How many grafts will I need?

The number of grafts is determined by the area to be covered, donor capacity, hair shaft calibre and the distribution aimed for. A preliminary assessment from photographs gives a range; the final number is confirmed at the consultation.

What is the difference between FUE and DHI?

FUE describes the harvesting of grafts from the donor area, while DHI describes the placement of grafts with an implanter pen. In a procedure carried out with DHI the grafts are still harvested with FUE; the two are not alternatives to one another.

How long does a hair transplant take?

The procedure is completed in a single day and usually takes 6–9 hours, depending on the number of grafts. Rest and meal breaks are given in between.

When is the first wash carried out?

The first wash is carried out at the clinic on the third day. Daily washing then continues for about ten days with the products provided; after the ninth wash, individual instructions are given for the removal of the crusts.

When will I see my hair transplant results?

New growth begins in the third to fourth month. Density becomes apparent between the sixth and ninth month, the result largely emerges between the ninth and twelfth month, and it matures in the thirteenth to fifteenth month. The crown may take longer in some cases.

Is the transplanted hair permanent?

Because the grafts are taken from the donor area, which is less affected by male/female pattern hair loss, the result can be long-lasting. However, existing hair that has not been transplanted may continue to thin over time; long-term planning matters for this reason.

How much does a hair transplant cost?

The hair transplant price is determined by the number of grafts and, under the current package structure, ranges from €4,000 to €5,000. No additional fee is charged for the choice of technique; details are given on the pricing page.

Hair Transplant in Turkey: Planning, Procedure, Recovery

Q: What is a hair transplant?

A hair transplant is the transfer of healthy follicular units taken from the donor area to regions of permanent hair loss. The procedure does not create new follicles; it redistributes the existing ones.

Q: Who is a suitable candidate for a hair transplant?

Suitability is determined by assessing the cause and distribution of hair loss, donor capacity, hair characteristics, age, general health and expectations together. At Hair of Istanbul the age range assessed is 18–60, and sufficient donor reserve is required.

Q: Is a hair transplant painful?

The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and the operative area is numbed. Brief discomfort may be felt while the anaesthetic is being administered. Sensitivity in the first days after the procedure is expected.

What is a hair transplant?

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure in which follicular units taken from the donor area are transferred to regions where hair loss is permanent. A graft is a natural follicular unit that may contain one or more hair follicles; a graft and a single hair are not the same thing.

The back of the head and the area around the temples are used as the donor area. Because the follicles in this region are less affected by male/female pattern hair loss, they can produce long-lasting growth where they are transferred. Existing hair that has not been transplanted, by contrast, may continue to thin over time; planning is therefore based not only on today’s appearance but on the future course of hair loss.

The aim of a hair transplant is not to cover a bald area but to use the available donor resource in a way that creates a natural hairline and balanced coverage, while preserving the overall appearance of the donor area.

At Hair of Istanbul, hair transplant planning is not merely a calculation of how many grafts will be implanted. Donor capacity, hair shaft calibre and curl, facial proportions, hairline design and the future course of hair loss are assessed together. Even two patients with the same degree of baldness may require a different plan and a different graft distribution.

The hair transplant procedure is completed in a single day. For patients travelling from outside Istanbul, the consultation, the procedure and the initial aftercare are arranged within a three-day clinical programme following the day of arrival; follow-up continues after the patient returns home.

Summary

A hair transplant transfers follicular units taken from the donor area to regions of permanent hair loss. Grafts are harvested one by one with the FUE method; placement is carried out either by DHI implantation or through channels created with Sapphire or Slit, according to the case plan. The procedure is completed in a single day under local anaesthetic. Temporary shedding of the transplanted hairs may be seen between the third and eighth week; new growth begins in the third to fourth month and the result matures in the thirteenth to fifteenth month.

Procedure time

6–9 hours, completed in a single day, with rest and meal breaks in between.

Anaesthesia

Local anaesthetic; brief discomfort may be felt only while it is being administered.

Typical session

1,500–5,000 grafts, depending on the area to be covered and donor capacity.

Istanbul programme

Arrival day plus a three-day clinical programme; follow-up continues after you return home.

First wash

Day 3, carried out at the clinic; how the wash should be performed at home is demonstrated in detail.

First growth

Months 3–4, when new hair growth begins; the first hairs may be fine and irregular.

Final appearance

Months 13–15, when the result matures; the crown may take longer in some cases.

Age range assessed

18–60; age is considered together with donor capacity, hair loss course and general health.

Who is a suitable candidate for a hair transplant?

A hair transplant is considered in people with sufficient donor reserve whose hair loss has a genetic, hormonal or stress-related cause. At Hair of Istanbul the age range assessed is 18–60. Age alone is not decisive; it is considered together with donor capacity, the course of hair loss and general health.

Situations generally considered suitable

Male/female pattern hair loss that has stabilised at a certain level
A receding frontal hairline and deepening temporal recessions
Permanent hair loss in specific areas
A naturally high forehead
Correction of a previous procedure (revision hair transplant) and grafting into scarred areas
Female pattern hair loss and Afro hair texture — planning is adapted to these cases

Situations that require further assessment

Rapidly progressing hair loss that has not yet stabilised
Donor density that is clearly insufficient for the area to be covered
Uncontrolled systemic conditions and matters relating to bleeding tendency
Active scalp problems — itching, redness, flaking or spots
Goals that expect more than the procedure can provide

When a hair transplant is not recommended

If the donor area is very limited while the area to be covered is very large, the density that can be achieved may not meet expectations. In such cases a hair transplant is not recommended. The purpose of the assessment is not to direct every enquiry towards surgery; it is to set out clearly, before the procedure, whether the result will justify the time and the resource spent. Non-surgical options such as PRP, Regenera Activa or scalp micropigmentation may be considered in these cases.

Individual planning

Two patients with a similar degree of baldness may require different plans. Hair shaft calibre and curl, the colour contrast between hair and skin, donor density, the future pattern of hair loss and facial proportions together determine which regions the grafts are distributed to first and how much visible coverage can be achieved.

Thick, curly hair produces higher visible density with the same number of grafts. Where the contrast between hair and skin is low, sparse areas look fuller. Graft numbers alone are therefore not a measure of quality.

Distribution and degree of hair loss

Determines the priority between the frontal, mid-scalp and crown regions.

Donor density and capacity

Limits the graft reserve that can safely be used.

Hair shaft calibre and curl

Changes the visible density achieved with the same number of grafts.

Hair – skin colour contrast

Affects the perception of density and the design of the transitions.

Age and facial proportions

Determines the position of the hairline and its long-term harmony.

Future course of the existing hair

Prevents grafts being spent on today’s appearance alone.

General health

Blood tests, ECG and an anaesthetic assessment confirm that the plan is safe.

Expectations

Goals that expect more than the procedure can provide are discussed openly.

Hairline design

A natural hair transplant result is achieved with a hairline design that is in harmony with the anatomical proportions of the face and takes the individual’s long-term hair loss dynamics into account. The aim is a frame that looks natural at first glance and does not become artificial with age.

The height and shape of the hairline are therefore not decided arbitrarily; facial reference points such as the glabella (the area between the eyebrows), the nasal root, the lateral canthus (the outer corner of the eye) and the tragus are used. Age-appropriate positioning is essential: hairlines placed too low, which may turn into an unnatural appearance over time, are avoided.

The depth of the temporal recessions, the width of the forehead, facial symmetry and the appropriate hairline type are assessed together — a slight M shape, a soft curve and a mature male line; in female patients, a more oval and rounded frame.

Four principles behind a natural appearance

Facial proportion analysis — the height of the hairline is determined by facial reference points, not by a fixed template.
Age appropriateness — a hairline that looks natural today must still look natural in fifteen years.
Donor management — every graft spent on the frontal band is a graft that cannot be used for the regions behind it.
Micro-irregularity — a perfectly straight line is not natural; the transition zone is built with controlled irregularity.

Two common errors are the use of too few single-hair grafts in the frontal band and positioning the hairline too low. Correct graft architecture — single-hair grafts at the front, graded density, and correct angle, direction and depth — makes the hairline natural at first impression and sustainable in the long term.

Donor area assessment and graft plan

The donor area is a limited resource that has to be managed over the long term. The harvesting plan takes into account not only how many grafts can be obtained in this procedure, but also how the donor area will look afterwards and what needs may arise later. The aim is balanced harvesting, not the highest possible number of grafts.

The ranges below are for guidance only and do not replace clinical assessment. The final graft number is based on measurement: the area to be covered and the density the donor area can support without being over-thinned are calculated together. Two patients at the same Norwood stage may require markedly different graft numbers.

In extensive baldness the aim is not to fill every region to the same density. The regions that frame the face and add the most visual impact are prioritised; the crown is treated as a second priority. If donor capacity is not sufficient for a single session, this is discussed openly before the procedure.

Norwood 2

Temporal recessions, hairline refinement
Typical graft range: 1,500 – 2,000

Norwood 3

Frontal region and temples
Typical graft range: 2,000 – 2,800

Norwood 4

Frontal region and early crown opening
Typical graft range: 2,800 – 3,500

Norwood 5

Frontal and crown regions, thinning in between
Typical graft range: 3,500 – 4,500

Norwood 6

Extensive baldness, frontal region prioritised
Typical graft range: 4,500 and above

Techniques: FUE, DHI, Sapphire and Slit

The names of the techniques are not alternatives to one another, nor separate quality packages. FUE describes how the grafts are harvested; DHI, Sapphire and Slit describe how the recipient area is prepared and how the grafts are placed. In a procedure carried out with DHI, the grafts are still harvested with FUE.

Which approach is used is determined by the hair structure, the condition of the existing hair, the area to be covered and the density aimed for. No additional fee is charged for the choice of technique; the technique is part of the individual treatment plan. For details, see the FUE technique and DHI technique pages.

FUE

The extraction method in which follicular units are taken one by one from the donor area.
Stage: Graft harvesting

DHI

The implantation approach in which grafts are placed into the recipient area with an implanter pen.
Stage: Implantation

Sapphire

The approach in which the recipient channels are created with sapphire-tipped blades.
Stage: Channel creation

Slit

The approach in which the recipient channels are created with the slit method and the grafts are then placed into those channels.
Stage: Channel creation

Preparation before the procedure

Preparation begins before the day of the hair transplant. The points below are the general framework that applies to every patient; individual instructions are given separately after the consultation.

No alcohol is consumed for one week before the procedure, and smoking is reduced.
The medicines you use and your current health condition are reported in advance. Blood-thinning medicines must not be stopped on your own initiative; whether they are stopped is planned jointly by the doctor who prescribed them and the Hair of Istanbul medical team.
If you have itching, redness, flaking or spots on your scalp, this must be reported before the procedure.
You are asked not to shave the donor area for about one month before the procedure.
Blood tests, an ECG and an anaesthetic assessment are completed before the procedure; current medication and allergy information is reviewed with medical approval.
On the morning of the procedure the hair should be washed and clean, with no styling products applied.
Breakfast is eaten on the morning of the procedure; coffee and caffeinated drinks are not taken.
Comfortable clothing is preferred — a wide-necked T-shirt, a shirt or a top that opens at the front.

Information and consent forms are shared in your own language; the flow of the day, the recovery timeline and the expected results are explained clearly before the procedure.

What happens on the day of the procedure?

The day of the hair transplant begins with a face-to-face consultation at the clinic. A detailed hair and scalp analysis is carried out, a natural hairline suited to your facial features is drawn, and the plan is approved together with you.

Once the hairline has been determined, your blood tests are confirmed and blood is taken for the PRP applied as part of the procedure. When the preparations are complete, local anaesthetic is administered and graft harvesting from the donor area begins. The grafts harvested are counted.

The channels are then created in the recipient area and the grafts are placed. The operative area is numbed with local anaesthetic; brief discomfort may be felt while the anaesthetic is being administered. When the procedure is complete, a dressing is applied to the donor area and the instructions for the first night are given.

What determines the result of a hair transplant?

The result of a hair transplant does not depend on the number of grafts alone. Two patients treated with the same number of grafts may end up with different visible density. The determining factors are:

Donor quality

Donor density and the quality of the harvested grafts.

Hair characteristics

Hair shaft calibre and curl.

Colour contrast

The colour contrast between hair and skin.

Area and hair loss

The size of the transplanted area and the degree of hair loss.

Hairline and distribution

Hairline design and the distribution of grafts across the regions.

Graft placement

The angle, direction and depth at which the grafts are placed.

Future hair loss

The future course of the existing hair.

Aftercare compliance

Compliance with the healing and aftercare process.

Risks and realistic expectations

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure. Temporary swelling, redness, numbness, folliculitis, shock loss or irregular growth in the early period may occur. Less commonly, infection, reduced graft survival, visible thinning in the donor area and — where planning and execution fall short — an unnatural result may occur.

Individual risk is determined during the medical assessment. If healing does not follow the expected course, the medical team should be contacted; early intervention corrects the process in most cases.

Expectation and result

In hair transplant surgery, no fixed percentage of density and no promise of a definite result are given. The result is an outcome determined jointly by donor capacity, hair characteristics, planning and the healing process. The realistic goal is the most balanced and natural appearance that can be achieved with the available donor resource.

Medical team

The consultation, the planning, the procedure and the post-operative check-ups are carried out by the same medical team. The decisions taken during planning are therefore carried through in full to the day of the procedure and beyond.

Hair of Istanbul has been operating in Istanbul since 2013, and more than 19,000 cases have been carried out to date. You can review the training and clinical roles of the doctors on the medical team page and see the centre on the clinic page.

Dr Ahmet Dilber

Specialist since 2017

Go To Doctor

Specialist Dr Barış Adaklı

Specialist since 2013

Go To Doctor

Dr Mahmut Satekin

Physician since 2021

Go To Doctor

Dr Hayriye Dilber

Specialist since 2011

Go To Doctor

Hair transplant before and after

Hair transplant results vary from person to person according to donor capacity, hair shaft calibre, colour contrast and the degree of hair loss. Each case must therefore be assessed within its own context.

Cases involving the frontal hairline, extensive baldness, Afro hair texture, revision, hair transplants in women and beard transplants can be reviewed in the before and after gallery, together with the hair type, the degree of loss and the graft range.

Hair transplant 13 cases

More on this procedure: Hair transplant

Before & After

Before

Hairline design

Day 10

Month 3

Month 4

Month 12

Before & After

4,550 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 5 · single session · United States

Procedure: August 2025

Norwood 5 hair transplant before and after: 12-month results following a 4,550-graft hair transplant at Hair of Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey. Photos compare the patient’s hair before the procedure and 12 months after transplantation.

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Before & After

Before

Hairline design

Before & After

Day 10

Month 3

Month 4

Month 7

Before & After

4,150 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 4 · single session · United Kingdom

Procedure: February 2026

7-month hair transplant result at Hair of Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey, following the transplantation of 4,150 grafts for Norwood 4 hair loss. Hair growth is still progressing, and individual results may vary.

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Before & After

Before

Hairline design

Month 3

Month 4

Year 7

4,900 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 4 · two sessions · United Kingdom

Procedure: July 2019

July 23, 2019 → September 24, 2026 The 7-year result of the hair and beard transplant we performed in 2019.

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Before & After

Before

Hairline design

Day 3

Day 10

Month 1

Donor area

Month 15

Before & After

3,400 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 2 · single session · United States

Procedure: September 2024

Afro-textured hair transplantation requires advanced experience and precise planning due to the curved structure and unique angles of the follicles beneath the skin. The procedure aims for natural curl direction, balanced density, and donor-area preservation. Every treatment is individually planned.

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Before & After

Before

Day 3

Day 10

Month 1

Month 4

Month 7

Donor area

Month 12

Before & After

4,450 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 6 · single session · United States

Procedure: November 2024

Before and after: A 4,450-graft hair transplant was performed by Dr. Mahmut Satekin for our patient with Norwood 6 hair loss. This comparison shows the appearance before the procedure and the transformation following the hair transplant.

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Before & After

Before

Hairline design

Day 10

Month 1

Month 3

Month 4

Month 12

Month 15

Before & After

4,500 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 6 · single session · United States

Procedure: December 2024

Curly hair transplant before and after: A 4,500-graft hair transplant was performed by Dr. Mahmut Satekin for our patient with curly hair. This comparison shows the appearance before the procedure and the transformation following the hair transplant.

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Before & After

Before

Hairline design

Day 3

Month 3

Month 11

Before & After

4,200 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 4 · single session · United States

Procedure: March 2025

Before and after: Our patient traveled from the United States for a 4,200-graft hair transplant performed by Dr. Mahmut Satekin using the FUE technique. This comparison shows the appearance before the procedure and the transformation following the hair transplant.

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Before & After

Before

Hairline design

Day 1

Month 3

Month 12

4,100 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 5 · single session · United Kingdom

Procedure: April 2025

Before and after: The 12-month result of a 4,100-graft hair transplant performed by Dr. Mahmut Satekin. This comparison shows the appearance before the procedure and the transformation achieved over 12 months.

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Before & After

Before

Hairline design

Day 1

Day 10

Month 12

Month 15

Before & After

Donor area

Month 15

Before & After

2,500 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 2 · single session · United States

Procedure: February 2025

Before & After: 10-month hair transplant result. 2,500 grafts were transplanted for a Norwood 2 hair-loss pattern.

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Before & After

Before

Hairline design

Before & After

Day 10

Month 3

Before & After

3,100 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 3 · single session · Romania

Procedure: August 2025

Before & After: 10-month hair transplant result. 3,100 grafts were transplanted for a Norwood 3 hair-loss pattern.

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Before & After

Before

Hairline design

Day 1

Day 3

Day 10

Month 1

Month 3

Month 4

Before & After

Month 12

Before & After

2,700 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 2 · single session · United Kingdom

Procedure: March 2024

Hair transplant before and after

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Before

Day 1

Day 3

Day 10

Month 1

Before & After

Month 3

Month 4

Month 5

Month 6

Before & After

Month 10

Before & After

Month 15

Before & After

Year 2

4,500 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 5 · single session · Türkiye

Procedure: August 2024

A 365-day transformation: Follow the hair transplant journey from procedure day to the final result, with photos from almost every day.

See the day-by-day archive · 279 photos

365-day journey (PDF)

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Before & After

Before

Day 1

Day 3

Day 10

Month 3

Month 5

Month 11

4,300 grafts · FUE · Slit · Norwood 5 · single session · United States

Procedure: October 2025

Hair of Istanbul , Hair Transplant Before & After

These images are published with the patient’s written consent.

Hair transplant prices

At Hair of Istanbul the hair transplant price is determined by the number of grafts; no additional fee is charged for the choice of technique. The ranges below reflect the current package structure.

€4,000

1,500 – 2,500 grafts

€4,500

2,500 – 3,500 grafts

€5,000

3,500+ grafts

The final plan and price become clear after the case assessment. For package contents, additional procedures and current prices, see the hair transplant prices page.

Treatments

Hair Transplant

Hair Transplant for Women

Revision Hair Transplant

Beard Transplant

Eyebrow Transplant

Afro Hair Transplant

Forehead Reduction

Scar Revision

Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP)

PRP Hair Treatment

Regenera Activa

Exosome Therapy

Red Light Therapy

Mesotherapy

FUE Hair Transplant

DHI Hair Transplant

Hair Transplant Aftercare

Pages

Popular Searches

Hair Transplant in Turkey

How It Is Planned, Performed and What Determines the Result

What is a hair transplant?

Procedure time

Anaesthesia

Typical session

Istanbul programme

First wash

First growth

Final appearance

Age range assessed

Who is a suitable candidate for a hair transplant?

Situations generally considered suitable

Situations that require further assessment

Individual planning

Distribution and degree of hair loss

Donor density and capacity

Hair shaft calibre and curl

Hair – skin colour contrast

Age and facial proportions

Future course of the existing hair

General health

Expectations

Hairline design

Four principles behind a natural appearance

Donor area assessment and graft plan

Norwood 2

Norwood 3

Norwood 4

Norwood 5

Norwood 6

How is a hair transplant performed?

Planning

Graft harvesting

Channel creation

Placement

Techniques: FUE, DHI, Sapphire and Slit

FUE

DHI

Sapphire

Slit

Patients travelling to Istanbul for a hair transplant

Before arrival

Arrival day

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3 — return

After returning

Preparation before the procedure

What happens on the day of the procedure?

The first two weeks after the procedure

Three nights on your back

Clinic check-up

First wash at the clinic

Gentle daily washing

Controlled crust removal

Photo check

What to avoid in the first months

Alcohol

Touching the recipient area