There are more than a few reasons why millions of people from around the world choose to fly to Turkey every year for their healthcare needs.
It has been deemed the best country for hair transplants by many. In fact, so much so that people would want to have any other type of medical procedure performed in Turkey as well.
According to the International Health Services (USHAS), a part of the Turkish Ministry of Health, where once medical tourism contributed to 1% of the tourism revenues, it grew to 4.5% in 2020.
In 2019 (before the pandemic restrictions), medical tourism in Turkey generated $1.06 billion. It is expected to bring in $10 billion in 2023.
Health tourism in Turkey is known for many things. If you go through the hair transplant reviews online, you’d read about:
- High-qualified doctors
- Affordable prices
- World-class technological infrastructure and equipment
- Efficient services
- Comprehensive medical travel plan
- Turkish hospitality
These are some significant factors in making Turkey one of the “hotspots” of medical tourism. Let’s learn about it in detail so that you can decide for yourself if this is where you want to come for your surgery.
Why Turkey Is The Best Country for Hair Transplants?
Turkey is the best country for hair transplants for the following reasons:
High Quality
It sounds simple enough, but when it comes to your health, the quality of the procedure can become a matter of life or death.
As a result of Turkey’s Health Transformation Program that started in 2003, the provision of healthcare services improved significantly.
The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) made further contributions to this effort as the medical infrastructure was upgraded.
In addition to that, the Ministry of Health audits hospitals twice every year to ensure that the standards of quality and care are being upheld.
Further quality controls come from the bodies that have internationally accredited hospitals in Turkey, like the Joint Commission International (JCI) and the International Organization of Standardization (ISO).
Because of state incentivization, the number of JCI-accredited hospitals is increasing. These are the reasons why Turkey has the best hair transplant clinics.
Other than that, many doctors in Turkey are associated with international organizations in addition to being licensed by the local authorities.
Keeping up with the pace of technological evolution and research in healthcare, the country had an estimated 160,000 doctors in 2019, as reported in Statista.
People not only come to get hair transplants in Turkey but also procedures like knee replacement, angioplasty, stem cell transplant, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), eye surgery, and other plastic surgery treatments.
Affordable Cost
On average, you can expect to pay anywhere between £3,000 and £5,000 in the UK. There are further variations in this cost depending on where you live and how qualified your surgeon is.
According to the NHS, the price can go as high as £30,000. Since it’s not available on National Health Services, people have to get this procedure privately. The surgery itself and the aftercare can end up costing far more than a person can afford.
One of the biggest reasons why Turkey is considered the best country for hair transplants is its cost. It’s 3-5 times cheaper.
Also, it is right in the “sweet spot” because of its proximity to Europe and Asia. People are willing to pay for the travel expenses because, even after factoring them in, the surgery is much cheaper than in their home country.
There are different reasons for that, but mainly it’s the economy. The depreciation in the Turkish lira, low cost of living and cheap labour make the surgery much more affordable.
There is a robust domestic production of medical devices within Turkey, which further drives down the cost.
Moreover, clinics offer “comprehensive” medical travel plans. It includes a 4 or 5-star hotel booking. And just for comparison, a 5-star hotel in Turkey can cost you as much as £60, and in Spain, it will end up costing you about £170.
Transfers are also included. So, you can travel back and forth to the airport, clinic and hotel quickly and easily.
Meals at inexpensive restaurants won’t cost you more than £2-3. Therefore, it’s not just the cost of the treatment but also the additional expenses that are still quite affordable in Turkey than anywhere else.
For the same surgery in Turkey, a US resident can end up saving as much as 50-60% of their money.
Close Flight Distance
As mentioned above, Turkey’s in the sweet spot. It straddles two continents, which is why it attracts patients from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
There are almost 60 airports in the country that accommodate millions of passengers every year. The ease of travelling is another reason why Turkey is the best country for hair transplants.
Many airlines offer direct flights, and if you’re travelling from the UK, the flight should take less than 4 hours. This is not just for the UK. From Ireland to India, flights take less than 4 hours.
Once, in an effort to promote medical tourism, Turkish airlines even offered a 50% discount to those who were travelling to Turkey for a medical procedure.
As far as the cost of the tickets is concerned, it varies depending on the region where you live and the time of the year when you’re travelling.
However, our Travel Coordinators can help you avail of the cheapest tickets so that you can save as much as possible.
Rich Culture
Almost everyone who comes to Turkey talks about the richness of its culture. It’s fascinating to find so many historical landmarks belonging to different religions in one place. It is so because it has been the capital of four different empires throughout history:
- Roman
- Byzantine (twice)
- Latin
- Ottoman
According to the Minister of Culture and Tourism, as reported in Daily Sabah, tourism makes a contribution of 12% to the Turkish economy. This is the main source of foreign income for the country.
The capital Istanbul sits on the Bosporus, which is a narrow stretch of water that separates Greece (and Europe) from Turkey (Asia). The following tourist attractions are known around the globe:
- Blue Mosque
- Topkapı Palace
- Grand Bazaar
- Spice Bazaar
- Basilica Cistern
- Galata Tower
- Hagia Sophia
- Suleymaniye Mosque
- Dolmabahce Palace
This list is by no means exhaustive. Of course, the mention of culture is not complete without food. Much has been written and said about the food in Turkey.
Baklava, kebap, doner, kofte, meze, and tea are only the most popular foods in the country. Top it all off with Turkish hospitality, people can’t help themselves but be drawn to this place.
For people who’re coming for hair transplants, there’s no better way to unwind and have a vacation while they’re there.
They can enjoy the city before the surgery and after it (provided they follow aftercare and don’t strain themselves). This is why Turkey is the best country for hair transplants.
Is Turkey Dangerous for Hair Transplants?
Turkey is a safe country for hair transplants. Bypassing authorities, there are some “clinics” that have set up shop without being authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health.
Since they don’t have to uphold any particular standards of quality and care, they offer extremely cheap treatments by cutting the cost of personnel, facilities, and equipment.
These kinds of exploitative tactics are employed by some businesses around the world, and it’s not just a problem in Turkey.
A hair transplant at one of these clinics can be twice or thrice cheaper than the average in the area. This is one red flag to look out for.
However, when doing your research, you should make sure that the clinic is authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health and that a doctor (not a nurse) is performing your surgery.
Concluding Remarks
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Turkey was among the top 6 countries (where 40% of the patients went) to receive international tourists in 2018. The country offers specialised medical services while ensuring high quality.
Although a big reason why Turkey is considered the best country for hair transplants is the cost. Because of the Turkish economy, the cost of living and labour is much lower than in the UK.
This, in addition to comprehensive medical travel plans, makes the country the choice for millions of medical tourists every year.
Another reason for this is the geographical location of the country. Being close to Europe, the Middle East and Asia, it’s possible for billions to travel to Turkey within 4 hours.
Many people also see Turkey as the perfect place to have their vacation while they have their surgery. Also, language isn’t that much of a problem since the medical/non-medical staff can speak fluent English.
However, for further assurance, clinics offer translators that ensure seamless communication no matter the language you speak. These are a few things that make Turkey the best country for hair transplants.
