Like thousands of people from the UK, NHS worker Tom Brett was drawn to Turkey by the promise of affordable hair transplant procedures. The prices were a fraction of what he’d pay in the UK, and it seemed like the perfect solution to his hair loss. But after paying around £1,300 for the transplant, Tom’s experience took a horrifying turn.
Tom, who began losing his hair at the age of 20, had hoped that the procedure would restore his confidence. Instead, he was left with nerve damage and balding patches, a far cry from the full head of hair he’d been promised.
Tom, from Portsmouth, was struggling with his appearance and searching for a quick fix. “Losing my hair was affecting my confidence big time,” he said. “I needed to do something.” When he came across an advert online for a hair transplant clinic in Turkey offering rock-bottom prices, it seemed like the answer to all his problems.
“I thought I was getting a great deal,” he says. “It sounded professional, the price was unbelievable, and I was promised great results.” So, Tom booked the procedure and flew to Istanbul. The morning of the surgery, Tom arrived at the clinic feeling nervous but hopeful. He was greeted by a surgeon who reassured him and explained the procedure. But as soon as the operation began, things took a bizarre turn.
“Out of nowhere, the surgeon handed the entire procedure over to an assistant,” Tom said. “I didn’t see the surgeon again after that. I was in shock. The assistant took over, and I didn’t feel confident about the whole thing.” Tom was too nervous to turn back.
Three months after the surgery, Tom started to see the horrifying results. Instead of thick, regrowth, his hair started falling out in patches. “It was worse than before. I was gutted,” he recalls. “The hair didn’t grow properly, and I had bald spots. I was devastated.”
Tom reached out to the clinic in Turkey, hoping for answers, but his emails went unanswered. “They just ignored me. I was left to deal with this mess on my own,” he said. “I felt completely abandoned.”
“It was soul-crushing. I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror anymore,” he said. “I had trusted them with my appearance, and it had ruined me. I needed help.”
Dr Roshan Vara, a hair transplant expert in the UK, saw his story and offered to fix the damage. “Meeting Dr. Vara was like a breath of fresh air,” Tom recalls. “He was professional, caring, and there for me every step of the way. He stayed with me throughout the whole procedure, making sure I was comfortable. It was completely different from my experience in Turkey.”
Within months, Tom’s hair began to grow back thick and healthy. “I can’t believe the transformation,” Tom says. “It was worth every penny. My confidence is back, and I’m finally happy with the way I look.”
Looking back, Tom has learned a hard lesson. “There’s a reason the clinics are so cheap,” he warns. “I got what I paid for—and it was a nightmare. If I’d known the risks, I never would have gone to Turkey.”
Dr Vara said: “While low-cost clinics may seem tempting, they often cut corners on quality and safety. Hair restoration is a delicate procedure. It’s vital to choose a reputable, experienced surgeon who puts your safety first.”
Tom said: “Do your research. Don’t be lured by low prices. A cheap transplant can end up costing you more than you think – emotionally, physically, and financially.”