My Hair Transplant Experience with Dr. Mehmet Demircioglu – June 2025 (4000 Grafts) Procedure date: June 1st, 2025
 Total cost: €6,100 ($7,068 USD)
 Includes: 4000 grafts, 4-night accommodation (I stayed an extra night), and transportation 
Age: 27
 Clinic: Diamond Hair Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey
 Doctor: Dr. Mehmet Demircioglu I'm from Los Angeles, California — a city full of cosmetic surgeons and hair transplant clinics. I know a couple well-known surgeons in Beverly Hills. That said, the level of care and attention I received from Dr. Mehmet and his team in Istanbul was beyond what I’ve seen in LA. To get the same quality of procedure in the U.S., I would have paid at least $25,000. That just wasn’t realistic for me, so affordability and expertise were the two major deciding factors that led me to Diamond Hair Clinic. Before making the decision, I did a lot of research, mostly through Reddit and some public-funded health forums. I wasn’t interested in the “hair mill” type of clinics that just pump out procedures. I narrowed it down to three reputable doctors in Turkey who consistently had great results and authentic reviews. Two were located in Ankara, and Dr. Mehmet was the only one in Istanbul that made the cut in my opinion. I chose his clinic partly because I had already been to Istanbul in the past. Istanbul is very tourist-friendly, which made the whole experience easier. When I first reached out to Diamond Hair Clinic, the communication was through WhatsApp. They asked for standard personal details — age, health history — and photos of my head. After a few days, I got a response with a detailed evaluation and quotation. I honestly thought I would only need 2000 grafts, so I was surprised when the recommendation came back at 4000. I even questioned it because I had seen other patients with larger bald areas getting the same number of grafts. But now that I’ve completed the procedure and understand how it works. The consultation and quotation process was completely free. In the U.S., I would have paid around $300 just to get that far. On the day of the procedure, I was picked up from the hotel early in the morning — a bit too early for my liking since breakfast had only started 30 minutes before. At the clinic, I met Dr. Mehmet in his office. He spent a lot of time going over the details with me. After payment, we moved on to the blood test and hairline drawing. This part was more important to me than I realized. I had a specific idea of where I wanted my new hairline, but Dr. Mehmet disagreed. We actually had about a 15-minute argument over it. In the end, we came to a compromise. Looking back, I’m grateful he pushed back. You don’t want a doctor who just agrees with everything you say. You want someone who’s honest and realistic about what will look natural. I also told the team I have a strong phobia of needles. Sounds silly, but it’s true — I’m a grown man who hates needles. They took it seriously and were great about helping me stay calm during injections. The procedure itself was broken into three sessions: 1. Extractions (face down) 2. Incisions (performed by Dr. Mehmet) 3. Implantation of the grafts Sessions 1 and 3 were done by two technicians — a man and a woman. I wish I remembered their names, but they were both excellent. The male technician, in particular, was a perfectionist. I’m not an expert, but his technique was so precise and smooth that I barely noticed when he was working. There were moments I opened my eyes just to check that he was still inserting grafts, because I couldn’t feel anything. The second session was handled by Dr. Mehmet himself, though I honestly fell asleep during that part. Now, let’s be real: the procedure isn’t fun. You’re getting 8000 tiny holes punched into your scalp. It’s not a good time. My advice? Bring earphones. In the first two sessions, I didn’t wear them, and the sound of the tools was unpleasant. During the technician session, at least they were chatting in Turkish, which helped distract me. But with the doctor, it was just me, him, and the sound of a blade entering my scalp over and over. Definitely bring earphones. As for pain, the worst part by far was the anesthesia injections. Those needles are no joke — they really hurt, and I’ll admit I whimpered. But after that, I didn’t feel anything during the actual procedure. Post-op, I had some discomfort, but it was honestly less than I expected. The worst part was sleeping upright for a few nights. It really did a number on my neck. My scalp was also itchy, but the spray bottle they give you helps a lot with that. Aftercare is where this clinic really stands out. Dr. Mehmet gives you his personal phone number and requires you to send daily photos and updates for the first 15 days. After that, you check in monthly. At this point, I’m a few weeks out from the procedure and very satisfied so far. Of course, the real results will take months to show, but based on everything I’ve experienced up to now, I have no regrets. The time, attention, and skill I received from Dr. Mehmet and his team have been outstanding. You can definitely find cheaper options in Istanbul, but this is your appearance and confidence we’re talking about. I’d much rather pay a bit more for a doctor who’s personally involved and clearly cares about the result than take a risk with a clinic that rushes through cases. Happy to answer any questions or share updates as the results come in