FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)
Gold standard hair transplant — individual follicles extracted with micro-punches.
Price range (Turkey)
€1,800 – €4,500
Estimated package range from publicly available pricing data. Confirm directly with each clinic.
How it works
FUE extracts individual follicular units (1-4 hairs each) from the donor area at the back of the scalp using sub-millimeter punches. Each unit is then implanted in the recipient area. No linear scar, scattered dot-like micro-scars only. Suitable for most patients with adequate donor area.
Step-by-step: how the procedure works
FUE extracts individual follicular units one by one from the back of the scalp and implants them in the recipient area. The most common modern hair transplant technique worldwide.
Consultation & hairline design
30–60 minThe surgeon assesses your donor density, scalp laxity, and goals. The new hairline is drawn directly on your forehead using a marker and validated with you before any procedure begins.
Donor area shave
15 minThe donor zone at the back and sides of your head is shaved to 1–2 mm so the surgeon can see and access individual follicles. Some clinics offer unshaven or partial-shave FUE for an extra fee.
Local anesthesia
10–15 minBoth donor and recipient areas are numbed with a local anesthetic. You stay awake the whole time — the procedure is not painful once the area is numb.
Graft extraction
2–4 hoursUsing a 0.7–1.0 mm punch tool, the surgeon (or trained technicians) extracts grafts one at a time. Grafts are sorted by 1-, 2-, 3-hair follicular units and kept in chilled preservation solution.
Recipient site creation
1–2 hoursTiny incisions are made in the recipient area at the precise angle, depth, and density designed for natural growth. This is the most artistry-dependent part of the procedure.
Graft implantation
2–4 hoursEach graft is placed individually into a recipient site using forceps or implanter pens. Total procedure time runs 6–10 hours, often split over 1–2 days for large sessions.
Post-op care & first 10 days
1–2 weeksSaline spray every hour, no touching, no exercise, no alcohol. Crusts form and shed by day 10. Transplanted hairs fall out by week 3–4 — this is normal shock loss before regrowth.
Visible results
9–12 monthsNew hair starts growing at month 3. Real density appears at month 6, and full mature results are visible at month 9–12. Final outcome lasts a lifetime in most patients.
General overview only. Individual clinics may vary protocols slightly.
Pros
- +No linear scar
- +Faster recovery than FUT
- +Natural-looking results
- +Can wear short hair
Considerations
- -Time-intensive
- -Donor area shaved (most clinics)
- -Higher cost than FUT
Conditions this treats
Hair conditions where FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) is commonly used.
Male Pattern Baldness
The most common form of hair loss in men — affects 50% by age 50.
Learn moreReceding Hairline
Early stage hair loss — frontal hairline retreats backward, often forming an M-shape.
Learn moreCrown Thinning / Vertex Hair Loss
Hair loss at the top/back of the head, often visible from above as a thin spot.
Learn moreEyebrow Hair Loss
Loss of eyebrow hair from genetics, plucking, alopecia, or trauma.
Learn moreBeard / Facial Hair Loss
Patchy or sparse beard growth — genetic, alopecia barbae, or scarring.
Learn moreClinics specializing in FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)
Clinics that highlight this technique as a specialty.
ASMED Surgical Medical Center
Istanbul · est. 2007
FUE-exclusive clinic founded by Dr. Koray Erdoğan, ISHRS and ESHRS member. Known for Sequential FUE technique and KE-Bot donor planning system.
€4,500 – €7,500
Now Hair Time
Istanbul
Ultra-Dense Hair Transplant specialist — up to 5,000 grafts in a single session. Patient-focused.
€2,500 – €4,000
Other clinics offering FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)
HLC Hairline Clinic
Ankara · est. 2008
Premium Ankara clinic — manual FUE performed by surgeons only, no assistants. Doctor-led care.
€4,500 – €7,500
Civas & Akpınar Hair Transplant
Ankara · est. 1999
Founded 1999. Dr. Civas is the first Turkish hair surgeon ABHRS-certified, ISHRS+AAHRS+ESHRS+EHRS member. One patient per day model.
€5,000 – €8,500
Smile Hair Clinic
Istanbul · est. 2018
First and only hair transplant clinic worldwide with Temos A-rated certification. 5.0 Trustpilot with 4,044+ verified reviews.
€3,500 – €5,800
AEK Hair Clinic
Istanbul · est. 2014
Dr. Ali Emre Karadeniz — the only Turkish plastic surgeon worldwide with both ABHRS certification and FISHRS Fellow status.
€5,500 – €8,500
Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic
Istanbul · est. 2004
Established hair clinic since 2004, 22+ years experience. Dr. Aygin personally oversees every operation.
€3,000 – €5,000
Get New Hair Clinic
Istanbul · est. 2018
Prof. Dr. Kayihan Sahinoglu — FISHRS + ABHRS dual credentialed. 25 years experience, 5,000+ surgeries.
€5,000 – €8,000
Cosmedica Clinic
Istanbul · est. 2007
20,000+ operations over 16 years. Dr. Levent Acar internationally recognized for Micro Sapphire FUE.
€3,000 – €4,800
Sapphire Hair Clinic
Istanbul · est. 2017
Operates within Istinye University Hospital. Dr. Okan Morkoç, ISHRS associate member. Hospital A-License.
€3,200 – €5,000
Dr. Cinik Hair Hospital
Istanbul · est. 2008
High-volume Istanbul hospital, 16+ years operation. Dr. Cinik personally oversees the medical team. 60,000+ procedures performed.
€3,200 – €5,000
Frequently asked: FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)
Most patients return to non-strenuous work within 5–7 days. Visible scabs typically heal in 7–14 days. Full results — visible new hair density — show at 9–12 months post-procedure. Strenuous exercise and direct sun exposure are usually restricted for 3–4 weeks.
The procedure itself is done under local anaesthesia, so you don't feel pain during it. Most patients describe a mild pressure sensation, similar to a dental procedure. Mild discomfort and tenderness in the donor area are normal for 2–5 days post-procedure and are managed with paracetamol-level pain relief.
Modern techniques (FUE, DHI, Sapphire FUE) place individual follicles at angles matching surrounding hair, so a well-performed procedure is undetectable to non-specialists once fully grown out (12+ months). The natural-look outcome depends 90% on surgeon skill — not the technique label. This is why surgeon credentials (ISHRS, ABHRS) matter more than which technique is marketed.
A typical receding hairline restoration needs 1,500–2,500 grafts. Full crown coverage: 3,000–4,500. Extensive baldness restoration: 4,500–7,000 (sometimes split over two sessions). The exact number depends on your hair density, donor area capacity, and the area being treated — only an in-person or video consultation gives a reliable estimate.
Hair dyeing should wait 4–6 weeks post-procedure. Normal washing starts at day 10–14 with the clinic's prescribed shampoo. Styling products (gel, wax, hairspray) should be avoided for the first month. After 3 months, normal styling is usually safe.
Both use the same extraction method. The difference is implantation: FUE creates channels first then places grafts; DHI uses a Choi pen that creates channels and places grafts in one motion. DHI allows higher density on small zones and easier no-shave technique. FUE is better for large-volume sessions. For most male patients, the technique matters less than the surgeon's skill.