Hair Transplant in Turkey during the Pandemic

Dr Balwi and the Elithair team take all precautions during the Corona period

The COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting lives around the world. However, this doesn’t mean you need to put up with your hair loss until it’s over. A hair transplant is still possible even with the corona health restrictions.

In fact, it’s an ideal time to get hair surgery while you are able to work from home.

As the situation regarding travel and safety measures remain in place, we arranged for a neutral observer to travel to Istanbul to document their experience, in an honest and non-biased manner.

An infographic explaining the travel process to turkey during the corona pandemic

Planning to travel during COVID-19

An infographic explaining the travel process to turkey during the corona pandemic

Before I booked my trip, I carried out extensive research about travel arrangements. After all, the processes at the airports are very different during the covid pandemic.

My first port of call was the “gov.uk” website, as I was able to find important information about travel regulations to Istanbul.

Turkey follows a strict tourism and hygiene concept to ensure that the trip is safe during your stay. In addition, a mandatory PCR test is carried out before departure, which is arranged by Elithair.

Quote: “The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to unprecedented international border closures and travel restrictions being imposed without notice. Before making travel plans you should read the information on the COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel page”.

Quote: “Turkey will accept the UK’s proof of a COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record. Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate your vaccine status.”

The Interview with Selina and Dr Balwi

Selina

Good afternoon, Dr Balwi. I hope you are well. The current pandemic worries many people and many ask whether it is safe to travel to Turkey for hair treatment.

Dr Balwi

Good day. Yes, I am fine. I hope you enjoy your stay here in Istanbul. We are pleased that you are here to get a personal impression of the hygiene measures on site. As you have already seen for yourself, we have developed a perfect hygiene concept, which gives our patients the necessary security and also shows that we take the situation quite seriously.

Selina

Yes, absolutely. I must confess that I am completely thrilled with the existing measures that Elithair implements here to make hair transplantation in Turkey during Corona so safe. Especially the automatic temperature measurement and the deep cleaning of the treatment rooms are unique.

Dr Balwi

(smiling) I’m glad to hear that.

Selina

Can you briefly explain to me what the current hair transplant procedure looks like. Are there any changes compared to before the pandemic?

Dr Balwi

Well, a COVID-19 test now takes place before every examination. This is then valid for 48 hours. Every patient receives such a document from us, which confirms that the test was carried out here. It is recommended to do another test on departure as well. The results are available within a few hours.

Afterwards, the preliminary consultation takes place in which we assess the patient’s individual hair situation. We draw the optimal hairline for the patient and mark the places where we will transplant the hair roots. Based on this, we then decide which treatment technique will lead to an optimal end result.

Our medical teams are individually specialised in all hair transplantation techniques. Above all, the modern and innovative DHI method is used at Elithair. With this method we achieve maximum hair density and the highest growth rate.

Selina

Very interesting. So all these steps take place before the actual treatment. And has the actual process of hair transplantation in Turkey changed during Corona?

Dr Balwi

Of course, we pay more attention to hygiene measures and sterilise all our instruments with great precision. In addition, we increasingly use disposable materials to keep cleanliness standards high.

Regarding hair transplant in Turkey in Corona, it can be said that, as usual, an anaesthetic is administered before the procedure. By using the modern Comfort-In method, patients feel almost no pain. An experienced specialist in the field of anaesthesia performs this step with us.

Selina

Sorry to interrupt you. So let me get this straight! For each step of the treatment, there is a team of experts who carry it out?

Dr Balwi

That is correct. The work steps are divided. The reason for this is obvious. To achieve the optimal result in hair transplant in Turkey during Corona, it takes an experienced team of specialists, each with expertise in their respective field.

Selina

Okay, I see. And what happens after the anaesthetic?

Dr Balwi

Once the anaesthetic has set in and I have discussed the final coordination steps with the team, the actual treatment can begin.

As already mentioned, DHI hair transplantation is increasingly used. Here, the hair roots are first removed from the donor area with the FUE hair transplant. Then the collected grafts are prepared for the so-called Choi pen. With the help of this instrument, it is possible to implant the grafts directly into the recipient area – without a separate channel opening.

Selina

What exactly does this mean for the patient?

Dr Balwi

Thus, we are able to achieve a higher growth rate and denser hair growth. At the same time, there is virtually no scarring and the aftercare phase is shorter than with other methods.

Selina

Speaking of follow-up care: Does Elithair also carry out a follow-up examination?

Dr Balwi

Of course. After the procedure, the patient has to take it easy for a while. The day after the procedure, the patient comes back to our clinic for a follow-up consultation with me and my team. Here we discuss with the patient exactly what he or she has to pay attention to during the entire aftercare phase.

We also hand out care products and medication to the patients. In addition, the hair is grown for the first time. Thus, the patient knows exactly what to do so that the hair transplant in Turkey will be a complete success during Corona.

During the next 12 months, the patient will also have a personal counsellor who will take care of any questions or suggestions regarding the progress of the hair growth.

Selina

Thank you very much. That was really a very informative talk. It was very interesting for me to receive this information first-hand. Thank you again, Dr Balwi, for taking the time.

Dr Balwi

Thank you for your visit and for seeing our safety and hygiene measures for yourself on site. Enjoy your stay in Istanbul and I wish you a safe return flight.