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Questions to ask a hair transplant clinic before you book

Ask every hair transplant clinic the same questions, in writing, before you pay a deposit. The most important ones are about who actually does the surgery: in cheap clinics it is often not the doctor you see in the ads.

Last updated: October 22, 2026

The questions follow the guidance of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) and, for Turkey, the Turkish Ministry of Health’s hair transplant rules. A good clinic answers all of them without pressure.

Who will do the surgery

Why it matters: ISHRS warns about a “bait and switch”: a doctor’s credentials are advertised, but technicians make the incisions and harvest the grafts (ISHRS). Its position is that any procedure that cuts the scalp is surgery and must be done by a licensed physician: “No technicians” (ISHRS). In its 2025 survey, 59% of members said there are black-market hair clinics in their city, and repairs of black-market transplants made up about 10% of their cases (ISHRS, 2025).

  • ☐ 1. What is the full name of the doctor who will operate on me, and what is their specialty?
  • ☐ 2. Who will harvest the grafts and who will open the channels (make the incisions)? Will anyone who is not a licensed physician do either step? This is ISHRS’s own suggested question.
  • ☐ 3. Who will place the grafts, and what are their qualifications?
  • ☐ 4. How many patients will the doctor treat on the same day as me?

If you go to Turkey: what the law requires

Why it matters: Since 2023, Turkey’s Hair Transplant Units Regulation says a hair transplant unit may only operate inside a licensed hospital, medical center or polyclinic with a provincial permit; only one patient may be in a procedure room at a time; and if you are sedated, an anesthesiologist must be present (regulation). Since the November 2023 amendment, only a certified physician may harvest grafts and open the channels; certified staff may only implant grafts under a physician’s supervision (amendment).

  • ☐ 5. In which licensed hospital, medical center or polyclinic is the hair transplant unit, and does it have the provincial permit?
  • ☐ 6. Will the doctor personally do the graft harvesting and channel opening, as Turkish law requires?
  • ☐ 7. Does the clinic hold the International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate, and is it shown on its website? Since 2025 a clinic serving foreign patients needs it, and must publish it online (2025 regulation; 2025 advertising rules).
  • ☐ 8. If an agency arranges the trip, is it on HealthTürkiye’s list of authorized agencies (HealthTürkiye)?

The plan, the result and the follow-up

  • ☐ 9. How many grafts do you plan, which technique (FUE or FUT), and how did you decide that from my photos or exam?
  • ☐ 10. Is my donor area enough for this plan, and for a second session later if I need one?
  • ☐ 11. What exactly is included in the price: medicines, hotel, transfers, follow-up?
  • ☐ 12. What happens if grafts do not grow: is there a written policy on a touch-up, and who pays for the travel?
  • ☐ 13. Will you send me my records (graft count, technique, the team’s names) after the procedure? Turkish units must record these in the Ministry’s system.
  • ☐ 14. Does the clinic carry insurance for complications? Turkey’s 2025 insurance requirement was suspended by a court in December 2025 (Turkish Medical Association), so ask and get the terms in writing.

Before you book, also read Is It Safe to Get a Hair Transplant in Turkey? and compare what a hair transplant costs in the U.S..

xcuro can send these questions to clinics for you and pass on their written answers. We do not perform medical audits or inspections; see our methodology and medical disclaimer. For questions that apply to any clinic abroad (price, deposit, insurance), see 20 questions to ask a clinic abroad.

Sources

All sources accessed October 19–22, 2026.

  1. ISHRS – Buyer beware: medical tourism for hair transplants: ishrs.org
  2. ISHRS – Fight the Fight against black-market hair transplants: fightthefight.ishrs.org
  3. ISHRS – 2025 Practice Census results: ishrs.org
  4. Hair Transplant Units Regulation (2023), Resmî Gazete: www.resmigazete.gov.tr
  5. Amendment to the Hair Transplant Units Regulation (Nov 2023), via Lexpera: www.lexpera.com.tr
  6. Regulation on International Health Tourism (2025), Resmî Gazete: www.resmigazete.gov.tr
  7. Regulation on advertising of health services (2025), Resmî Gazete: www.resmigazete.gov.tr
  8. HealthTürkiye – authorized agencies: healthturkiye.gov.tr
  9. Turkish Medical Association – suspension of the complication-insurance rule: ttb.org.tr