Should I consider a Hair Transplant in Turkey
Before you head off to Turkey for a hair transplant, please read this.
Is your thinning hair causing you grief? Hair shedding is part of the body’s natural renewal cycle. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is normal for a person to lose about 50-100 hairs daily. While shedding hairs is normal, losing hair permanently is a different matter altogether.
Hair loss occurs when something stops hair from growing. The most common causes of hair loss are :
- Hereditary hair loss
- Overreaction of the immune system
- Some drugs and treatments
- Harsh haircare products
- Compulsion to pull out one’s hair
Other causes are age, chemotherapy or radiation treatment to the head or neck, childbirth, illness or other stressors, hair treatments like colouring, perming or relaxing your hair, hormonal imbalance, scarring alopecia and thyroid disease. Certain dietary deficiencies that may include zinc, iron and biotin could also be a cause.
Thinning hair can affect a person’s confidence. So it’s not surprising that many men with significant balding who have tried different hair growth methods eventually turn to hair transplants to restore their crowning glory.
The cost of a hair transplant can be prohibitive in many parts of the world. In recent years, Turkey has become a go-to destination for hair transplants due to competitive pricing and the availability of skilled surgeons.
What is a hair transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure used to restore hair growth in areas of the scalp where hair has been lost or thinned. It involves taking donor hair from one part of the head and transplanting it to the bald or thinning areas.
There are two main types of hair transplants: Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). The FUE method involves removing individual hair follicles from the donor area and transplanting them into the bald or thinning areas. The FUT method involves removing a strip of hair from the donor area and then dividing it into individual follicles which are transplanted into the bald or thinning areas.
Turkish hair transplants employ both FUT and FUE methods. Direct Hair Implantation (DHI), a newer method of hair transplant surgery, is also gaining popularity in Turkey. Here, hair follicles are loaded onto an implant device called a CHOI Implanter Pen, which can directly implant hair follicles into the recipient area.
Advantages of Turkey hair transplants
Doing hair transplant surgery in Turkey has its pros and cons. A Reddit user who had a Turkish hair transplant has this to say:
“I am just back from a hair transplant in Turkey. It’s been around 11 days. Apart from the financial savings, I would say they take better care. They treat you really nicely and answer every question in detail so you understand everything. About the aftercare, they assigned a specific person who will be taking care of you after the operation. He answers everything and any doubts I have after the operation. I send them photos of the updates, and they send back videos on what to do next, what to take care of, and how to take care. They also took a guarantee of the transplant, and the aftercare extends to one year.”
On the other hand, there are others who warn of unlicensed surgeons offering black-market transplants and less compliance with safety standards. One of the issues highlighted in Turkey hair transplants is the danger of overharvesting. Overharvesting of hair follicles can lead to visible thinning in the donor area.
Other red flags are poor post-transplant care and the promise of scarless surgery. It is generally agreed that scarless surgery is not possible when performing hair transplants.
Latest trends in hair transplant
One of the latest trends in hair transplant surgery is Robotic FUE. It employs a specialized device to automate the follicle extraction process. Equipped with an automatic punch tool and a stereoscopic camera, the robotic system performs the extraction under the supervision of the surgeon.
As the technology advances, robotic systems can now create graft paths in the recipient sites, aiding the surgeon in determining optimal locations for transplanting hair follicles. However, while the extraction process is automated, the actual implantation of hair grafts into recipient sites is still done manually by the surgeon.
Another advancement in hair transplant surgery is the Hybrid Punch. This method combines manual and motorised punches to extract donor hair. During the process, the surgeon will use both a hand-held punch tool and a robotic system, so that they can effectively adapt to different types of hair donors.
Non-surgical alternatives to hair transplant
Finasteride and minoxidil are two medications used in hair loss treatment. Finasteride blocks the action of 5-alpha-reductase which is an enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is known for causing hair loss. By inhibiting the production of DHT, finasteride slows down hair loss. Minoxidil works by shifting the hair follicles from resting to the growth phase.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) hair treatment makes use of the plasma (nutritious part of blood) to promote hair growth.
Stem-cell based therapy for hair loss has gained traction in recent years. Stem cell-derived conditioned media has been found to be effective in increasing hair density and thickness in those with alopecia . Calecim Professional’s Advanced Hair System (AHS) is a treatment that makes use of PTT-6® , a patented active ingredient consisting of exosomes, growth factors and cytokines derived from ethically derived stem cells. When applied to the scalp, PTT-6® invigorates dormant hair follicles and pushes them into a growth phase . Inflammation of the scalp — a key cause of hair loss — is significantly reduced. In fact, Advanced Hair System has also been used by after hair transplants to maintain hair growth.
If you are planning to go for a Turkey hair transplant, do your due diligence on whether the clinic or hospital you have chosen is accredited, if the plastic surgeon is board-certified and how many hair transplant surgeries he or she has performed. Do also find out if you would be a good candidate for the procedure and what your options are should you be unhappy with the results.
