Reputable Turkish clinics achieve 90% to 95% graft survival rates, identical to the best clinics in the US and Europe. The wide variation in Turkey's outcomes comes from the range of clinic quality, not from any country-specific factor. A JCI-accredited clinic in Istanbul produces results statistically indistinguishable from a top-tier clinic in New York. A hair mill down the street may achieve only 50% to 75% survival. This article presents the data behind those numbers.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Graft Survival Rates by Clinic Tier
Graft survival rate measures the percentage of transplanted follicular units that successfully establish blood supply and produce hair in the recipient area. This is the single most important metric for measuring hair transplant success.
| Clinic Tier | Graft Survival Rate | Typical Daily Volume | Surgeon Involvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium (JCI-accredited, surgeon-led) | 90% to 95% | 1 to 2 patients | Full |
| Mid-range (accredited, surgeon-supervised) | 85% to 92% | 3 to 4 patients | Significant |
| Budget (minimal accreditation) | 70% to 85% | 5 to 8 patients | Limited |
| Hair mill (no accreditation) | 50% to 75% | 8 to 15+ patients | Minimal to none |
What the Percentages Mean in Practice
For a typical 3,000-graft FUE procedure:
| Survival Rate | Surviving Grafts | Surviving Hairs (at 2.2 hairs/graft avg) | Visual Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95% | 2,850 | 6,270 | Excellent density, natural appearance |
| 90% | 2,700 | 5,940 | Very good density, meets most expectations |
| 85% | 2,550 | 5,610 | Acceptable density, may want touch-up |
| 75% | 2,250 | 4,950 | Noticeable thinness, likely needs revision |
| 60% | 1,800 | 3,960 | Poor result, significant revision needed |
| 50% | 1,500 | 3,300 | Failed result, major revision or alternative needed |
The difference between 95% and 75% survival on a 3,000-graft procedure is 600 grafts, or approximately 1,320 hairs. That gap is visually significant and often means the difference between a satisfying result and one that requires corrective work.
Success Rates by Technique
Turkey offers three primary techniques: FUE (including Sapphire FUE), DHI, and FUT. Each has distinct success metrics.
FUE and Sapphire FUE
FUE accounts for approximately 85% of all hair transplants performed in Turkey. Sapphire FUE, which uses sapphire-tipped blades for creating recipient channels, has largely replaced standard steel FUE at quality clinics.
| Metric | Standard FUE | Sapphire FUE |
|---|---|---|
| Graft survival rate | 90% to 95% | 90% to 95% |
| Transection rate | 3% to 7% | 3% to 7% |
| Infection rate | Under 1% | Under 1% |
| Healing time | 7 to 10 days | 5 to 8 days |
| Maximum grafts per session | 4,000 to 5,000 | 4,000 to 5,500 |
| Density packing capability | 40 to 50 grafts/cm2 | 45 to 60 grafts/cm2 |
Sapphire FUE's primary advantage is in the healing phase and density packing, not in graft survival. The sapphire blade creates a V-shaped incision (versus steel's U-shape), which may heal with less scarring and allow slightly closer graft placement. For a full comparison of hair transplant techniques, see the FUE vs FUT comparison.
DHI (Direct Hair Implantation)
DHI uses a Choi implanter pen to simultaneously create the channel and place the graft. This eliminates the need for pre-made incisions and reduces the time grafts spend outside the body.
| Metric | DHI | FUE |
|---|---|---|
| Graft survival rate | 90% to 95% | 90% to 95% |
| Out-of-body time (per graft) | Shorter | Longer |
| Maximum grafts per session | 3,000 to 4,000 | 4,000 to 5,000 |
| Surgeon skill requirement | Higher | Moderate |
| Cost premium | 20% to 50% more | Standard |
DHI survival rates match FUE when performed by an experienced surgeon. The technique requires more surgical skill, which means the quality gap between good and bad DHI clinics is wider than for FUE.
Factors That Determine Your Success Rate
Surgeon Skill and Experience
The surgeon's extraction technique directly affects the transection rate (percentage of grafts damaged during extraction). A skilled surgeon maintains a transection rate below 5%. Inexperienced hands or rushed procedures can push transection rates to 10% to 20%, destroying grafts before they are even implanted.
Graft Handling and Storage
Once extracted, grafts deteriorate over time. Key metrics:
| Factor | Optimal | Suboptimal |
|---|---|---|
| Out-of-body time | Under 2 hours | Over 4 hours |
| Storage solution | HypoThermosol or ATP-enriched | Basic saline |
| Storage temperature | 4°C (refrigerated) | Room temperature |
| Handling frequency | Minimal touch | Multiple transfers |
Premium clinics use ATP-enriched storage solutions and maintain strict temperature control. Budget clinics may store grafts in basic saline at room temperature, reducing viability.
Patient Factors
Your individual biology affects outcomes regardless of clinic quality:
| Patient Factor | Impact on Survival |
|---|---|
| Donor hair density | Higher density = more grafts available, better selection |
| Hair thickness | Thicker hair provides better visual coverage per graft |
| Scalp blood supply | Better circulation supports graft nourishment |
| Smoking status | Smokers show 10% to 15% lower survival rates |
| Diabetes | Impaired healing, moderately lower survival |
| Age | Older patients may have slightly lower survival |
| Aftercare compliance | Proper washing, medication use significantly impacts results |
Graft Count vs. Success
Higher graft counts per session are correlated with slightly lower survival rates. The data suggests a tipping point around 4,000 to 4,500 grafts.
| Session Size | Expected Survival (Quality Clinic) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 to 2,000 | 93% to 95% | Optimal zone |
| 2,000 to 3,000 | 92% to 95% | Very good |
| 3,000 to 4,000 | 90% to 93% | Good, surgeon skill critical |
| 4,000 to 5,000 | 88% to 92% | Near maximum, extended procedure time |
| 5,000+ | 85% to 90% | Risk of fatigue-related quality decline |
The decline in larger sessions is attributed to longer procedure times (surgeon and team fatigue), extended graft out-of-body time, and the physical limits of the donor area.
Patient Satisfaction Data
Patient satisfaction is a broader measure than graft survival alone. It includes hairline naturalness, density, donor area appearance, and overall experience.
| Satisfaction Level | Premium Clinics | Mid-Range Clinics | Budget Clinics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very satisfied | 70% to 80% | 55% to 65% | 30% to 45% |
| Satisfied | 15% to 20% | 20% to 25% | 20% to 25% |
| Neutral | 3% to 5% | 5% to 10% | 10% to 15% |
| Dissatisfied | 2% to 5% | 5% to 10% | 15% to 25% |
| Very dissatisfied | 1% to 2% | 2% to 5% | 5% to 10% |
Note that satisfaction is subjective and depends heavily on pre-operative expectations. Patients with realistic expectations report higher satisfaction even with identical clinical outcomes. This is why the pre-operative consultation and honest communication about likely results matter so much.
Complication Rates
Complications are uncommon at quality clinics but increase significantly at high-volume operations.
| Complication | Premium Clinic Rate | Hair Mill Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Infection | Under 1% | 2% to 5% |
| Excessive bleeding | Under 1% | 1% to 3% |
| Donor area over-harvesting | Under 1% | 5% to 15% |
| Unnatural hairline | Under 2% | 10% to 25% |
| Shock loss (temporary) | 10% to 20% | 10% to 20% |
| Numbness (temporary) | 5% to 15% | 10% to 25% |
| Numbness (permanent) | Under 1% | 1% to 3% |
| Cyst formation | 1% to 3% | 3% to 8% |
| Keloid scarring | Under 1% (patient-dependent) | Under 1% (patient-dependent) |
Shock loss (temporary shedding of existing hair near the transplant area) occurs regardless of clinic quality. It is a normal physiological response, not a complication, and hair typically regrows within 3 to 6 months.
How to Maximize Your Success Rate
Based on the data above, the highest-impact actions you can take are:
- Choose a JCI-accredited or equivalent clinic with a surgeon-led approach (1 to 2 patients per day)
- Stop smoking at least 2 weeks before surgery (ideally 4 weeks)
- Follow aftercare instructions precisely, especially the first 14 days
- Keep graft counts reasonable (under 4,500 per session for optimal survival)
- Use finasteride or minoxidil if prescribed to protect native hair and support grafts
- Set realistic expectations based on your Norwood stage and donor density
For pricing implications of choosing higher-tier clinics, see the Turkey vs USA cost comparison.
Timeline: When to Evaluate Success
Do not judge your result too early. Hair transplant growth follows a predictable timeline:
| Timepoint | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Week 1 to 2 | Scabs form and fall off, redness subsides |
| Week 3 to 4 | Transplanted hair sheds (this is normal and expected) |
| Month 2 to 3 | "Ugly duckling" phase, minimal visible growth |
| Month 4 to 6 | New growth begins, thin and wispy at first |
| Month 8 to 10 | Significant growth visible, hair thickening |
| Month 12 to 14 | Near-final result, full thickness |
| Month 14 to 18 | Final result, maximum density achieved |
Evaluating results before month 12 is premature. Many patients who are anxious at month 6 are fully satisfied by month 14.
Get Your Baseline Assessment
Understanding your current Norwood stage helps you set realistic expectations for any transplant, in Turkey or elsewhere. Upload a photo at myhairline.ai/analyze for a free AI analysis of your hair loss stage and estimated graft needs.