or keep yourself busy with your phone.
The main cause of hair loss in women is mostly hormonal, followed by factors such as pregnancy, stress, lifestyle, emotional shocks, breastfeeding, illness, or personal environmental factors. In addition, the chemicals in hair coloring products can also promote hair loss.
The most common method used is the FUE method which is suitable for all types of baldness.
A beard transplant is similar to a hair transplant, in which the grafts are removed from the donor area (usually the back of the head) and implanted onto the face. With this procedure the density of the beard can be recreated, or a beard or mustache can be constructed. If the amount of hair in the donor area is not enough we will not be able to beard transplant.
First of all, you must be at least 20 years old to have a beard transplant. Furthermore, be sure that you are not taking any medication or have any illnesses that might prevent the beard from growing. Please seek advice from your family doctor before you go to the clinic to make sure that the baldness in your beard is not due to disease or medication. Beard transplants might be an option for patients with very thin beards or patients who have bald spots on the face or no beard at all.
After the operation it takes about 10 months until everything is completely healed and 12 months after the operation until you can see the full result. If the second transplant is performed too early onto an area where grafts already exist but are not producing hair yet we can damage the grafts by opening channels during the second operation. We advise you to wait for your second operation around 15 months after seeing the full result of your previous operation.
The Micro-FUE is a process or procedure that makes the patient benefit from a greater amount of extracted extra grafts from the donor area. In comparison, with the normal FUE hair transplant method the extracted grafts are extracted with some extra skin from the scalp. During the Micro-FUE method the head of the punch will be chosen by the plastic surgeon and during this procedure more grafts are extracted per square centimeter and less skin. As a result, more grafts can be extracted and transplanted onto the bald area by using the Micro-FUE method. Additionally, compared to the normal FUE method, the Micro-FUE method ensures a shorter healing time and a greater hair density of the donor area (back side of the head) regarding hair re-growth or hair coverage after the operation.
It is not allowed to drink alcohol or alcoholic products at a minimum of five days before the operation.
Turkey has become especially in the past years a highly qualified expert regarding hair transplant. Turkey has many experienced surgeons and highly modern clinics who provide excellent services. Additionally, Turkey offers its patients a mostly satisfying price-performance ratio.
It is to say, that the highest proportion of highly recommended hair transplant clinics and surgeons are located in Istanbul. Beside Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya and Ankara are also hair transplant destinations.
After the evaluation if you are a candidate for a hair transplant a date for the operation can be fixed according to your availability and the availability of the doctors at the clinic. Once you have confirmed everything including the date and time for your operation you can then book your flight to Istanbul, Turkey. Please contact us for further details or to book your hair transplant operation.
Do not shave your hair before the hair transplantation. It is not directly necessary to shave all your hair before the operation. Our experts would like to observe your hair density and grows direction to plan the operation accordingly. It is also important to mention that according to the size of the transplantation area it might be not necessary to shave all your hair. Regardless, it is recommended to shave the full head to provide the best circumstances for the surgical team to work as effective and precisely as possible. When it comes to your post-operative comfort it is to mention, that a full head shave is easier to care for, because it reduces possible itchiness and is also more hygienic after the surgery.
In general, it is not required to have an additional person accompany you, because the surgery with be under local anesthesia and under the observation of our team during the operation. If you decide to travel with company to Istanbul, you can do this by additional cost for the hotel in which you will be staying in Istanbul.
It is not advisable to be involved into any sports or strenuous physical activities at least 4 weeks after the surgery. After 2 weeks you can start working out in the gym again, if you do not overexert and prevent yourself from strong sweating and elevating your blood pressure, which puts stress on the newly implanted grafts. Also, be aware of one’s hands or sports equipment touching the treated area. For the case that you are a professional athlete, or your profession is depending on you being physically active, try to engage in these activities around two weeks alone and again, be extremely cautious that your head will not get in touch with any hands or equipment. As our patients, we warmly recommend that you avoid activities such as yoga, boxing, or other martial arts during the healing period. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to answering all your outstanding questions, especially regarding this topic.
It is strictly forbidden to consume alcohol at least seven days before the operation. After the procedure, we also recommend that you do not consume alcohol in any form for at least a week, as you will be taking medication such as painkillers and antibiotics and this combination will have a negative effect on your body.
It is especially important that you avoid swimming pools, swimming in the ocean or the sea for at least two weeks after the hair transplant surgery.
You should avoid the visit to the barber shop directly after your surgery. Wait at least 4 weeks until you get your first haircut. Here it is extremely important to ensure that you show him the transplant area on your head, which can only be shortened with scissors and not with clippers, electrical shaving machines or razor blades the first 6 month after the operation. The area which was not treated in your surgery can be shortened as you wish. It is also to mention that during this period it is important that your barber is particularly careful with hygiene regulations.
After a post-operative phase of 6 months, you are allowed to dye your hair again. The reason for this length of time is the harmful chemicals in the hair dye that might affect your transplanted grafts.
After the operation you will notice that your hair is falling out in the recipient area. This is common with hair transplant patients and is nothing to worry about. Hair growth will begin three to four months after your surgery, usually starting with small baby hair in the beginning. From time to time the hair growth in the transplanted area becomes more and more dense. It will take at least a year for you to see the full results of your hair transplant.
A long as your work or professional activity is not related to heavy physical effort, wearing gear such as helmet or a cap you are able to go to work two days after the operation. If this does not apply to you, it is advisable to wait at least ten days before you go back to your daily work. Physically demanding work conditions can be aggravated by possible sweating and increased heart rate, just like a work environment that is related to dirt or dust and is not hygienic for the operated area. Please avoid such environment for at least ten days after the hair transplant.
According to our experience, the healing process will take 10-14 days. After 14 days any red spots, scabs or dead skin will be healed and invisible.
After the hair transplant it can be beneficial to take dietary supplements. Especially if your blood test made during the consultation reveals that you are deficient in minerals or vitamins such as biotin, iron or vitamin D. If you feel the need, the doctor treating you will be there to recommend you possible dietary supplements.
Under no circumstances do we recommend applying hair topic or color powder onto the scalp after the hair transplant. The hair topic or coloring powder might cause damage to your hair and might also cause hair-loss. Do only use hair topic or coloring powder on special occasions, at least 6 months after the procedure and make sure you wash it out thoroughly after.
Yes, since the operation will be made under local anesthesia you will be able to walk after the hair transplant.
Itching is a common side effect of a hair transplant operation. You can minimize the itching through washing your hair as we will recommend. In case you have overly sensitive skin, we might advise you to use creams or special lotions after the surgery. Please let us know if the itching still continuous or get worst after an unusual long period.
The use of Finasteride should be consulted with your family doctor, as it is a hormonal therapy that is used to help hair grow but also comes along with side effects. It is possible to use Finasteride pills or tablets after a hair transplant. If you are considered suitable for the use of Finasteride and you have noticed positive results, we highly advise you to continue with the use after the hair transplant.
The appearance of pimples after the surgery rarely occurs and are one of the possible side effects.
After the hair transplant procedure, we will provide you with medications such as antibiotics and painkiller, which you have to use seven to ten days after the operation. We kindly request that you inform us about your current or former use of medications and if you follow a specific diet. We might recommend you use supplements.
The use of gel, styling spray, oils, hair care products, or any products with chemicals should not be used for a minimum of six months after the operation. If you have to use these products anyways, please make sure that you wash them out very gently.
Yes, a hair transplant operation is a permanent method to gain back hair, since the hair is transferred from the roots of the grafts from the donor area onto your scalp. The hair taken from the donor area has the same genetic identity as the rest of your hair and do not create a risk of rejection.
To minimize possibly occurring pain, we use the method of painless anesthesia. This method puts pressure into the skin at the back of the head or onto the top of the forehead (the recipient area) where the neck meets the bottom of the head. As a result of this no needles or injections are required at all.
For the hair transplant procedure your hair color is not important. We performed this surgery with great success on patients with red, black, brown, white, grey, blonde hair, etc. Also, the structure of your hair is less important, rather its straight, wavy or curly, our medical team will proceed the hair transplant surgery with excellence.
The duration of the hair transplant depends, among other things, on the patient's place of residence. Patients living in Istanbul can have a hair transplant in one day, starting in the morning and finishing in the afternoon. If the patient is from another city or country the process can take up to three days including consultation, preparation, operation, follow up, hair washing, etc. Most of our patient can travel back, the next day of the operation after the first washing.
For aesthetic reasons we do not advise using hair grafts from another person. Accepting transplanted hair grafts from another person is like accepting an organ donation. The hair removed from the other person can be rejected by your body and won’t provide you with a satisfying result. In theory it is possible but not advisable, if you keep in mind that will have to take immunity suppression medications which are very high in cost and might cause other risks to your health.
Due to the fact that the hair transplant is performed under local anesthesia not general anesthesia, we lower any risks for the patient to a minimum.
It should be emphasized that the results of a hair transplant are extremely natural as it is the patient's own hair that we implant. During the planning of your operation, our team will of course take into account important aspects such as the transplant area, hair growth direction, removal of the grafts, opening the canals, shape of the hairline, facial contours etc.
Patients need to keep in mind that not everyone is the ideal candidate for a hair transplant. If the operation is performed at a young age with active hair loss, it is possible that a second operation will be required in subsequent years. However, this is not a sign that the hair transplant was a failure, just that you got it done too early, which is entirely up to you. We will advise you before your operation and make you aware of any possible results. The success of the treatment depends on several factors such as your state of health and the professionalism of the treating team.
Diabetes is not a reason not to undergo hair transplantation. Before starting treatment, it is advisable to see your family doctor to make sure you have well-controlled blood sugar levels. It is advisable to have a stable blood sugar level for at least ten (10) days prior to surgery. Do not neglect to take your medication regularly and make sure you eat a balanced diet. The only aspect that is affected by diabetes is the healing process and the increased risk of infection after the operation, so you should strictly observe the above aspects.
Before carrying out a hair transplant, you should again remember that the most important aspects before starting the operation are the image of the doctor and the respective clinic, as well as medical certificates, awards, the services provided, the work ethic and professionalism of the team. The price of this procedure is an aspect, but not the decisive one. Be careful with cheap clinics in Turkey as they will no longer be able to treat the damaged area after a failed and unclean hair transplant.
The hair transplant surgery will be proceeding under local anesthesia and consists of three main steps: ▪ Extracting the grafts from your donor area ▪ Opening the micro-channels in the bald area of your scalp ▪ Implanting the grafts
When it comes to hair loss in men, one of the main causes is genetic, followed by factors such as stress, medication, age, illness, or personal environmental factors.
The hair transplant for woman is also possible after detecting the cause of hair loss. We can also correct the course of your hairline and thus make the forehead appear smaller, so we can give your face more femininity.
The hair transplant does not depend on the season and can therefore be carried out at any time during the year. If you have any preferences, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Similar to the hair transplant, the beard transplant takes grafts from the donor area (usually the backside of the head) with the FUE method and re-implant these grafts onto the face to increase the density of hair on the face or to make your beard or moustache fuller.
Between 35 and 60 grafts per square centimeter can be implicated during the operation. This number depends on the density of the grafts, the area to be treated and the method used during treatment.
The Sapphire hair transplant technique is the latest type of transplant method. This method stiches the channels in a ‘V’ shape with a special sapphire stone. The ‘V’ shape causes less bleeding during and after the operation compared with older method which uses normal needles and makes it also possible to transplant more grafts. With the Sapphire method the patient benefits from a higher number of grafts because it makes it possible to open more channels per square centimeter. Also, the transplanted area heals faster and creates a greater density of hair in the transplanted area after the operation, which provides a more natural look and results with a higher success rate.