A hair transplant trip to Turkey takes 3 to 4 days total, from landing in Istanbul to flying home. The process follows a predictable sequence: airport pickup, hotel check-in, consultation and blood work, procedure day (6 to 8 hours), next-day follow-up with first wash, and departure. All-inclusive packages ($2,500 to $4,500) handle the logistics so you can focus on the medical side.
This walkthrough covers every stage of the trip in detail.
Before You Fly: Booking and Preparation
Choosing and Booking Your Clinic
The booking process typically takes 2 to 4 weeks and follows these steps:
- Initial contact: Most clinics respond within 24 hours via email, WhatsApp, or their website contact form
- Photo consultation: Send clear photos of your hairline, crown, donor area, and temples. The clinic provides an initial graft estimate and package quote.
- Video consultation (optional but recommended): A 15 to 30 minute video call with the surgeon or medical coordinator for a more detailed assessment
- Booking confirmation: Pay a deposit (usually $200 to $500) and select your procedure date. The clinic sends a confirmation with travel instructions.
- Pre-op instructions: Received 1 to 2 weeks before your trip with medication and lifestyle guidelines
For guidance on evaluating clinics, read our Turkey hair transplant overview.
Pre-Trip Preparation Checklist
| Task | Timeline | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Stop blood thinners | 7-10 days before | Aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, vitamin E |
| Stop alcohol | 3 days before | Affects bleeding and anesthesia |
| Stop smoking | 7 days before | Impairs healing and graft survival |
| Arrange time off work | 2 weeks before | Plan 5-7 days total (travel + initial recovery at home) |
| Pack appropriately | Day before | Button-up shirts, neck pillow, loose hat |
What to Pack
Essential items:
- Button-up or zip-up shirts (avoid pulling anything over your head for 10 days)
- Travel neck pillow (you will sleep elevated for the first 3 nights)
- Loose-fitting cap or hat for the trip home
- Comfortable slip-on shoes
- Phone charger and entertainment (audiobooks, podcasts for procedure day)
- Prescription medications you currently take
- Passport and travel documents
Items the clinic provides:
- Post-op shampoo and spray
- Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications
- Neck pillow (most clinics include one)
- Headband for swelling management
- Written aftercare instructions
Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul
Airport Pickup
Your clinic's driver meets you at Istanbul Airport (IST) arrivals. The drive to the clinic area or hotel takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. Most clinics are located in the Sisli, Levent, or Fatih districts of Istanbul.
Hotel Check-In
All-inclusive packages typically include accommodation at a 4 or 5-star hotel within 10 to 15 minutes of the clinic. You check in, settle into your room, and rest.
Evening Consultation (Some Clinics)
Some clinics schedule the initial consultation for the evening of your arrival day. This includes:
- Meeting your medical coordinator who speaks your language
- Reviewing your goals and expectations in person
- Preliminary donor area assessment
- Answering any remaining questions
Day 2: Consultation and Procedure Day
Morning: Pre-Op Preparation
The day starts early, typically between 7:00 and 8:00 AM.
Blood tests (30 minutes): The clinic draws blood for a basic panel including complete blood count, coagulation markers, and infectious disease screening (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV). Results come back within 1 to 2 hours. If any result falls outside acceptable ranges, the procedure is postponed.
Hairline design (30 to 45 minutes): This is the most important step of the entire process. The surgeon draws your new hairline using a marker while you sit upright facing a mirror. You review the design together, suggest adjustments, and approve the final shape before anything begins. Take your time here. Ask to see how the design looks from multiple angles. This is your last opportunity to make changes.
Photography: Before-and-after photos are taken from standardized angles for your medical record.
Late Morning: Anesthesia and Extraction
Local anesthesia (15 to 20 minutes): The surgeon administers numbing injections across the donor area and recipient area. This is the most uncomfortable part of the entire day. The initial injections sting, but once the anesthesia takes effect, you feel only pressure and vibration for the remainder of the procedure. Many clinics offer needle-free anesthesia systems that reduce the initial discomfort.
Graft extraction (2 to 3 hours): You lie face-down on the procedure bed while the surgical team extracts individual follicular units from the donor area using a 0.7 to 0.9mm micro-punch. For a session of 3,000 grafts, this phase takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. You can listen to music, watch videos, or sleep during extraction.
Midday: Lunch Break
Most clinics give you a 30 to 60 minute lunch break between extraction and implantation. The clinic provides a meal, or your coordinator takes you to a nearby restaurant. During this time, the medical team counts, sorts, and prepares the extracted grafts, keeping them in a chilled storage solution to maintain viability.
Afternoon: Channel Creation and Implantation
Channel creation (30 to 60 minutes): The surgeon creates tiny incisions (channels) in the recipient area following the approved hairline design. The angle, direction, and density of these channels determine the naturalness of your final result. This is where the surgeon's artistry matters most.
Graft implantation (3 to 4 hours): The surgical team places each graft into the prepared channels. For a 3,000-graft session, this takes 3 to 3.5 hours. You sit reclined during this phase and can watch a screen, listen to content, or rest. The team works methodically across the recipient area, placing grafts at precise angles to match natural hair growth patterns.
Evening: Post-Op Instructions
After the procedure, the clinic:
- Bandages the donor area (the recipient area is left uncovered)
- Reviews written aftercare instructions with you
- Provides your medication kit (antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, pain medication)
- Drives you back to the hotel
You will feel tired but not in significant pain. Most patients eat dinner at the hotel and go to sleep early.
Day 3: Follow-Up and First Wash
Morning Clinic Visit
The next morning, you return to the clinic for a 30 to 60 minute follow-up appointment:
- Bandage removal: The donor area bandage is removed and the area is inspected
- First wash demonstration: A nurse performs your first gentle hair wash, showing you the exact technique, water pressure, and products to use for the next 10 days
- Graft inspection: The surgeon or medical coordinator checks the recipient area to confirm grafts are seated properly
- Photo documentation: Post-op photos are taken
- Q&A session: Any final questions about home care, medications, and the recovery timeline
Afternoon: Free Time or Departure
Depending on your flight schedule, you have the afternoon free. Some patients depart on day 3, while others stay an additional night and leave on day 4. If you have time, light sightseeing is possible, but avoid direct sun exposure on the transplanted area and wear your provided hat.
Day 3 or 4: Flying Home
Air Travel After the Procedure
Flying 48 to 72 hours after a hair transplant is safe. The grafts are anchored in their channels within 24 hours. Cabin pressure does not affect graft survival. Practical tips for the flight:
- Wear a loose hat or the headband provided by the clinic
- Bring your saline spray and mist the recipient area every hour
- Use a neck pillow and try to keep your head from pressing against the seat
- Avoid overhead bin interactions if possible (ask a flight attendant for help)
- Stay hydrated throughout the flight
For everything that happens after you land at home, read our recovery process guide.
After You Return Home
Remote Follow-Up Schedule
Your Turkish clinic will check in with you at regular intervals:
| Timeframe | Follow-Up Method | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Day 7-10 | WhatsApp photos | Confirm healing, approve return to normal washing |
| Month 1 | Video call or photos | Check for any complications |
| Month 3 | Photos | Early growth assessment |
| Month 6 | Photos | Mid-point progress review |
| Month 12 | Photos | Final result evaluation |
Get Your Graft Estimate
Planning a trip to Turkey starts with knowing how many grafts your case requires. Upload a photo at myhairline.ai to get an AI-powered assessment of your hair loss pattern and estimated graft count, so you can request accurate quotes from clinics.
FAQ
How long do I need to stay in Turkey for a hair transplant?
Plan for 3 to 4 nights in Istanbul. You arrive the day before, have your consultation and blood tests that evening or the next morning, undergo the procedure (6-8 hours), attend a next-day follow-up for washing instructions and bandage removal, and then fly home on day 3 or 4. Most all-inclusive packages include 2 to 3 hotel nights.
What happens on the day of a hair transplant in Turkey?
Procedure day starts with hairline design, where the surgeon draws your new hairline and you approve it together. Then local anesthesia is administered to numb the donor and recipient areas. Graft extraction takes 2 to 3 hours, followed by a lunch break while the grafts are prepared. Channel creation and implantation take another 3 to 4 hours. The total time in the clinic is 6 to 8 hours.
What should I pack for a hair transplant trip to Turkey?
Pack button-up shirts (nothing pulled over your head for 10 days), a travel neck pillow for sleeping upright, loose-fitting hats for the trip home, comfortable pants, any prescription medications you take, copies of medical documents if you have chronic conditions, and entertainment for the procedure day. The clinic provides post-op supplies including special shampoo, medications, and a headband.