According to the director of the Turkish Health Tourism Association, nearly a million people visited Turkey for a hair transplant in 2022 — and spent approximately $2 billion on their procedures [1]. This trend is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
So, why do people go to Turkey for a hair transplant? A survey revealed the main reason is cost [2]. Hair transplants in Turkey can be much cheaper than elsewhere, but lower safety standards and a higher risk of complications means many people end up paying more to fix a botched hair transplant. In this article, we’ll explore:
Turkey is gaining a reputation as a medical tourism hotspot. Tourists flock from all over the world for different types of surgery, including dental treatments, cosmetic surgeries and eye procedures [2].
Hair transplants are by far the most popular. Hair transplants make up 50% of Turkey’s medical tourism industry [2], and clinics are doing all they can to make this option as attractive as possible.
Packaged deals offer last-minute, cut-price procedures and all-inclusive hotels. For some, the opportunity for cheap hair transplant surgery combined with accommodation, transport and a trip to Turkey can be too much to refuse. You may be hopeful you can find a cheap solution to your hair loss and get a holiday at the same time.
A survey by Care in Turkey revealed the top reasons people choose a hair transplant in Turkey. Here are the results [2]:
This shows that for people who choose a hair transplant in Turkey, cheap surgery, an attractive tourist destination, and an easy flight are far more important than clinic quality, experienced doctors and the medical technology being used. But should you combine your holiday with a hair transplant, or are the two best left separate?
Cost is the number one reason people choose to go abroad to Turkey for their hair transplant. We surveyed 87 hair transplant clinics in Turkey to discover the true costs and the nature of the industry.
The survey revealed some interesting findings. 19% of emails bounced without reaching the recipient, suggesting nearly a fifth of the clinics that advertised hair transplants were no longer in operation. Every single quote bundled airport and hotel transfers into the price, and the vast majority included accommodation.
We compared the stats to our survey on UK hair transplant costs.
When comparing the two, it’s clear why so many people are tempted by Turkish hair transplants. The average cost is £3,356 less in Turkey than in the UK, and the lowest quote is less than half.
The average hair transplant cost per graft is 83% lower in Turkey, but the average number of grafts recommended is 75% higher than UK clinics for the same procedure. This could put you at risk of overharvesting, meaning you wouldn’t have enough hair left for future procedures or to fix a bad hair transplant.
Most UK clinics conduct an in-person assessment to determine how many grafts you need, while many Turkish clinics assess this remotely. This raises the concern of whether Turkish clinics’ estimates are accurate, as there is such a big difference.
When you look at up-front costs, yes, Turkish hair transplants are cheaper than those in the UK. But what about when you look at the bigger picture?
For starters, Turkish clinics tend to quote much higher numbers of grafts. The average graft number quoted for a Norwood stage 2-3 hair transplant in the UK is 1610, while Turkish clinics quote a whopping 2822 grafts on average for the same procedure. This means that when you compare your quote to the cost for the same number of grafts in the UK, Turkish clinics appear much cheaper.
However, if Turkish clinics over-quote the graft number, it could be cheaper than you think to get a UK hair transplant and the results you want. There are also the extra costs associated with Turkey to bear in mind. If they’re not included, UK transfers to the airport and flights will add to the cost.
On closer inspection, all-inclusive packages may include low-quality accommodation, which costs extra to upgrade.
There is also the matter of aftercare. Will you fly back out to Turkey to see your surgeon if there are any problems, or will you pay extra to see a surgeon in the UK? UK hair transplant procedures typically include aftercare to monitor your hair transplant recovery, with in-person checkups as standard.
Turkish hair transplants can be more prone to complications, particularly ones performed on the black market [3]. A procedure to correct a botched hair transplant may be more expensive than the hair transplant itself, not to mention the physical and emotional struggle this can cause.
It depends. There are undoubtedly some high-quality Turkish clinics, but it can be difficult to weed out which are genuine and which aren’t as a UK resident. Often, you won’t realise until you arrive at your chosen clinic that something doesn’t seem right.
The number of Brits suffering negative effects from failed hair transplants abroad is rising, and the NHS is treating increasing numbers of people needing urgent care when they get back home [4].
Ricardo Mejia, MD, chair of the ISHRS Committee on Issues Pertaining to the Unlicensed Practice of Medicine, spoke out about this issue:
“The demand is so high, reports are that taxi cab drivers and Syrian refugees do the surgery in some overseas countries. Patients are the ones that suffer when they realise too late who did the surgery and end up with botched complications and scars and hairlines that are not normal and disfiguring.” [5].
With a hair transplant in Turkey, what you see is not always what you get. While there are some reputable clinics, many operate with lower safety standards, even drafting in untrained non-medical staff to perform the procedures. Here are some of the hair transplant risks to watch out for in Turkey:
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) highlights black market clinics, which are more common in Turkey than in the UK [6]. Patients are led to these clinics by high rankings on Google, which may turn out to be fake, paid reviews.
In black market clinics, the procedure is performed by a technician with no medical license or surgical training, which can lead to disastrous results. [6] Members of the ISHRS say that there are 300 low-cost clinics in Turkey, and most of these don’t have a qualified medical professional on-site [7]. Watch out for clinics with no named surgeon, as these procedures may be outsourced to an untrained technician.
This can lead to failed hair transplant surgeries that need fixing — if it’s even possible for them to be fixed. Sadly, it can also be fatal. Two hair transplant-related deaths have been reported in recent years following Turkish hair transplants. In one of these cases, the “surgeon” turned out to be an estate agent [8]. Thankfully, there have been none in the UK.
Reputable clinics typically include aftercare packages with their hair transplants, but this is not always the case in Turkey. Follow-up appointments are important to check the progress of your hair transplant and prevent any complications or manage them as soon as possible.
Even if aftercare is included in your procedure, in many cases, you would still need to travel back to Turkey to the clinic that performed the transplant. This could make the aftercare process inconvenient and expensive, and you may end up paying to visit a UK hair clinic anyway. High-quality Turkish clinics may work in partnership with a UK aftercare clinic you can visit if needed.
There’s also the risk of disappearing clinics. You may find that there’s always a helpful contact available on WhatsApp while you’re planning your hair transplant, but after surgery, they disappear. There’s a high rate of clinics opening and closing in Turkey, many of which are low-quality, low-cost clinics.
Some clinics offer instant quotes over the internet without any examination. This is a major red flag for Turkish hair clinics because reputable clinics always conduct an assessment to determine how many grafts you need.
Some Turkish clinics quote excessively high graft numbers. In reality, this creates the impression of value for money while charging you more. Not only can overharvesting be expensive, but it can also be painful, cause scarring, and make a botched hair transplant unfixable.
Reputable clinics will never push you into a hair transplant. They will assess you, diagnose the cause of your hair loss and discuss your options.
Before choosing a hair transplant, you should be aware of other treatments available for hair loss. These include Finasteride, Minoxidil, PRP hair treatment, and low-level laser therapy. Often, it makes more sense to try these nonsurgical treatments before turning to a hair transplant as a last resort.
There are undoubtedly some high-quality hair transplant clinics in Turkey. However, for UK residents, it’s often safer to pick a clinic closer to home and pay for guaranteed high-quality service.
If you’re looking for a world-class, trusted hair transplant clinic in the UK, the Wimpole Clinic can help. We have thousands of happy customers and a review of 4.9 out of five stars on Trustpilot. We work with some of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK and we are one of the longest-serving hair transplant clinics in the UK, established in 1975.
Looking for guaranteed results? Check out our before and after hair transplant gallery to see our transformations. If you’re ready to learn how we can help restore your hair to its former glory, book a consultation at your nearest clinic location today.
A hair transplant is permanent and, when done well, can leave you with thick, healthy hair that lasts a lifetime. For this reason, it’s very important to choose an experienced surgeon. Your hair transplant will not fade away in time, and you may need revision surgery if it doesn’t go how you want the first time around.
Turkey is considerably cheaper than the UK. However, it comes with a shaky health and safety track record. For high-quality treatment and a trusted clinic, the UK is a better choice for hair transplants.
Celebrities tend to choose high-quality clinics with proven track records. They have the money to invest in high-quality care, and their appearances are important for their career. Celebrities such as Rob Holding and Ben Stokes have trusted the Wimpole Clinic with their hair transplant surgery. See more celebrity hair transplants here.
One of the main reasons Turkish hair transplants are so cheap for people in the UK is the favourable exchange rate. If you live and work in the UK, you’ll likely find your money goes further in Turkey, and this is also the case for surgery. Some Turkish clinics also reduce costs considerably by cutting corners with health and safety, employing unqualified staff, and performing surgeries on the black market.
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