Hair transplants can be a relatively costly consideration for many people dealing with hair loss. It isn’t uncommon for patients searching for hair transplant surgery to travel overseas, where medical tourism’s appeal to many is thanks to the lower price tag that comes with it.
Countries such as Turkey offer hair transplant procedures at a lower cost, but these overseas hair transplant operations can pose many dangers to patients. It is critical to be aware of the risks associated with seeking out these “black market” procedures in different countries.
Keep reading to learn about the dangers of the hair transplant black market and what to look for when choosing a clinic for hair transplant surgery.
The Hair Transplant Black Market Is A Dangerous One
The hair transplant market is one of the fastest-growing industries in Turkey, making competition between clinics fierce. To keep afloat in the industry, many of these black-market clinics try to cut costs as much as possible—often sacrificing quality and safety in the process.
While procedures being offered at such a reduced cost, many people searching for a solution to their hair loss problems are tempted to receive a transplant from these clinics.
But there is a reason why hair transplants are so cheap in Turkey and other overseas countries. There are several very dangerous risks for patients who choose to travel overseas for these procedures.
1. Unlicensed Individuals Performing The Surgeries
In many cases, doctors aren’t the ones performing the operations—unlicensed technicians are doing them instead. Many black-market clinics hire under-qualified individuals to perform surgeries to keep costs down. These technicians aren’t as fully trained as doctors, resulting in surgeries that end up leaving large scars, unnatural hairlines, and hair growing in the wrong direction.
2. Poor Conditions Of Operating Rooms
To keep up with high volume, patients are often shuffled through the operating rooms without proper cleaning and sanitization. Poor conditions of operating rooms means there is a significantly higher risk of infection or spread of communicable disease.
Often, these clinics can get away with having below-standard operating rooms. Clinics are known to offer bribes to inspectors from the Health Ministry in exchange for a warning that an inspection is coming. The clinic makes itself appear fully compliant when the inspection happens, then returns to previous operations after the inspection is complete.
3. Laws and regulations are different in other countries
What you might expect at home doesn’t always hold true in other countries, and general licensing regulations may differ. Different countries have different laws surrounding medical procedures, and many overseas countries have limited litigation.
Complications Of Black Market Hair Transplant Surgery
A cheap hair transplant surgery doesn’t equate to good hair transplant surgery. In the case of black-market surgeries, there is a greater risk of a botched operation.
Serious complications associated with these surgeries include:
- Larger scars
- Unnatural looking hairlines
- Poor hair growth
- Hair grafted in the wrong direction
- Overharvesting in the donor area
- Infections
- Inaccurate graft counts
Although these surgeries appear to be cheaper, a patient will end up paying much more money to have it fixed.
What To Look For When Choosing A Clinic
When choosing a clinic for your hair transplant surgery, be sure to keep the following in mind:
1. Education
The person performing the procedure should have the education necessary to practice. During the consultation, be sure to ask who will be performing the procedure.
2. Training
A good doctor will always be pursuing opportunities for continuing education and keeping up-to-date with industry standards. The International Society Of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) educates physicians and promotes the highest standards of medical practice and ethics to protect the public. Look for a doctor who is a current member of this organization.
3. License
Make sure your surgeon is a licensed medical doctor who is an active member of an approved regulatory body in their country or region of practice, such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
4. Experience
When it comes to specialized medical procedures such as hair transplant surgeries, an experienced doctor is key. Look for client testimonials, before and after pictures of past clients, and clinic reviews that indicate the doctor has adequate experience performing these procedures.
5. High Standards
The general state of the clinic is an indication of the quality of care you can expect to receive. Look for a clinic that is clean, welcoming, and uses the highest standards of technology.
The Cole Clinic Difference
Dr. Christopher Cole is a licensed Medical Doctor and artist, providing solutions to patients looking to achieve their appearance goals. He attends global medical teaching conferences and live surgical workshops to stay up-to-date with industry standards. As a member of the ISHRS, Dr. Cole is committed to providing compassionate care to his patients to produce outstanding, natural-looking hair transplant results using the latest technology in the industry.
The Cole Clinic locations are state-of-the-art facilities that offer world-class care. Book a consultation with Dr. Cole today and discover the difference the Cole Clinic can make.
