A hair transplant moves your own follicles from the back of the scalp to thinning areas, under local anaesthesia. It suits men and women with stable pattern hair loss and a healthy donor area. Plan a 3-day trip; most people return to desk work within a week.
Free medical review within 24 hours · No obligation · ★ 5.0 from 157 Google reviews
Editorially reviewed by the Vivid Clinic Surgical Board · Last reviewed September 2026
A hair transplant relocates follicles from the donor zone at the back and sides of the scalp, where hair resists loss, to thinned areas. Because follicles keep the traits of where they came from, transplanted hair usually keeps growing. At Vivid Clinic, one patient coordinator arranges the whole trip, from transfers and hotel to aftercare.
| Procedure time | Typically 6–8 hours, depending on graft number and technique |
|---|---|
| Anaesthesia | Local anaesthesia, with light sedation if your doctor recommends it |
| Hospital stay | None — you return to your hotel the same evening |
| Recommended stay in Istanbul | 3 days (arrival, surgery, check-up and first wash) |
| Back to desk work | Usually 5–7 days; visible redness and crusts for about 10–14 days |
| Exercise | Light walking straight away; gym after about 2 weeks; contact sports and swimming after about 4 weeks |
| Shedding | Weeks 2–8 (a normal “shock loss” phase) |
| New growth | From months 3–4 |
| Final result | 12–18 months |
| Results last | Transplanted follicles usually keep growing long term; native hair may continue to thin |
| Stitches | None — FUE and DHI leave tiny round marks that heal within days |
Results from Vivid Clinic patients, shared with consent. Individual results vary. 6 cases shown; each caption states what the photos show and what is not recorded.
Before: Extensively receded hairline (Norwood-type recession). After: Lowered, denser hairline.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Receded hairline and thin frontal zone. After: Denser, lowered hairline.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Receded temples and thin frontal hair. After: Fuller frontal hairline.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Receded hairline with pre-op hairline marking. After: Restored hairline and frontal density.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Extensive baldness. After: Full, grey-toned coverage.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Advanced frontal and crown thinning. After: Dense curly coverage over the frontal and crown zones.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Photos are unedited clinic composites; before and after photos may differ in lighting, clothing and pose. Consent is on file at the clinic.
Your doctor may first discuss medical options such as finasteride or minoxidil, and plan surgery once the pattern settles. The NHS overview of hair transplants gives an independent summary of suitability.
All three methods start the same way, with grafts extracted one by one from the donor area. They differ in how the grafts go in.
The surgeon opens tiny recipient channels first, then places the grafts with fine forceps. It is efficient for wide areas such as the mid-scalp and crown.
The same FUE process, but channels are opened with sapphire-tipped blades. Their fine, smooth edge allows small, precise channels, which many surgeons prefer for dense packing.
Each graft is loaded into a pen-like implanter and placed directly, creating the channel and inserting the graft in one movement.
Your doctor may combine methods, for example sapphire FUE on the crown and DHI along the hairline. Read more on our FUE hair transplant page, DHI hair transplant page and sapphire FUE guide. Women and beards need different planning: see our female hair transplant page and beard transplant page.
You stay awake under local anaesthesia and can watch a film or rest. Surgery usually runs for most of the day, with breaks for lunch.
Hairline and zones drawn with you, to suit your age and face.
Donor area, and usually recipient area, trimmed short unless unshaven DHI.
The scalp is numbed with local anaesthesia.
Grafts harvested one by one and sorted under magnification.
Placed by FUE, sapphire FUE or DHI, following natural hair direction.
Donor area dressed; medication and aftercare kit provided.
Day 1
Your patient coordinator meets you at the airport and a VIP transfer takes you to your hotel. You receive a timetable and a direct number for your coordinator.
Day 2
You meet the doctor, agree the hairline and graft plan, and have routine blood tests. An interpreter or coordinator is available, and you return to your hotel the same evening.
Day 3
The team checks both areas, removes the dressing and performs the first gentle wash, showing you how to repeat it. Most patients fly home the same afternoon or evening.
Clear photos from the front, top, sides and back let the medical team suggest a technique and estimate your graft range. You receive a personalised 3-day plan. Free, no obligation.
Transplanted hairs shed in the first weeks, and this is expected. New growth starts around months 3–4, and the final result takes 12–18 months.
Transplanted follicles come from a zone resistant to pattern hair loss, so they usually keep growing long term. Native hair around them can continue to thin with age, so your doctor may discuss medication and plans the hairline for future loss.
Results depend on donor quality, hair characteristics and aftercare, so no clinic can promise a specific density. Our hair transplant aftercare guide explains each day, and our before and after gallery shows examples.
Hair transplant pricing in Turkey is often more affordable than in the UK, US or Western Europe. A responsible quote is given only after the medical team has seen your photos, and the assessment is free.
Typically covers:
Your price depends on
Compare your hairline and crown with the chart, then choose the closest Norwood stage. Ranges are general guidance only; the medical team confirms your number after reviewing photos.
Tap the head that looks most like yours, or choose your Norwood stage below.
The specialists who work on DHI and FUE cases, currently at Avrasya Hospital in Istanbul.
Hair Transplant Specialist
Hair Transplant Specialist
Hair Transplant Specialist
Hair transplantation is generally well tolerated, but it is still surgery.
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery publishes independent patient information on these risks. Meet the wider medical team on our doctors page.
Three days is usually enough. Day 1 is arrival and hotel check-in, Day 2 is consultation, blood tests and surgery, and Day 3 is the check-up and first wash. Most patients fly home on Day 3, and the 24/7 support line and online follow-ups stay available afterwards. If you would like a longer rest before travelling, your coordinator can add hotel nights to your plan.
Many people at Norwood 4 fall somewhere around 2,500–3,500 grafts. The real figure depends on donor density, hair calibre and how dense you want the front and crown. Send clear photos from the front, top, sides and back. The Vivid Clinic medical team then gives you a personal estimate before you travel. Your number is then confirmed in person before surgery.
The choice depends on the area and your priorities. FUE or sapphire FUE suits large sessions and the crown, while DHI gives fine control for hairlines and allows partial-shaven or unshaven options. Many plans combine both, for example sapphire FUE on the crown and DHI along the hairline. Your doctor recommends a technique after examining your scalp, rather than applying one method to everyone.
The Vivid Clinic package typically includes consultation, hairline design, blood tests, the procedure, medication and an aftercare kit. It also covers the first wash, hotel accommodation, VIP transfers and coordinator or interpreter support. The exact inclusions and hotel nights are confirmed in writing before you book, so you know what is covered and what is not. The photo assessment is free, with no obligation.
Most people return to desk work five to seven days after surgery, once swelling settles. Redness and small crusts can remain visible for about 10–14 days, so some patients plan two weeks off if appearance matters for their job. Physical or dusty work may need a longer break; your doctor will advise you individually. The gym usually waits about two weeks, and swimming about four.
Yes, when the pattern and donor area are suitable. Women often need a diagnosis of the cause of thinning first, because problems such as thyroid disease, low iron or alopecia areata are treated differently. Many women are suited to unshaven techniques such as DHI. Our female hair transplant page explains the planning in more detail, and the medical team reviews your photos before recommending surgery.
Transplanted hairs usually shed between weeks 2 and 8, which is expected; the follicles stay in place. New, fine hairs start to appear around months 3–4, and density improves noticeably by months 6–9. The final result takes 12–18 months, and the crown often matures last. Online follow-ups at key milestones let the medical team track your progress after you return home.
Send a few clear photos of your hair from the front, top, sides and back. It is free and there is no obligation.
Free · No obligation · Reply within 24 h
Open a summary of this guide in your AI assistant.
ChatGPT