Should You Travel Abroad for Hair Transplant Surgery?

Many of the experts agree: Turkey is the most popular destination for a hair transplant procedure. In fact, the Washington Post even published a feature on why more than 5,000 people come into the country each month for hair restoration surgery. One of the biggest reasons for Turkey’s hair restoration tourism is the low cost of the procedure, as well as the large number of licensed cosmetic surgeons who are now based in Turkey. And while the procedure may not be quite as inexpensive there, the UK has also emerged as a leading hair transplant destination, thanks to the large number of highly recommended hair clinics that have appeared there in recent years.

As long as you’re using a reputable, accredited hospital and surgeon, the risks of having a hair transplant abroad are no higher than they would be at home. However, it’s crucial to schedule enough time on your trip to accommodate any necessary follow-up treatments. Also, as with any surgery, complications such as post-op pain or even infection can always occur, so it’s always a good idea to stay long enough to recuperate sufficiently. Leaving too soon doesn’t give you enough time for your surgery to heal — and you could end up having to pay for an expensive clinic treatment or hospital stay once you’re back home.

According to 2021 rankings from Worldpopulationreview.com, the US currently ranks 37th in its overall quality of healthcare. France ranks first, while other popular medical tourism countries like Singapore and Spain are ranked in the top ten. In fact, many of the world’s most popular medical tourism destinations rank considerably higher than the US in overall healthcare quality.

Health insurance in the US does not cover elective procedures or cosmetic surgeries, including hair transplants. If you decide to have the procedure done in America, you’ll have to pay full price — and this is unaffordable for many people. However, if you have it done overseas, even when you include the cost of transportation, accommodation, and travel health insurance, you’ll still come out way ahead financially.

Medical tourism has provided a major economic boost to dozens of tourist destinations overseas — so much so that many of these countries are touting their medical care as much as they tout their warm, sunny climates or white sand beaches. Because medical tourism has become vital to their economies, these countries are investing a great deal of money into the latest high-tech, cutting-edge equipment in their hospitals and clinics.

According to experts, as long as you do your research, choose an internationally accredited clinic, and a fully licensed surgeon, it’s completely safe to have your hair transplant surgery overseas. The key is in doing your homework — and that includes reading patient reviews and checking facility accreditation and physician credentials.

Many people maximize their time overseas by finding out about other cosmetic procedures to consider after their recovery period is over. Just about any cosmetic surgery costs thousands (and sometimes tens of thousands) of dollars less in other countries. Just be sure you’ve fully recovered from your hair transplant — and have completed all your follow-up visits — before embarking on another procedure.

Hair restoration surgery has become a big thing overseas — so much so, many more medical professionals are now specializing in hair transplant procedures. Likewise, this medical tourism boom has also encouraged some of the world’s best hair transplant surgeons to practice in these countries as well. That’s why there are so many top-notch hair clinics overseas that cater to international tourism.

What’s not to love about recovering on a warm, sunny beach in a tropical paradise or major tourist resort? Many medical destination locations are also popular tourist locales, so why not do what millions of medical tourists do and take advantage of your stay by turning it into a relaxing, recuperative vacation? Even if you extend your stay by a week or two, you’ll still end up paying thousands of dollars less than the treatment would cost in the US — and you’ll get a luxury vacation into the bargain.

Generally speaking, the price of a hair transplant is calculated per graft, so you pay according to the number of grafts you receive. According to the experts, the average number of grafts can range from $500 to $2,500, but some people require more. Depending upon the amount of hair you’re having transplanted, a typical hair restoration procedure in the US can cost around $4,000 to $15,000, with the average cost at around $13,610. To compare prices, here’s a look at how much the same procedure costs in several popular overseas destinations:

• Turkey, $1,200 - $5,500
• Thailand, $2,500 - $4,000
• Mexico, $3,500 - $5,900
• Poland, $2,700 - $10,800
• Malaysia, $4,300 - $5,500
• Germany, $4,700 - $10,600.