Coming from Canada, I was initially quite skeptical about getting a hair transplant in Istanbul. Many of the clinics I looked into felt sketchy, and I was concerned about the "hair mill" approach, where multiple surgeries are performed simultaneously with little to no involvement from the doctor. However, after doing my research, I chose Dr. Kinyas and the Vita Esthetic Clinic, and I’m so glad I did.
From the start, Vita Esthetic Clinic felt professional and trustworthy. They only perform up to two surgeries a day, so you don’t feel like you’re being rushed through. Unlike some clinics where the doctor barely shows up, Dr. Kinyas was highly involved throughout the procedure. He was hands-on during the critical stages, such as inserting the hair follicles and administering the local anesthesia, which gave me peace of mind. While a technician handled the extraction of the follicles, the entire process still felt very professional.
Since I was already in Istanbul, the clinic arranged transportation from my hotel to the clinic, which was really convenient. Payment was another area that impressed me—there was no pressure, and I paid on the day of the surgery. The cost for my procedure was $2290 USD, not including the hotel. Keep in mind that the price could be the same or different depending on your specific hair condition. There was a small hiccup on my end, as I wasn’t familiar with international bank transfers and didn’t have cash. My cards weren’t working at the ATM, either. For anyone considering this clinic, I highly recommend bringing cash or having an international transfer app, like Wise, ready to use. I even overpaid by mistake, but the clinic promptly returned the extra amount, which was a relief.
Communication with Khaled via WhatsApp was smooth and professional. He was very helpful, addressing all of my concerns and patiently answering any questions I had, which made the experience much less stressful.
The surgery itself was performed at LifeMed Hospital after a detailed consultation with Dr. Kinyas. I had some concerns about my hair being too thin for the procedure, but Dr. Kinyas reassured me that using DHT blockers post-surgery would help improve the thinner areas. After the technician removed the hair follicles, I was provided with a lunch, which was a nice break. Afterward, Dr. Kinyas and another technician worked together to insert the follicles.
One thing to keep in mind is that there was a fair amount of talking in Turkish between Dr. Kinyas and his team during the surgery. It’s a long procedure, and it’s natural that the team will communicate throughout, but if you're sensitive to noise, I recommend bringing noise-cancelling earbuds. You can listen to music, relax, or even nap during the procedure—it’ll help pass the time more comfortably.
The entire day was well-organized. I was picked up from my hotel at 7:30 AM, the consultation began at 8 AM, and the procedure lasted several hours, wrapping up around 5 PM. Despite my initial hesitations about traveling to an unfamiliar place with questionable clinics, I felt very comfortable with the whole process.
It's only been two days since the surgery, so I haven’t seen the final results yet, but I’m optimistic. I plan to update this review once I see how everything turns out. If I’m happy with the results, I’ll definitely recommend Dr. Kinyas and Vita Esthetic Clinic to my family, friends, and colleagues in Canada—and I might even return for another session next year!