Knowing exactly what happens on surgery day is one of the most effective ways to manage pre-procedure anxiety. This is a detailed walkthrough of a typical FUE session at Estetİstanbul — from the moment you arrive to the moment you return to your hotel.
The Morning: Arrival and Preparation
You'll arrive at the clinic between 7:30–8:30am. A patient coordinator meets you at reception and takes you through check-in — this takes about 15 minutes.
Pre-operative assessment: A nurse reviews your medical history, checks blood pressure and vital signs, and confirms you haven't eaten for 4 hours (light breakfast is fine, but avoid heavy meals).
Photography: Your scalp is photographed from multiple angles. These images form the baseline against which your results will be compared at 3, 6 and 12 months.
Hairline design: This is arguably the most important step in the entire procedure. Your surgeon draws your new hairline with a surgical marker while you're seated upright. You'll discuss the shape, density and natural-looking asymmetry that characterises authentic hairlines. Take your time here — this is the moment to raise any concerns or preferences.
Donor area preparation: The back and sides of your scalp are trimmed short (typically 1–2mm). The donor area is cleansed and marked.
Local Anaesthetic: The Brief Uncomfortable Moment
Local anaesthetic is administered to both the donor and recipient areas. This is the most uncomfortable part of the entire procedure — a series of small injections that cause a sharp, brief sensation.
Most patients rate this discomfort as 4–6 out of 10, lasting approximately 60–90 seconds. Once the anaesthetic takes effect, you will feel no pain throughout the remainder of the procedure — only occasional pressure or vibration.
Extraction Phase (2–3 Hours)
Your surgeon uses a micro-punch tool to extract individual follicular units from the donor area. Each unit contains 1–4 hair follicles. The surgeon rotates the punch tool at the precise angle of follicle growth — accuracy here directly impacts graft survival.
During extraction you'll be lying face-down on the surgical table. Most patients read, watch content on a tablet, or sleep during this phase.
What you can do: Talk to the team, ask for music or a film, request a break at any time. The team will check in with you regularly.
Break and Graft Preparation (30–45 Minutes)
A break is taken while technicians prepare the grafts under microscopes — sorting by follicle unit size (1-hair, 2-hair, 3-hair) and quality-checking each one. This careful preparation directly impacts survival rates.
Use this time to eat, rest, and freshen up.
Channel Creation and Implantation (3–4 Hours)
For Sapphire FUE, your surgeon uses sapphire-tipped blades to create tiny recipient channels in the scalp. The angle, direction and depth of each channel determines how naturally the transplanted hair grows. This is a highly skilled phase that cannot be rushed.
Grafts are then implanted into the channels. The team works systematically across the recipient area, maintaining consistent density and following the natural growth pattern mapped in the hairline design.
Post-Operative Care at the Clinic
Once all grafts are implanted, a nurse cleans both the donor and recipient areas, applies a saline spray, and bandages the donor site. You'll be given:
- Specialist post-operative shampoo and conditioner
- Saline spray for the first 3 days
- Prescribed medications (antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, pain relief)
- Detailed written aftercare instructions
- Direct contact details for the clinical team
A nurse will walk you through the washing technique you'll use from day two. This is important — ask any questions you have before you leave.
Returning to Your Hotel
Your VIP transfer takes you back to the hotel. Most patients feel tired but comfortable. Mild tightness, numbness and a dull pressure sensation are normal for the first 24–48 hours.
Tonight: Sleep with your head elevated (45 degrees or more). Avoid touching the grafts. A small amount of bleeding is normal.
Tomorrow: The clinic team will contact you to check in. Your first wash is typically on day two or three.
What Comes Next
Recovery begins now. The clinic's aftercare team will guide you through each week of recovery — via WhatsApp, email or video call. You'll have 12 months of remote support included in your package.
Have questions about surgery day? Contact our patient coordinators via WhatsApp — we're available 24/7.