How did my autologous hair transplantation in Istanbul go? – Report from Wednesday, 6 January 2016

I would like to share my experience with MedicalTravel in Bern and the hair transplant they organised for me in Turkey.

I am 38 years old and had been thinking about getting a hair transplant for several months. I didn’t have much hair loss, so I only had a few bald spots in the front part of my head and forehead, along with some thinning areas at the back of my head. Still, it bothered me, even though it wasn’t much. Especially when I liked to keep my hair quite short in the summer, it became noticeable that there was too much scalp showing, and that bothered me. This was the reason I decided to go ahead with a hair transplant.

I knew and had heard a lot about Turkey having very good doctors and clinics that perform this procedure very well, at a much more affordable price compared to Switzerland. So, I searched online for clinics, doctors, opinions from reviews, and so on. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very helpful, as I came across various opinions about clinics and doctors. To be honest, most of the reviews seemed either too much like advertising or were intentionally negative.

In the end, I heard about 2-3 doctors who were supposed to be quite good. However, for these doctors, you had to book appointments 2-3 months in advance, and I didn’t have that much time. After doing some more googling, I came across the MedicalTravel website. They are based in Bern and work with a clinic in Istanbul for hair transplants.

The team at MedicalTravel was very helpful and was able to answer all my questions. They also sent my “before” pictures to the treating doctor for an initial assessment, which allowed them to tell me whether I was eligible for a hair transplant and how many grafts would be needed. They also provided me with the cost estimate for the procedure.

For me, approximately 2500 – 2800 grafts were needed, which would cost 2500 Euros. This price included the entire consultation and organisation, as well as the agreed-upon dates with MedicalTravel. It also covered two overnight stays in a beautiful hotel very close to the clinic. Additionally, the transfer from the airport to the hotel and back, as well as the pick-up from the hotel and the escort to the clinic and back, were included. A translator was also part of the package, who would accompany me everywhere. However, since I had already travelled to Istanbul in advance, I didn’t need to use the transfer service.

I checked into the hotel the day before my consultation at the clinic. The hotel was just 50 meters away from the Acibadem Clinic in Fulya, Istanbul. The hotel was nice and clean, and the staff was very friendly.

The next day, I went to the Acibadem Clinic, and the interpreter was already waiting for me at the reception, accompanying me throughout the three days for all my appointments at the clinic. I had a consultation with the specialist, Prof. Dr. Ferit Demirkan. It turned out that only 1800 – 2000 grafts were needed. He explained the entire process of the transplant and what would happen before and after.
Honestly, I had planned to gather information from multiple doctors and clinics in Istanbul, but somehow, during the conversation with the doctor and the overall atmosphere of the clinic, including the reception beforehand, I had a good feeling. I told myself: This is the clinic where I want to have my hair transplant done.
After I made the decision, we proceeded with a PRP treatment (which was also included in the price). A nurse drew a few millilitres of my blood, which was then centrifuged to separate the plasma (the clear liquid). The doctor injected this plasma into my scalp with a syringe. This pre-treatment was supposed to provide the scalp with valuable nutrients, positively affecting the results of the hair transplant. The needle pricks on the scalp did hurt a little, honestly, but it was bearable.

On the second day, the day of the transplant, I had another brief conversation with the doctor. After that, I went to the clinic’s hairdresser, where I got a buzz cut. This is necessary for the optimal transplantation. Then, I went into a small treatment room where I was prepared for the procedure. I put on a gown and laid down to wait for the local anaesthesia.
The medication was injected into my scalp with a syringe. Depending on the size of the area to be transplanted, you need to endure 20-40 injections. I have to honestly say that this part was very painful. Some areas hurt less, but others hurt a lot. However, with the right determination, you can get through this procedure. At least after the local anaesthesia, there was no more pain during the entire transplant process.
The transplant took about 3.5 hours in total, including everything, and in the end, I had 2000 grafts transplanted.

The hair transplant was actually carried out by assistants, not the doctor. However, it’s common in most clinics that the doctor plans the procedure, and then trained assistants handle the execution. Depending on the clinic and the qualifications of the practitioners, it might be better if the doctor performs the procedure. But if the non-medical staff is well-trained and has a lot of experience, they can achieve equally good, if not better, results, as they have far more practical experience than the doctor.
They also explained how I should proceed in the coming days and weeks, including how to wash my hair, be cautious when sleeping, and other aftercare instructions.

The day after the transplant, I had another appointment with the doctor to change the bandage and for a final check-up.

After that, I was allowed to travel back. For the first 2 weeks, I softened my scalp with Bepanthen for 15-30 minutes, and then washed it with the special shampoo. Now, it’s been 3 weeks since the hair transplant, and as expected, the transplanted hairs have started to fall out. They will begin to grow back in the next 2-3 months.

Personally, I can confidently recommend both MedicalTravel in Bern and the Acibadem Clinic.

Kind regards!

Ozcan Ozaltin