Like many men, Klötz, a 48-year-old from Munich, Germany, tried different shampoos and over-the-counter remedies, but nothing seemed to halt the steady march of androgenetic alopecia, starting in his early 40s.
“It wasn’t just about looking older,” Klötz recalls. “It was the feeling of losing something, of seeing a younger version of myself disappear.”
As his hair loss became more acute, Klötz decided it was time for a permanent solution. He knew that modern hair transplant techniques offered natural-looking results, and he began his research. His focus quickly narrowed to a hair transplant in Turkey.
In Search for Exceptional Hair Transplant Results
Klötz started by looking for a reputable clinic with a long track record of success. He sifted through hundreds of patient reviews, clinical credentials, and hair transplant before and after galleries.
What drew him to the Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic was the consistency of their natural results and the clinic’s stellar international reputation, particularly for the Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) technique. DHI promised a less invasive procedure, quicker healing, and denser packing of grafts—all things that appealed to him.
After a thorough virtual consultation where his hair loss pattern was analyzed and a personalized treatment plan was established, Klötz felt confident. The surprisingly competitive Turkey hair transplant cost, especially when compared to similar quality procedures in Germany, sealed the deal. His journey from Munich to Istanbul was set.
The Travel and Clinic Experience
The Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic prides itself on offering a seamless, all-inclusive experience for international patients. Klötz’s journey was meticulously organized, minimizing any stress associated with traveling for a medical procedure.
Travel and Arrival
- Booking and Coordination: All travel logistics, including airport transfer, were coordinated by the clinic’s international patient team.
- Arrival in Istanbul: Klötz was met at the airport by a private driver and taken directly to his hotel, which was pre-booked as part of his package.
- Initial Consultation: The day before the procedure, he visited the clinic for a final face-to-face consultation with the medical team, reviewing the graft count and hairline design.
The Procedure Day
The procedure took place at the state-of-the-art clinic. Klötz was made comfortable and walked through every step of the day.
Phase 1: Preparation and Anesthesia
- Trimming: His donor area (the back of his head) was closely shaved to facilitate the extraction process.
- Local Anesthesia: The scalp was anesthetized using a needle-free injector before a standard injection, ensuring a virtually pain-free numbing process.
Phase 2: Graft Extraction
- FUE Technique: The medical team used micro-motor technology to meticulously extract the hair follicles (grafts) one by one from the donor area at the back of his head.
- Beard Harvest: To achieve the required density and to ensure the donor area on the scalp wasn’t over-harvested, 500 grafts were carefully extracted from his beard (the submental area) as well. In total, 3,850 grafts were secured for transplantation.
Phase 3: Direct Hair Implantation (DHI)
- Choi Implanter Pen: This is the defining feature of the DHI hair transplant. Unlike FUE where channels are opened and then grafts are placed, DHI uses a specialized tool—the Choi Implanter Pen—to simultaneously create the recipient site and implant the graft.
- Implantation: 3,850 grafts were implanted into Klötz’s front hairline and temporal areas. This technique allowed the team to control the depth, angle, and direction of each follicle with extreme precision, which is crucial for a natural-looking hairline.
Recovery and Hair Regrowth
Immediately after the 6-8 hour procedure, Klötz’s treated areas were slightly red and swollen, and tiny crusts formed around the grafts. The clinic provided him with detailed aftercare instructions, a neck pillow for sleeping, and all necessary medications (antibiotics, pain relievers, and anti-swelling medication).
The First 10 Days: Crucial Healing
- Post-Op Care: He returned to the clinic the next day for a check-up and the first gentle wash. This was repeated for the first few days.
- The Shock Loss Phase: Around 2-4 weeks after the procedure, the transplanted hairs entered the ‘shock loss’phase, where the shafts of the newly transplanted hairs fell out. This is a normal and expected part of the process, indicating the follicles are entering a resting phase before new hair growth begins.
The One-Year Progress
The true measure of a hair transplant’s success is patience. Klötz faithfully tracked his progress over the next 12 months.
- Months 1-3: Scalp fully healed. Still mostly bald in the transplanted area due to shock loss.
- Months 4-6: The First Growth: New, fine hair began to emerge. This was initially thin and curly, but visible progress brought a huge boost to his confidence.
- Months 6-9: Density and Maturation: The hairs continued to thicken and grow longer. By nine months, he could easily style the new growth, and his hairline was clearly defined.
- Month 12: Final Result: At one year, Klötz’s results were transformative. The transplanted hairs had fully matured, blending seamlessly with his existing hair. The temples were perfectly filled, and the density achieved was remarkable.
