Who doesn’t want a fuller head of hair and a holiday? It really does sound appealing to get a hair transplant abroad but does the cost justify the fact that it may not be as safe as doing it locally?

Thailand and the Middle East are popular hair transplant destinations for those who want to save on costs, however, this approach does carry a few more risks – this is what you need to know. 

While a hair replacement specialist such as Dr Martinick will be present during your consultation and your procedure, hair transplant clinics in countries such as Thailand are usually run by hair transplant technicians who don’t have the necessary medical training. Unfortunately, this lack of medical expertise and supervision compromises your results and you could end up having to spend additional money to correct the problem locally.

In an effort to save time and money, some international hair transplant clinics will use electric punches to extract and implant the hair follicles. The reality is that hair transplants are designed to be gentle procedures that produce natural results and minimal scarring. These automated tools make scarring far more likely and there is a higher chance that your results won’t look as good as they could.

Because clinics that offer cheaper hair transplants use such an aggressive extraction method, they often extract more donor hair than is necessary to compensate for any shortfall. Since future transplants may be necessary, it’s absolutely crucial for the donor area to be managed correctly. 

Clinics in countries such as the Middle East don’t always operate according to the same standards as Australia and since there is no way to pay a visit to the clinic prior to your appointment, there’s no real way to determine whether your health and safety will be a top priority. 

- What extraction method will be used and will it result in any scarring?

- How will the grafts be implanted? 

- Who will be performing my transplant from the extraction right through to the implant? 

- Will my end result look natural and be durable?

- How does the follow-up process work and what steps should I take if a retouch is needed?

- After the transplant, will my donor area still be usable?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a hair transplant abroad but it does require a lot more research and effort to ensure you’re getting the results you’re hoping for. Go through every single detail and carefully weigh up your options before you make a final decision. It’s important to remember that hair transplants do carry some risk. Knowing that you will be in your own country should you experience any side effects can make the cost seem a lot less severe.