1-year After FUE Hair Transplant – What I Learned?

One year ago, I found myself at a crossroads many quietly face: staring at my thinning hairline and realizing it was starting to affect more than just my reflection – it was chipping away at my confidence. I had been thinking of having a hair transplant for a while and I finally took the step in late October 2024.
And now, 12 months after I took that leap, and I want to pull back the curtain on what that experience was truly like, what surprised me, what I wish I’d known, and what lessons might help if you’re considering the same path.

Of course, this is my own experience and it might be different to others, so I am sharing my thoughts and giving you my own tips, some might apply, some might not. Here’s what I consider to be the key things to know about a FUE Hair Transplant in Türkiye.

Why I Chose Turkey

• Affordability without compromise: Clinics in Türkiye offer packages starting around $2,000-$5,000, compared to $7,000-$10,000+ in the UK or US. I did find one clinic in London that was trying to compete with the £3,000 mark, but I felt this would be compromising on quality, so I decided on Cosmedica, in Istanbul for their vast experience and great customer feedback.
• All-inclusive convenience: My package included a 5-star hotel stay, airport transfers and transport to the clinic, and a ton of supplements, shampoos and other products.
• Reputation for excellence: Istanbul is a global hub for hair restoration, with success rates as high as 95% and Cosmedica performs dozens of transplants each day, so their experience in the procedure is vast.

🏥 The Experience: What Surprised Me

• Professionalism and care: The clinic was very modern, spacious and with a lot of staff. From the first consultation to post-op follow-ups, I felt genuinely looked after. I was also provided with all the necessary products for my after care at no extra cost.
• Advanced techniques: I opted for FUE Transplant with a Sapphire blade for minimum pain], and the precision was impressive.
• Minimal discomfort: The procedure was far less painful than I expected. It’s with local anaesthetic and took a whole day. Follicles were extracted, examined under microscope and implanted in the second half of the day. The recovery was manageable and fast. I noticed the hair starting to grow immediately. I did not have a shock hair fall-off, what was interesting though, is that the new hairs seemed very fine, soft and much like baby-hairs at first. Toward the 4th month they began looking more like my normal hair, and I had my first hair cut in month 5.

💡 Lessons I Learned

• Do your homework: Not all clinics are equal. I researched reviews, surgeon credentials, and patient stories before choosing. I also had 4 consultations with places in London, Cyprus, and Türkiye before I decided which I’d go for.
• Ask about graft count and technique: These affect both cost and results. Transparency matters. In my case I was considering 3,500 – 4,500 grafts and settled for 4,000 which was the maximum they could do in one day (as I didn’t want to roll over a second day). Also, for some people the FUE technique might not be the right one. There’s an older technique (FUT) which works with a strip of hair that is still being performed and could sometimes be the only one that works. That one leaves a noticeable scar, so it’s not as popular these days, but you should find out which is best for you.
• Post-op care is crucial: Follow the instructions, like not smoking and no alcohol in the weeks prior and after the procedure, avoiding heavy activity and keeping the area clean, sleeping with a neck pillow (to avoid pressing your head too much on the pillow) and taking supplements on a daily basis. All of these are important for your recovery and you should do all you can to aid the process.
• Confidence is priceless: The emotional impact of seeing my hair grow back was more powerful than I anticipated. My first trigger for considering a hair transplant was seeing my photos from Peru and noticing a balding patch on the top of my head. It was all to do with confidence.

📸 Before & After: My Transformation

In the video above I show you my timelapse of progression from start to finish. You will notice how toward the 8th month the results become quite complete and the hair is noticeably thicker, fuller and natural looking.

🗣️ Final Thoughts

If you’re considering a hair transplant, Türkiye might just be the place to start your new chapter. It was for me. After all, there are thousands of people going there week after week, just for this same procedure. This is a good indicator, but make sure you pick a clinic with good reputation and great experience. If you want to check Cosmedica, this is their website, there’s no referral link or promotional catch. I’m not doing a paid promo for them.