A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that usually adds more hair to an area on your body that has suffered hair loss. The procedure moves hair follicles from one place, typically known as the ‘donor site’, to another, which is known as the ‘recipient site’. Although this procedure was once known to specifically treat male pattern baldness, nowadays it can be used by nearly anyone if they are suffering from hair loss.

Why a Hair Transplant?

Hair loss has been a problem since time memorial, with many strange alleged cures for baldness including, believe it or not, castration before the age of 25, and even compost for the head! In more recent history in the battle against hair loss, hair restoration is not only less painful but is thankfully less smelly. 

Less invasive and painful than a hair graft and providing more permanence than a wig, a hair transplant is often considered the most ideal method of permanent hair restoration. A hair graft will take a strip of skin from the donor site to transfer to the recipient site to encourage hair growth. In contrast, a hair transplant will use several smaller grafts. 

It is important to note that hair restoration can occur nearly anywhere on the human body, including eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, and chest. 

Where should I go for a Hair Transplant?

Hair transplants can be done all over the world, so if you feel like undergoing this surgery in conjunction with a holiday, choosing another country may be ideal. However, despite the potential enjoyment of being on holiday, you want to know that you’re in safe hands and under an experienced surgeon. Therefore, if you’re planning to have this surgical procedure done abroad, rather than somewhere local, here’s everything you need to know about getting a hair transplant in some other countries: 

Turkey

Considered one of the best places to get a hair transplant, Turkey is also renowned for a host of celebrities flocking it for various procedures, including hair and dental. Prices for hair transplants in Turkey are considerably lower than most of Europe, America, and some Asian countries. With its government’s injection of money into medicine, combined with competitive prices, perhaps this is unsurprising. 

Of the 800,000 people entering Turkey every year, 100,000 of them arrive specifically for hair transplants. This shows no sign of decreasing in the interim, especially with a 98% success rate in this field. Hair transplants and travel can be arranged within a few days. In addition to the latter, all-inclusive packages also include an interpreter, accommodation, and care products.

Thailand

Considered another ideal country to have a hair transplant, Thailand is also a popular tourist destination. Many Thai hair transplant surgeons go abroad to be taught how to perform this surgery before returning home to practice their profession. 

Hair transplants cost around the same as in most of Europe but are still considerably cheaper than in America and Australia. When you include the fact that Thailand is a popular holiday destination, it is understandable that the country is a popular choice for people wanting a hair transplant. With approximately 150,000 such operations performed per year, Thailand is undoubtedly a country worth considering.

Poland

Despite being less popular than Turkey and Thailand, Poland has affordable medical facilities that provide some of the best hair transplant procedures at affordable prices. The Artas Robot, a machine specifically designed to extract follicles from the donor site to the recipient site, without the need for surgery and whilst also being minimally invasive, is used at most medical facilities in Poland that specialize in this procedure. 

In comparison with Western European countries, Poland charges 20 - 40% less for this surgery. Furthermore, it is considered the easiest to reach a country in the world for hair transplants. Thanks to low-cost flights, it is also considered the cheapest to travel to. However, unlike Thailand and Turkey, there are no package holidays and expenditure can accrue when taking into consideration the separate costs for accommodation, an interpreter, and transfer.

It’s important you thoroughly do your research to be aware of:

• The procedure

• The recovery time

• Any follow up appointments

• Whether you will require an interpreter and

• Where you’re going to live

When researching possible countries to undergo a hair transplant. 

Affordability may not always equate to safety or provide things like an interpreter, which may prove to be vital if, in the unfortunate instance, you require urgent medical assistance after having surgery. It may be worth looking for independent patient reviews to gain a different perspective to further help you decide.