Istanbul, a city that hosts many patients from Europe, Asia, and Africa who has the intention of getting hair transplantation, knows no rivals in this regard. The hair transplant operation has become the number one in Istanbul health tourism in terms of affordable prices, operation volume, and experience. Pure Line Clinic Operations Manager Selim Peltekci says, “The prices are low compared to the average number in the world. Besides, hair transplantation is performed by experts who exceed world standards in the field, and patients are thoroughly informed about the operations. These are the reasons why people prefer us.”
Hair transplantation is one of the most popular aesthetic interventions in recent years. In the field of hair transplants, which have been performed in Turkey for more than a decade now, significant progress has been made in recent years. For instance, while Arabs were already interested in getting hair transplant treatment in Istanbul, the interest of Europeans only recently emerged, adding a whole new market to the sector.
Currently, demands from UK, France, Spain, and Italy are quite high. Although the advanced treatment methods are being used and the affordable prices make Istanbul a center of attraction for hair transplantation, the most important factor in which all these patients are eyeing Istanbul is the abundance of experts who do their job well.
There are some crucial points to be considered before getting hair transplantation. Warning patients against unauthorized clinics, Peltekci said:
“Hair transplantation must be done by expert teams in the hospital. The reason why some hair transplant clinics in Turkey offer very, unreasonably low prices is that the operation is performed by inexperienced teams and the materials used are of poor quality.”
“Therefore,” Peltekci continued, “patients should be careful in their selection of clinics. Since many diseases can occur on the scalp, not every skin is suitable for a transplant operation. Especially in patients with open wounds on their body, if uncontrolled transplantation is performed, the hair and skin of the patient are likely to be severely damaged and cause a serious health problem.”
Even though Istanbul provides a lot of high-quality options, including Pure Line Clinic, for international patients as far as hair transplantation is concerned, the metropole is also filled with amateurs as well as opportunists who take advantage of the flow of health tourists to the city. Unfortunately, currently, there are a lot of clinics that prefer quantity over quality.
This situation leads them to act as a factory where patients do not receive the treatment they deserve and thus, often end up in disappointment. Thus, the patients must look for clinics where patient’s comfort is prioritized over everything. In other words, clinics with fewer patients but more hospitality must be the way to go as far as hair transplant treatment is concerned.
Who are the right candidates for hair transplantation operation?
People who demand to get hair transplantation can be roughly separated into four groups. The biggest group consists of people who are suffering from the male pattern baldness problem. These baldness cases are usually genetic. That’s why the professional clinics, including Pure Line Clinic, don’t operate the hair transplant operation right away in these specific cases.
First, the expert doctors look at the age of the patient, and the rate and course of the hair loss. Shedding, which generally starts at the age of 23-24, ends at 33-34. In these cases, the doctors first apply medical treatment to patients under the age of 25 and support this treatment with hair mesotherapy. By doing so, the doctors are trying to protect the existing hair. That being said, in some special cases, hair transplants can be performed on individuals under the age of 25 as well.
Women are also constituting a large group when it comes to demanding to get a hair transplantation operation. However, the examination process, the way it is done, the drawing, and the shaving are all different processes between men and women. Generally, there is a circular opening at the central point of women’s heads, which usually emerges as they get older. The most common hair transplant method for women around the world is the DHI technique, which is performed in Pure Line Clinic with utmost perfection. In this method, the doctor needs to determine the area where the opening emerges and work on point shooting.
People with dermatological diseases constitute yet another group that applies for hair transplantation. These people may have psoriasis, have had ringworm, or have previously burned and dried hair follicles. In such cases, going to an experienced clinic gains special importance since not every doctor is capable of operating on people with such complicated conditions.
Last but certainly not least, some people are seeking revision surgeries. These are patients who had an unsuccessful hair transplant operation before. It is likely for these patients to have a damaged scalp. In such cases, the DHI technique might be the ultimate solution.
Which tests are performed on patients before the procedure?
First, the doctor examines the blood tests of the incoming patients. By doing so, he/she is trying to understand what are the problems that are causing or accelerating hair loss. Treatment is applied to those who have iron, vitamin deficiencies, and thyroid disorders. After receiving approval from the internal medicine specialist, the doctor moves on to the implanting phase. Scalp examination is also very important at this point. Damaged and unhealthy skin should not be implanted with hair immediately. Instead, the scalp must be treated first.
Where are the roots taken from?
There are hair follicles resistant to shedding in our nape area. The grafts, a.k.a. the roots, are extracted one by one from the nape region in a way that will fit the area where hair will be implanted. These roots are divided into single, double, and triple grafts. The extracted grafts are then implanted one by one in the bald area. The separated grafts are appropriately transplanted into the area to ensure the natural appearance of the hair. When the grafts are taken by experienced specialists, no sparsity emerges in the donor area. If the nape root reserve is not sufficient, roots can also be taken from the beard area under the chin.
How many types of techniques are there?
There are 3 types of techniques. Classic FUE, DHI, and FUT. We apply the most effective techniques DHI and classical FUE techniques. In FUE and FUT, implanting is done with the canal method. In the DHI technique, implanting is done one by one.
Currently, the most preferred methods in the world are FUE and DHI techniques. In these techniques, individual grafts are collected from the donor area. FUT is a surgical procedure. The roots are cut along with the skin from the nape and implanted where needed. This is mostly used by American doctors. Roots are grasped with forceps and filled into canals.
In the DHI technique, the DHI pen has its special tip. We do not open channels. Here we insert the DHI pen into the opening and implant the root according to the angle.
How many grafts are being transplanted in one session?
The numbers may vary depending on the patient’s condition. In general, a maximum of 5000 grafts are transplanted. In fact, up to 7,000 grafts can be taken from the nape, depending on the patient’s condition. But here it is important to implant as much as the skin can feed. This is one of the most common mistakes made by amateur doctors. Some clinics plant 6000, and 7000 grafts in one session, which does not make any sense. More than 5000 grafts plantings do not feed the skin of the hair and, unavoidably, the hair begins to die. In a hair transplant operation, long-term planning is a must and each transplant should be structured specifically for an individual case rather than applying the same methods to everyone.
When can the patient return to his/her normal life?
Even though it might vary depending on the case, most patients can return to their normal life in an average of 1-2 weeks. Antibiotic treatment is provided for 5 days following the operation. After transferring the grafts to the new area, it takes 3-4 months for the skin of the hair to heal, for the roots to take hold and for the hair to start growing. In this process, vitamin support and the use of the right shampoo are highly important. There is also a one-year follow-up period.
