MY EXPERIENCE REPORT – HAIR TRANSPLANTATION IN ISTANBUL! – Bericht vom Mittwoch, 06. Januar 2016

I would like to tell you about my experience with Medical Travel in Bern and about the hard transplant they organized in Turkey.

I’m 38 years old and have been considering a hair transplant for several months. I didn’t actually have much hair loss, so I only had a few bald patches at the front of my head and forehead, as well as some thinning areas at the back. Even so, it bothered me, even though it wasn’t much. Especially in the summer, when I liked to wear my hair quite short, too much scalp was still visible, and that bothered me. That’s why I decided to have a hair transplant.

I knew and had heard a lot about Turkey having very good doctors and clinics specializing in this area, who can perform the procedure very well at a price that is relatively affordable compared to Switzerland. So I searched the internet for clinics, doctors, and testimonials, etc. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very helpful, as there were conflicting opinions about clinics and doctors. To be honest, most of the reports seemed either too much like advertising or, more likely, deliberate attempts to discredit the clinics.

Finally, I heard about two or three doctors who were supposed to be quite good. However, you have to book appointments with them two to three months in advance, and I didn’t have that kind of time. After doing some more Googling, I came across the MedicalTravel website. They’re based in Bern and work with a clinic in Istanbul for hair transplants.

The team at MedicalTravel was very helpful and answered all my questions. They also sent my “before” pictures to the treating physician for an initial diagnosis, which allowed them to determine whether a hair transplant was even a possibility for me and tell me how many grafts I would need and what the cost would be.

I estimated I needed 2,500–2,800 grafts, which would cost €2,500. This price included all the consultation and organization, as well as the dates agreed upon with me by MedicalTravel, two nights in a nice hotel very close to the clinic. Also included were the transfers from the airport to the hotel and back, as well as pick-up from the hotel and accompaniment to and from the clinic. An interpreter who accompanied me everywhere was also included. However, since I was already traveling to Istanbul in advance, I didn’t use the transfer service.

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

The next day I went to the Acibadem Clinic, where the interpreter was already waiting for me at reception and accompanied me to all my appointments over the three days. I then had a consultation with the specialist, Professor Dr. Ferit Demirkan. He explained that I would only need 1800-2000 grafts. He explained the entire process, both during and after the transplant. To be honest, I had planned to get information from several doctors and clinics in Istanbul, but somehow, during my consultation with the doctor, the overall atmosphere of the clinic, and the reception beforehand, I had a good feeling and decided: This is the clinic where I want to have my hair transplant. After making my decision, we performed a PRP treatment (also included in the price) following the consultation. A nurse drew a few milliliters of my blood, centrifuged it, separated the plasma (the clear fluid), and the doctor injected this plasma under my scalp with a syringe. This pretreatment apparently provides the scalp with many valuable nutrients that positively influence the outcome of the hair transplant. To be honest, the needle pricks on the scalp were a little uncomfortable, but it was bearable.

Then on the second day, the day of the transplant, I had another brief consultation with the doctor. Afterward, I went to the clinic’s hair salon, where my head was shaved. This is necessary for optimal transplantation. Then I went to a small treatment room where I was prepared for the procedure. I put on a gown and lay down to wait for the local anesthetic to take effect. The medication was injected under the scalp with a syringe. Depending on the size of the area to be transplanted, you have to endure 20-40 injections. I have to honestly say that this process is very painful. Some areas hurt less, others hurt a lot. But with the necessary willpower, you can survive this procedure. At least after the local anesthetic, you don’t feel any more pain during the entire transplant. The entire transplant took about 3.5 hours, and in the end, I received 2000 grafts.

The hair transplant itself was performed by assistants, not the doctor. However, in most clinics, the doctor plans the procedure, and then trained assistants carry it out. Depending on the clinic and the level of training of the assistants, it might be better if the doctor performed it. But if non-medical staff are well-trained and experienced, they can achieve results that are at least as good, if not better, because they have far more practical experience than a doctor. They also explained how I should proceed in the coming days and weeks, regarding washing my hair, taking care while sleeping, and so on.

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

After that, I was allowed to travel back. For two weeks, I first softened my scalp with Bepanthen for 15-30 minutes, then washed it with the special shampoo. Now it’s been three weeks since the hair transplant, and as expected, the transplanted hairs are already falling out and will grow back in the next two to three months.

I can personally recommend both MedicalTravel in Bern and the Acibadem Clinic with a clear conscience.

Best regards

Özcan Özaltin