Learn the fundamentals of hair transplant procedures, techniques, and expected outcomes at Liv Hospital.

Hair Operations, or Hair Restoration, is a field focused on treating hair loss, thinning, and baldness using surgical and medical techniques to restore natural hair growth.

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Overview and Definition

Hair Transplant Center

Hair loss is not just a cosmetic issue; it is a deeply personal one. For many men and women, a receding hairline or thinning crown represents a loss of youth, vitality, and confidence. Turkey has rightfully earned its reputation as the global capital of hair restoration, hosting thousands of patients every month. However, amidst the overwhelming number of options in Istanbul—from luxury clinics to budget centers—making the right choice can be daunting.

At Liv Hospital, we offer a distinct alternative: Hospital-Based Hair Restoration. We believe that a hair transplant is a microsurgical procedure that demands the same rigorous safety standards as any other surgery. Unlike standalone clinics located in apartments or villas, our Hair Transplant Center operates within a JCI-accredited university hospital. Here, your procedure is not just “supervised” by a doctor; it is planned and executed by a medical team with immediate access to advanced sterilization, anesthesiology, and emergency care. We combine this medical safety net with the artistry of the world’s most advanced techniques—Sapphire FUE and DHI (Direct Hair Implantation)—to design results that are undetectable, dense, and permanent.

Why Choose a Hospital for Hair Transplant?

In the world of medical tourism, the term “clinic” is often used loosely. Understanding the difference between a “hair mill” and a hospital is critical for your safety and results.

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Safety and Hygiene

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Hair transplantation involves thousands of tiny open wounds. In a non-hospital setting, the risk of infection or necrosis (tissue death) increases if sterilization protocols are not strictly followed.

  • The Liv Standard: Our operating rooms use HEPA-filtered air circulation systems identical to those used in heart surgery. All instruments are sterilized in a central hospital autoclave, ensuring 100% sterility.
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Pain Management

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Many clinics rely on simple local anesthesia injections, which can be quite painful during the initial numbing process.

  • The Liv Standard: We offer Needle-Free Anesthesia (using pressure jet technology) and Soft Sedation. An anesthesiologist is available to administer mild sedation intravenously, ensuring you do not feel the prick of the needle. You sleep through the boring parts and wake up ready for lunch.

Complication Management

While rare, allergic reactions to anesthesia or sudden blood pressure changes can happen.

  • The Liv Standard: In a standalone clinic, an emergency often means calling an ambulance. At Liv Hospital, the Intensive Care Unit and Cardiac Team are just an elevator ride away. This “peace of mind” is invaluable.

Understanding Hair Loss and Self-Image

Hair loss does not cause physical pain, but it can strongly affect self-esteem, confidence, and how old someone feels they look. Recognizing the emotional impact is important in treatment. The scalp itself stays healthy, but the hair follicles become inactive. A transplant helps restore the natural frame of the face.

Understanding the Techniques: FUE vs. DHI

The “best” technique is not a marketing slogan; it is a medical decision based on your hair type, the size of the balding area, and your expectations. We specialize in the two gold-standard methods.

FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)

FUE is the foundation of modern hair transplantation.

  • The Process: Individual hair follicles (grafts) are extracted from the back of the head (donor area) using a micromotor punch. Channels (tiny slits) are opened in the balding area, and the grafts are placed into these channels manually.
  • Best For: Patients needing a large number of grafts (3,000–5,000) to cover large areas of baldness (Norwood Scale 4–7). It is faster and more cost-effective for “Mega Sessions.”

DHI (Direct Hair Implantation)

DHI is the “pen technique” that eliminates the channel-opening step.

  • The Process: The grafts are loaded into a specialized tool called a Choi Implanter Pen. The pen features a hollow needle that pierces the skin and deposits the graft simultaneously.
  • Best For:
    • High Density: The pen allows grafts to be placed closer together.
    • Unshaven Transplants: Because we don’t need to see the scalp to open channels, we can implant between existing long hairs.
    • Hairline Redesign: The pen offers total control over the angle and direction of each hair.

Personalized Restoration Plans

Information about treatment: Explain that the technique (Sapphire FUE vs. DHI) is chosen based on the patient’s hair type and the area to be covered. DHI might be used for unshaven transplants or increasing density, while Sapphire FUE is ideal for covering large bald patches.

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Prof. MD. Uğur Haklar Prof. MD. Uğur Haklar Hair transplant
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The "Sapphire" Difference: Precision Healing

In traditional FUE, channels are opened using steel blades (like scalpels). At Liv Hospital, we have upgraded to Sapphire FUE as our standard of care.

  • The Material: We use blades made from real sapphire crystal.
  • The Sharpness: Sapphire is much harder and sharper than steel. It creates a V-shaped incision rather than a U-shaped tear.
  • The Benefit:
    • Less Trauma: Less bleeding and tissue damage means faster healing. Scabs typically disappear in 7–10 days instead of 14.
    • Higher Density: The incisions are microscopic, allowing us to pack more grafts per square centimeter (up to 60–80 grafts/cm²) for a fuller look.
    • Natural Direction: The stability of the blade ensures the hair grows in the exact direction we planned, avoiding the “grass doll” look.

Beyond the Scalp: Facial Hair Restoration

Hair loss isn’t limited to the top of the head. We use the same microsurgical principles to restore facial density.

Beard and Mustache Transplant

For men with patchy beards or facial scars (from acne or accidents).

  • The Technique: We typically use DHI. We extract thinner, single-hair grafts from the very bottom of the neck (where hair is softer) and implant them into the face.
  • The Art: The angle is critical. Facial hair grows flat against the skin, unlike scalp hair which grows at 45 degrees. Our surgeons replicate this flat angle perfectly.

Eyebrow Transplant

For women (and men) who have lost eyebrows due to over-plucking, aging, or alopecia.

  • The Challenge: Eyebrows are the most difficult transplant to perform because the hair direction changes across the brow.
  • The Solution: We select ultra-fine single hairs and place them one by one. The result is permanent, natural eyebrows that you can shape and style (though they will need trimming, as they are scalp hair).

Stem Cell Support: Protecting the "Bank"

The donor area (back of the head) is your “bank account.” If you over-withdraw, you go bankrupt (patchy, moth-eaten look).

  • Regenerative Therapy: At Liv Hospital, we often combine transplantation with Stem Cell Therapy (Autologous Micrografting).
  • The Process: We take a small tissue sample from behind the ear, process it to isolate progenitor cells, and inject this solution into both the transplant area and the donor area.
  • The Result:
    • Donor Healing: The donor area heals faster with minimal scarring.
    • Survival Rate: The injected growth factors act like “fertilizer” for the new grafts, increasing their survival rate to over 95%.
    • Existing Hair: It thickens the existing, thinning hair, preventing future loss.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is a hair transplant painful?

The procedure itself is painless due to local anesthesia. The only discomfort is the initial numbing injection, which takes about 2–3 minutes. Once the scalp is numb, you feel nothing—you can watch Netflix, listen to music, or sleep. Post-op pain is mild and managed with simple painkillers for 1–2 days.

The transplanted hair comes from the “safe zone” (the back of the head), which is genetically resistant to the hormone DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) that causes baldness. Therefore, these hairs are permanent and will grow for the rest of your life. However, you may experience “Shock Loss” (temporary shedding) in the first 3 months before the permanent growth begins.

This depends on your degree of hair loss (Norwood Scale).

  • Minor Recession: 1,500–2,000 grafts.
  • Front to Mid-Scalp: 2,500–3,500 grafts.
  • Full Coverage: 4,000+ grafts (may require two sessions).
  • Note: We never extract more than is safe for your donor area. Over-harvesting leads to permanent damage.

We recommend waiting at least 10 days before wearing a tight baseball cap or wool hat to avoid putting pressure on the new grafts. A loose bucket hat (fisherman’s hat) can be worn immediately to protect from the sun.

This is the period between 1 and 3 months after surgery. The transplanted hairs shed (fall out) due to the trauma of relocation. You may look the same as before surgery, or even slightly thinner. Do not panic. This is normal. The roots are resting under the skin. New, permanent growth starts around month 4.

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