For years, Turkey has been the top choice for individuals seeking hair transplants, attracting a global clientele with its competitive pricing.

However, a series of alarming incidents, including the tragic death of a British man last month, have sparked concerns about the lack of regulation and the high-volume, assembly-line approach of some clinics. These issues are causing potential patients to rethink their options.

As a result, a new trend is emerging, with London becoming an increasingly popular destination for Americans seeking hair restoration treatments.

Dr. Manish Mittal, a hair transplant specialist based in London, shared with the Daily Mail, “It’s been quite surprising; we’re seeing a significant increase in patients from the U.S. They’re traveling from all over the country to get treated here.”

He noted the shift in his practice, explaining, “Previously, only about three percent of my patients were from the U.S. Now, that figure has jumped to between 30 and 40 percent.”

Hair transplants performed in the UK are still generally cheaper than those in major US hubs, such as New York City or Beverly Hills. American surgeons charge up to $20,000 compared to around $10,000 in London. 

Once flights and hotels are factored in, however, the overall cost may be similar to staying state-side, and is more than Turkey, which can offer a hair transplant for as low as $4,000.

Still, surgeons in London say the city remains an attractive alternative because, as well as being slightly cheaper, it has excellent, experienced surgeons, and patients trust British regulations.

Shown above is Nader Hassen, from Ohio, who flew to London for a hair transplant. He is shown above before and just after the transplant he received in the UK

Hassen is shown above with his partner, who came to London with him. After the transplant, the pair used the time to explore the sights, Big Ben is shown in the background, and catch up with family in the UK 

Among the American patients who sought a hair transplant in the UK was Nader Hassen, 35, a salesman from Cleveland, Ohio.

Hassen started losing his hair in his early 20s. He had tried rosemary oil to treat his receding hairline, avoiding medications because of concerns over side effects. But, after his older brother got a hair transplant in South America, Hassen also decided he wanted to get the treatment, especially as he planned to propose in the near future.

Then 33, Hassen only found one surgeon in his local area who performed the procedure, but he was using outdated techniques and wanted more than $20,000.

This led Hassen to contact a social media influencer who had gotten a hair transplant who put him in touch with Dr Mittal, who would charge him just $9,000 for a more up-to-date procedure.

Dr Mittal initially had no space in his calendar. But, after a slot opened up on Christmas Day, Hassen booked the procedure. He flew to the UK on Christmas Eve, underwent the hair transplant the next day and remained in London for a week to wait for the swelling to subside.

Overall, the total cost was $14,000, including the procedure, flights and hotels, but because Hassen took his partner with him, the price was higher than it typically would have been for just a patient.

While in the UK, the pair mostly stayed in the hotel to wait for the swelling to go down, but did venture out to Borough Market, the famous clocktower Big Ben and saw family members that lived near Heathrow.

Hassen is shown above with Dr Manish Mittal ahead of receiving his hair transplant on Christmas Day

Hassen is shown above after receiving the hair transplant at an apple orchard. He is thrilled with the results

Hassen told Daily Mail: ‘I don’t have to worry about the wind carrying my hairline now when I’m at the park or walking to the gym.

‘I knew I was going to propose and have the wedding, we are planning for it now, so sorting out my hairline was definitely a big part of that.’

Patients like Hassen are traveling to the UK for the follicular unit extraction (FUE), the most popular hair transplant procedure where individual follicles are removed from the back of the scalp and implanted in the front

Estimates suggest patients pay around $4,000 to $13,000 for this procedure in London, compared to $5,000 to $20,000 in New York. 

In Turkey, estimates suggest this surgery, including hotels, can be offered for $4,000, although it is normally carried out by a technician rather than a surgeon, which can compromise results and, potentially, safety and hygiene.

In the UK, hair transplants always involve a surgeon because this is required by the country’s regulations. 

There is no federal rule requiring a surgeon for a hair transplant in the US, although a number of states do mandate a physician be present if incisions are being made.

Dr Aziz Elgindi, a hair transplant surgeon on London’s famed Harley Street who has also seen an uptick in hair transplant patients coming from the US, said American patients seeking hair transplants were being drawn to the UK by its offer of excellent surgeries at a cost-effective price.

He told Daily Mail: ‘To me, Turkey will always be appealing to an audience that is purely price conscientious. I don’t think this will change anytime soon, so for that patient, I don’t think they are losing ground.

‘But, where I believe they are losing ground is on patients that want value for money, as a cheap price typically comes with a cheaper service provided. This is simply a risk vs reward decision that a patient must make.’

Surgeons on Harley Street said they were seeing an uptick in patients flying from the US for the procedure

London is home to Harley Street, which is world-renowned for being the base of many top private doctors (Stock image)

Dr Greg Williams, a hair surgeon at the UK’s Farjo Hair Institute and the only member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons who does hair transplants, told Daily Mail: ‘There has been a deviation away from Turkey, due in part to… a campaign several years ago to raise awareness that, in Turkey, lots of the surgery is not done by doctors. There have also been some well-publicized deaths in the country.

‘In the UK, people may think it is a country with standards and good levels of care, if they can get transportation here and find it cheaper.’

Dr Mittal added: ‘Patients trust what I am doing, they trust in the fact I am a British doctor, born here, studied here, done my training here. My surgeries are high quality too. I am present for each, and only do one a day.’

He said social media had also helped patients find him, adding that it meant people in ‘any part of the world’ could see his work.

Most US patients are men trying to restore receding hairlines, surgeons said, and they are coming from all across the map, including New York, Texas and California.

Global data does suggest there may have been a shift in the market.

The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, a US-based nonprofit, reported that Europe saw 112,000 hair restoration procedures in 2022, the latest year available, up five percent on 2019 and 240 percent on a decade earlier. 

For comparison, in the US and Canada the number of hair restoration procedures fell to 149,000 in 2022, down 18 percent on 2019, although it was still higher than in Europe.

Data did not distinguish between countries or whether the procedures were carried out for medical tourists or nationals.

Asia and Australia, which includes Turkey, remained the largest market, according to the report, registering 256,000 procedures in 2022, up 31 percent since 2019.