Istanbul has hundreds of clinics offering hair transplantation. The quality range is wide — from internationally accredited centres with experienced surgeons to high-volume "hair factories" where technicians perform procedures with minimal medical oversight. Knowing the right questions to ask protects you.
1. Who will perform my procedure?
The single most important question. A qualified surgeon should personally perform at minimum the extraction phase and the recipient site creation. Ask: "Will a doctor be performing my procedure from start to finish, or will technicians perform any part of it?"
In many lower-tier Istanbul clinics, the surgeon appears briefly for a consultation photo, and technicians perform the entire procedure. This is not safe practice.
2. Is the clinic JCI accredited or Ministry of Health health tourism authorised?
JCI (Joint Commission International) accreditation is the international hospital quality standard — equivalent to JCAHO in the US or CQC in the UK. The Turkish Ministry of Health Health Tourism Authorisation confirms the clinic meets government-regulated standards for treating international patients.
3. Can you show me your surgeon's credentials and experience?
Ask for the surgeon's specialisation (plastic surgery, dermatology with hair restoration sub-specialisation), years of experience specifically in hair transplantation, and ISHRS membership status.
4. How many procedures does the surgeon perform per day?
A surgeon performing 5+ full sessions per day is not personally conducting each procedure. One to two high-quality sessions per day is the standard for surgeon-led practice.
5. Can I see before/after photos of patients with similar hair loss to mine?
Ask for authentic, unfiltered results from patients at 12 months post-procedure with similar Norwood stage and hair texture to your own case.
6. What graft storage solution do you use?
Premium clinics use HypoThermosol or Plasmalyte. Clinics storing grafts in plain saline are not operating at premium quality standards.
7. What is your measured graft survival rate?
Reputable clinics track and know their survival rates. Vague answers ("very good") or inability to answer should concern you.
8. What does the all-inclusive package include — specifically?
Get itemised confirmation of: procedure, hotel nights (which hotel), transfer types, medications, follow-up. Hidden charges after arrival are a warning sign.
9. What is your protocol for complications or unsatisfactory results?
How does the clinic handle cases where results are poor? What support is provided in the months post-procedure?
10. Can I speak directly with the surgeon before booking?
A reputable clinic will facilitate a consultation — video or in-person — with the surgeon before you commit. If only a sales coordinator is available and no surgical consultation is offered before payment, that is a warning sign.
At Estetİstanbul, we welcome all of these questions. Our surgical team conducts personal consultations, our accreditations are published, and we are transparent about our protocols. We believe an informed patient makes the best patient.