Failed hair transplant in Turkey : how to avoid it and what to do ?

Today, Turkey has established itself as a leading destination for medical tourism. The expertise of Turkish doctors, the quality of hospitals, and very affordable prices are attracting more and more European and American tourists seeking cosmetic surgery.

Among the most popular procedures, hair transplants show an almost 100% success rate in the best clinics in Istanbul. However, a failed hair transplant can unfortunately happen. What causes a botched hair transplant? How can it be avoided? Can it be fixed? We’ll explain everything here.

Causes of a failed hair transplant in Turkey

Hair transplantation is a fairly common cosmetic surgery procedure. If you choose a good doctor and a reputable clinic, there’s no reason it should go wrong. However, several factors can increase the risk of failure. Here they are.

Unqualified surgeon

Turkey has many excellent surgeons, but unfortunately, it’s still possible to end up with a practitioner who is underqualified, inexperienced, or simply lacks rigor.

Keep in mind that Turkey is not part of the European Union and therefore is not subject to the same hygiene, safety, and quality standards. Additionally, cosmetic procedures are often performed by assistants rather than the surgeon themselves.

To avoid the risk of a failed hair transplant, make sure to research your doctor’s qualifications, as well as the team involved in your surgery.

Poor hair diagnosis

Before performing the surgery, the practitioner must conduct a hair diagnosis. This will help determine your level of baldness, the density of the donor area, and the condition of your scalp. Skipping this step may result in adverse reactions or damage to the scalp due to overharvesting, for example.

Botched follicle extraction

Extracting the follicles to be implanted is a crucial step—it must not be rushed. If the surgeon uses the wrong technique, follicles can be damaged or dehydrated. Healthy follicles are essential for a successful transplant.

Moreover, poor extraction may leave visible scars on your scalp.

Lack of mastery of implantation techniques

A failed transplant can also result from improper surgical technique. To achieve a natural, aesthetic, and lasting result, the surgeon must respect specific angles, directions, and depths of implantation. Incorrectly implanted grafts can lead to failure.

Poor hairline design

For a natural-looking result, the practitioner must create a well-balanced, symmetrical hairline suited to the patient’s facial structure. They should also account for the degree of baldness to avoid future imbalances between natural and transplanted hair.

Failure to follow hygiene protocols

As with any surgery, strict hygiene protocols must be followed to prevent infections.

Lack of post-operative follow-up

Insufficient post-op follow-up can result in slow healing, poor scarring, infection, or graft failure. Your doctor must provide clear post-op instructions to maximize your chances of a successful transplant.

How to know if a hair transplant has failed ?

Here are the signs of a failed hair transplant:

• Visible scarring in the donor area;
• Unusually sparse areas after treatment;
• Numbness in treated areas;
• Pain or discomfort;
• Short-lived grafts;
• Uneven hair regrowth;
• Unbalanced or unnatural hairline.

How to avoid a failed hair transplant in Turkey ?

Here are our tips to avoid a failed hair transplant in Turkey.

Choose the right surgeon

Choosing the right surgeon is critical. Look for someone who is an expert in the field, competent, and well-reviewed. Check their success rate and previous patient testimonials. If before/after photos are available, even better—you can evaluate the naturalness of their work.

Also verify their years of experience, training, and certifications. Membership in reputable medical associations is another good sign.

Choose a reputable clinic

The choice of clinic is just as important. Equipment quality, hygiene, safety, and techniques all depend on it.

Make sure the clinic is accredited by recognized organizations. Ask about the methods used for implantation and anesthesia—they should be modern. Also, ensure the clinic allows enough consultation time to provide an accurate and thorough hair diagnosis.

When choosing your clinic, avoid the following red flags:

• Prices that are significantly lower than competitors;
• High patient turnover in a short amount of time;
• Unwillingness to answer your questions or lack of transparency.

Failed hair transplant in Turkey : what can you do ?

Did your transplant fail? Don’t panic—it is possible to fix a failed hair transplant. You may consider corrective surgery with another surgeon, once the treated areas have fully healed.

You can also explore non-surgical corrective options, such as laser therapy or PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections, which help stimulate hair growth without being too invasive.

Lastly, be aware that Turkish law allows you to seek compensation in the case of a botched surgery. Consider hiring a lawyer and document the entire medical procedure to provide evidence in court. For example, take photos of the damaged areas following the procedure.