More and more men are heading to countries like Turkey and Thailand for hair transplant surgeries. But what does a hair transplant cost, is it worth it, and will a hair transplant be a good option for you?
While they can sometimes be effective, they’re not a cure to hair loss and they come with significant costs, risks, and ongoing maintenance.
What is a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that involves moving hair from one area of the scalp to another.
There are two primary methods used for harvesting hair follicles from the donor site:
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
In FUT, a strip of skin containing hair follicles is surgically removed from the donor area. The strip is then dissected into individual follicular units under a microscope. Each follicular unit typically contains one to four hairs. The individual follicular units are then transplanted into the recipient site.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
FUE is a less invasive technique compared to FUT where individual follicular units are extracted directly from the donor area using a small, punch-like instrument.
This method does not involve a linear incision and leaves tiny, dot-like scars that can be less noticeable than those from FUT.
Hair transplants risks
Hair transplants aren’t a good option for everyone. Much like other cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, the procedure can give quick results, but it doesn’t address the underlying conditions.
This means that without any other treatment or support, the patient may soon find themselves in the same position.
Before going ahead with your hair transplant, here’s the main things you should know:
They don’t stop hair loss:
Hair transplants are less effective treating the earlier stages of progressive genetic hair loss conditions such as male pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia.
A transplant moves hair, but it doesn’t prevent further balding. If no additional treatment is used, transplanted hair may remain while surrounding hair continues to thin, leading to an unnatural look.
Long recover time:
The scalp can be swollen, sore, and scabbed for weeks. Full results can take 12-18 months to appear.
Limited donor hair:
A transplant doesn’t give you extra hairs, it just redistributes your existing follicles. So the success of a hair transplant depends on the availability of sufficient donor hair. In cases of extensive hair loss, there might not be enough donor hair to achieve the desired coverage.
Lego man hairline:
Most clinics charge per follicle but you should be aware of practitioners who push you to buy the maximum number of transplanted hairs. This can often lead to an unnatural, “Lego man” hairline that sits too low.
Getting a transplant too early:
If you get a hair transplant too young, before the extent of your hair loss condition can be known, your surgery may not take your future hair loss into account. This may result in balding continuing around the patches of transplanted hair.
You might not need a transplant:
It’s possible your hair follicles are merely in a resting phase. If this is the case, you may be able to regrow your hair without surgery. Book a free hair loss consultation and our consultants can assess your condition to let you know what’s possible.
There’s no going back:
The main benefit of a hair transplant is also one of the biggest risks. As transplanted hairs are in place permanently, this means for better or for worse, you’re stuck with the results. It also means you will need to maintain your remaining natural hair if you want to avoid continued thinning.
Hair transplant costs
The cost of a hair transplant can range from around $5,000 to $30,000, dependent on the number of follicles you are having transplanted. But even in places like Turkey or Thailand the costs are still expensive compared to other treatment options. This is especially the case when you factor in the likelihood of the ongoing care required after your hair transplant.
Added risks of surgery overseas
While the appeal of combining an overseas vacation with a cosmetic procedure is clear, there are some additional risks you should be aware of. Botched surgeries are common overseas as clinics in Turkey and other medical tourism destinations often cut corners with inexperienced surgeons, leading to bad hairlines, infections, and poor results.
Lack of regulation and oversight:
Many countries like Turkey and Thailand have different regulatory standards for cosmetic procedures. This may lead to variations in the quality of healthcare facilities, qualifications of practitioners, and adherence to safety protocols.
Inexperienced practitioners:
Sometimes the lower cost of procedures abroad can be attributed to the lower costs of less experienced surgeons.
Limited recourse in case of complications:
If complications arise from a cosmetic procedure performed overseas, seeking corrective measures or follow-up care may be challenging. Legal and regulatory frameworks may differ, limiting the recourse available to patients facing issues post-surgery.
Ongoing Maintenance After a Hair Transplant
Many people assume that once they get a hair transplant, their hair loss worries are over however that’s not the case. Here’s what happens after a transplant:
- The newly transplanted hair follicles take root and start growing.
- However, the underlying cause of hair loss (DHT sensitivity) doesn’t go away.
- Without treatment, the existing, non-transplanted hair continues to thin and fall out.
- Over time, this can create an unnatural look where only the transplanted areas remain thick, while the surrounding hair thins or disappears entirely.
Think of it like replanting grass on a lawn with patches of thinning areas—if you don’t stop whatever is killing the grass, it will keep thinning. Hair transplants can work, but they’re not a one-and-done fix. They come with high costs, long recovery, and the need for lifelong maintenance.
This means that, ongoing pharmaceutical treatments are usually needed to maintain the health of existing hair and prevent continued hair loss.
How Ashley & Martin Treats Hair Loss
Hair loss can be caused by many different factors, which is why there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. At Ashley & Martin, we take a personalised, medical approach to help restore your hair naturally — without surgery.
It all starts with a free consultation, where we assess your scalp, hair loss stage, and overall health to design a treatment plan that’s right for you.