David, Hair Transplants

What is one of the most obvious signs of male ageing? Hair loss. That receding hairline can add several years to your appearance which can be frustrating. But sometimes it’s not until you meet someone who has done something about their hair loss that you get the encouragement you need. We sat down with one of our hair transplant clients, David, who had a FUE hair transplant in Turkey.

David, what did you dislike about your hair?

For me, it was those 2 minutes in the morning and 2 minutes in the evening looking in the mirror when I was brushing my teeth. I would stare at my hairline and the lack of hair made me feel old. I am healthy, active and always on the go, so I didn’t feel like my receding hairline matched the person I am.

What prompted you to look at having a hair transplant abroad vs your home country?

I went to a client meeting; he was late and apologised saying he had been for a hair transplant consult. I had never even thought of this before. I felt he legitimised it for me, and I didn’t feel vain about wanting to do something about my hairline. He mentioned how popular the procedure has become.

So that day, I spoke to three companies in Sydney asking for a quote. Prices ranged from $25,000 to $32,000 for a high-quality job. Yes, there were cheaper ones, but as a friend told me, “you only have so many follicles, so don’t waste them doing it on the cheap.”

I kept researching and discovered that Turkey is the world innovator of hair transplants.

For me, it was never about the money. It was about the outcome, and I just wanted the very best, which is why I chose Turkey.

Why did you decide on Turkey for your procedure?

Aside from Turkey being the global leader in hair transplants, they also perform this procedure more than anywhere else in the world. I wanted the best and I wanted surgeons who do this day in, day out, as experience always counts.

Why did you choose Asthetica for your procedure?

Like most people, I had heard horror stories about having cosmetic surgery overseas. Good reviews are easy to fake and there are so many surgeons – how do you know you’re getting a good one?

With Asthetica, I liked that I was dealing with an Australian company (they’re also based in the UK) and I felt confident that they had selected the very best surgeons. They also talked me through every stage of the process and answered my questions. Everything was just easy with them – I felt reassured as they clearly knew what they were doing.

Was there anything you didn’t expect during your experience?

Just how amazing Istanbul is as a city, it’s incredible! Also, how many people you see walking around the streets post-surgery. Unlike at home, where I would have been dodging the neighbours and the UberEats guy, here I just did my thing and enjoyed my time without feeling self-conscious.

Did you have a consultation with the Turkish clinic before you left your home country?

I was given the option of a consultation with the surgeon, but I felt it wasn’t necessary. I knew I had made the right choice and was confident about the process. Asthetica had so many client before and after photos of successful hair transplants and that, coupled with the fact that their partner hospitals are some of the best in Turkey, made me feel 100% confident.

What was your pre-surgery experience like? What did the staff do to make you feel at ease?

When I landed in Turkey, I suddenly thought “what am I doing?” I was in a strange country, tired and travelling on my own from Australia. As I was coming into the arrival terminal, I saw a driver holding a plaque with my name on it. He was friendly and took my suitcase and then took me to the hotel in a private, unshared car which was nice.

The following morning, I had breakfast by the pool then he picked me up and took me to the hospital. I met the surgeon and the whole team made me feel totally at ease with their professional yet friendly demeanour. It was clear they were experts and really experienced at all this. The hospital was immaculate too.

What was your post-surgery experience like? 

After my transplant, the driver was already there and waiting to take me back to my hotel. You don’t sleep well the first night as you must be semi-upright so as to not cause damage. So you’re aware of that, making it hard to sleep.

The following day, the driver picked me up from my hotel again and took me back to the hospital for a follow-up consultation. The nurse gently washed my hair and showed me how to do it myself so I wouldn’t cause damage whilst it’s healing. They were very caring and professional. Then in the afternoon, I went out sightseeing. I had a bandage on my head, but I saw lots of people in a similar way so I didn’t worry about it. Just seeing so many people in the street with bandages on their heads, necks, noses etc, you realise just how huge medical tourism is in Turkey.

 Are you happy with your results? 

I’ve always been a confident person, but what astounded me was just how good I felt about myself. Honestly, I wish I had done this years ago as I literally haven’t had hair this good since I was 20!

Would you recommend a hair transplant in Turkey?

Yes and no. This isn’t for everyone – if you don’t like travel or have a sense of adventure, then it’s probably not for you. However, if you want to have the best possible results with some of the world’s top hair surgeons and get to enjoy a holiday in a truly amazing city and still do all that for far less than it would cost you locally…then I can’t recommend this highly enough.