How one country has become a top destination for hair transplants

"In a bright clinic on the eastern side of Istanbul, a man leans over another man's scalp. There's a marker in his hand, and he's drawing thin, careful lines across the cranium. It looks almost like an art class. Except the canvas here is a human head. Dr. Mehmet Erdogan (no relation to Turkey's president) runs the Smile Hair Clinic in Istanbul, a sleek multistory complex that boasts a 90-95% hair transplant success rate."

"Since it opened in 2018, the clinic has been treating around 500 patients every year. Most come from abroad: around a third come from the United States alone. "OK, I will draw according to what I recommend to you," Erdogan says, as the pen squeaks against the scalp of his patient, Justin R., a registered nurse from California. Justin, in his early 40s, didn't want NPR to use his last name so that he could discuss a private health care issue."

"Hair transplants aren't new but suddenly, they're everywhere. And Turkey has become the industry's unofficial capital. The country now draws patients from across the globe, lured by lower costs, bundled travel packages, and a growing network of clinics. The result has been a booming new industry, with significant economic gain. But although the procedure is generally considered safe when carried out by a skilled surgeon, the industry's success has prompted concerns about possible risks and oversight."

A multistory Istanbul clinic led by Dr. Mehmet Erdogan reports a 90-95% hair transplant success rate and treats roughly 500 patients annually since 2018. The clinic draws many international patients, with about a third coming from the United States. One patient from California paid approximately $3,400 including airfare and lodging, compared with U.S. averages above $13,000 per a 2023 study. Turkey's lower prices, travel packages, and expanding clinic network have fueled a booming hair transplant industry and substantial economic gain, alongside growing concerns about potential risks and regulatory oversight.

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