Brothers Barry Cowan (left) and Brian Cowan undergo hair transplant surgery at the Glasgow Clinic. [+] Scottish clinic.
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At airports across Europe, especially those flying to and from Istanbul, it’s not uncommon to see men with freshly shaved heads, some wearing caps to hide the red scabs, others with bands around their foreheads to prevent post-operative swelling, but all showing the unmistakable signs of recent hair transplant surgery.
Although clinics offer hair transplants in most major cities in Europe, the capital of this thriving industry is the undisputed capital of Turkey, Istanbul, where pre- and post-surgery treatments are performed in what is now known as the “Hair Port”. Hundreds of flights are arriving and departing carrying patients.
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Turkey’s national airline, Turkish Airlines, is jokingly known as “Turkey’s Hairline” and its airports are plastered with advertisements for hair transplants and cosmetic treatments.
Welcome to “Hair Port”.
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Turkey’s Health Ministry says it expects 2 million health tourists this year (including plastic surgery, dental work and other procedures) and hopes to capture $20 billion in revenue from the sector.
Hair transplantation is currently the most popular surgery, with more than 2,000 procedures performed every day.
“At the first sign of baldness, more and more young men are not afraid to undergo hair transplants,” Le Monde newspaper reports, reporting that flights from Paris airports to Turkey are rapidly increasing each month. . “Directions: Türkiye, its unrivaled prices and chain operations.”
Of course, patients don’t just come from Paris, and it’s not just young French men who want hirsute hair. Studies have shown that one in four men suffer from hair loss, and it’s more common among white people, even when measured by country.
Baldness will eventually affect two-thirds of men.
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Countries with many bald people
A World Population Review study published by the Daily Mail, based on data from Vantage Hair Clinic, ranks the 21 countries with the most baldness, with the United States and Europe leading the way. ing.
“Male pattern baldness typically begins with a receding hairline or patch of hair loss on the top of the head, and eventually affects two-thirds of men. The good news is that there are some promising new treatments and fresh treatments available. the availability of surgical techniques,” the article states.
The Czech Republic (42.8%) has the highest number of bald men in the world. Spain, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, the US, Canada and Belgium round out the top ten, with between 36% and 42% of the male population experiencing some degree of hair loss.
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Depression and social stigma
The epidemic of baldness that seems to be affecting younger men, plus the associated psychological effects and social stigma, has spurred a thriving industry, from aspirational products to prevention, treatment and, ultimately, hair transplants for millennials who are more ready to discuss hair loss and openly seek solutions.
According to the Guardian, “Men say they would rather have a smaller penis than go bald.”
Thus, the most supposedly effective treatments offered in various countries have boomed, partly as a side effect of a growing industry commonly known as “wellness tourism,” which involves tailor-made vacation packages that include airfare, hotel deals, medical appointments, transport, meals and more.
Customers are mainly from Arab countries, European countries, and more recently Asian countries and the United States, often traveling in groups.
These offers abound on the Internet, in media ads, in health publications, and so do warnings from health experts.
A patient undergoing hair transplant surgery at a clinic in Istanbul. Photo: Chris McGrath
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Most common steps
In one hair transplant technique, known as “follicular unit transplantation” (FUT), a patient under local anesthesia cuts out a section of the scalp and transplants it to the area of hair loss.
Another less invasive method is Follicular Unit Excision (FUE), also known as the “hair-by-hair procedure,” in which individual hair follicles on the sides and back of the head are removed from a barren area. Replant one at a time. area of the scalp.
Most countries have clinics and other health-related facilities of varying types and sizes offering one or both interventions. But in recent years, business has exploded and hair tourism has become popular in countries such as Turkey and Tunisia, with beauty clinics offering bargain prices and “health tourism travel agencies” offering equally attractive packages. ing.
Patients who have undergone hair transplant surgery walk through Taksim Square in Istanbul.
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Why Istanbul?
Thanks to Turkey’s low exchange rate and medical expertise, more and more foreigners, as well as those from Western countries, are turning to the country for hair transplants. For example, according to Nikki Asia, the price of hair transplantation in Istanbul is one-sixth that of Japan and half that of South Korea.
“Chinese and Japanese visitors are a relatively new phenomenon, boosted by Turkey’s affordability and growing international reputation,” the paper added.
Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey also offers one of the continent’s most generous policies for international arrivals.
Adding to its popularity is the fact that many celebrities, including famous soccer players, have chosen Turkey as their transplant destination. The newspaper reported in November that Italian soccer player Francesco Totti invested in a plastic surgery clinic in Istanbul, where many players from the Italian, German and Spanish leagues are currently receiving transplants.
This trend inspired the 2022 Spanish comedy film “Por los pelos” (By the Hair). It depicts the anxieties of three of her friends who suffer from hair loss, can no longer bear social pressure, and decide to go to Turkey for transplants.
“Transplant surgery is very good, but its cost is very high. But in Turkey, a brand new hairline (and a stay in a luxury hotel) can be had for a fraction of the cost at stateside clinics. “How Istanbul Became the World Capital of Hair Transplants,” GQ magazine wrote in an article about “How Istanbul became the world capital of hair transplants.” ”
“A doctor I’ve never met is about to put 4,250 holes in my head. He could be a doctor. Do you think he’s a doctor? The procedure will take 6 hours. Less than 5,000 miles away. have no friends or family,” the author worries.
“But in another sense, I am not alone. Thousands of people have joined me. We are from the United States, the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, now the hair transplant capital of the world. We flew to Turkey, where surgery that costs $20,000 in New York costs $2,000 on the Bosphorus coast. We come here with sad hairlines and skimpy crowns. leaves with a shaved head, scarred, red and scabbed, and with renewed hope for youth.”
Turkish alternatives “can be an asset on a tight budget. But it’s best to find out as much as you can about it before embarking on such a trip,” advises French publication DNA.
Fraud and risk
The ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) has a site warning about the risks and dangers associated with hair transplant medical tourism. In its “Fight the Fight” campaign (against fraudulent, illegal, global hair transplants), the company warns: But non-physicians and people with little training also perform the surgery. They promise low prices and guaranteed results, but they can deliver terrible results. ”
This site provides access to some of those bad stories.
Their recommendations are: “Your safety and health are at risk if you do not seek medical attention. Get as much information as possible and ask yourself the right questions before making any decisions, especially regarding post-surgery follow-up.” please.”
In fact, getting new hair in Turkey is much cheaper than in other Western European countries or the United States. “At most clinics in the United States, hair transplants can cost well over $10,000, and in some cases more than $20,000,” GQ reports.
The article goes on to explain that while many hair removal clinics in Mexico, Thailand and the Caribbean also offer cheaper treatments, “the Turkish clinics, at least, stand out for their quality. Their doctors.”
Ali Cagulayan, founder of the tourist guide Istan Beautiful, explained to the magazine that the Turkish Ministry of Health sees an opportunity to promote medical tourism. “So they offered tax breaks and refunds on things like medical equipment, digital marketing, and even hotel rooms paid for by patients.” The plan worked, with Turkey now receiving between 1.5 and 2 million people a year. It is visited by many medical tourists, many of them for hair transplant purposes.
official warning
“Turkey has become a kind of El Dorado, with patients from all over the world flocking to get hair transplants,” The Independent writes. “But hygiene standards are not the same as in Western Europe. In any case, there is a share of risk.”
Various embassies in Europe have issued warnings about the risks of ‘bald tourism’, advising potential travelers to be careful and research centers offering treatment.
Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns: “If you are traveling to Turkey to receive this type of treatment, it is strongly emphasized that you should exercise the utmost caution and check the level of quality of the center and the chosen doctor.” are doing. ”
The Turkish Health Tourism Authority website provides a 24-hour international patient call center and contact emails in English and Turkish to answer questions about hospitals, treatments, doctors and agencies or to report complaints. It includes a list of clinics and the various licensed fees.
Some experts recommend hair transplant surgery as a last resort and advise men to try the shaved look first.
