Reviewed against our editorial standards and medical review policy. Procedures at Clinic Elia are carried out under physician supervision at Acıbadem. General information, not personal medical advice.
One of the most common fears about a hair transplant abroad is simple: you are shown one thing in the advertising, then meet a room of strangers on the day. This page explains what each stage of the procedure involves, why it matters who performs it — and how we handle that transparently, without overstating anything.
Why “who does it” matters
A hair transplant is many precise steps, not one. Some are medical judgements — whether the procedure is right for you at all, and whether your health and hair-loss pattern make you a suitable candidate. Others are meticulous, hands-on work — the extraction, the channels, the placement — carried out by an experienced, trained team. What matters is not a single job title on a poster, but that your suitability is reviewed by a physician, that an experienced team is accountable for the procedure, and that you are told the truth about who does what.
The clinics to avoid are the high-volume “mills” where nobody is clearly accountable and no one reviews whether the procedure is even right for you. The simplest way to tell them apart is to ask exactly who is responsible for each stage — and see whether you get a clear answer.
Each step, and who is responsible
| Step | Why it matters | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| Suitability & medical review | Deciding whether the procedure is right for you at all, and screening your health and hair-loss stability. | Reviewing physician |
| Donor assessment | Judging how much your donor area can safely give — without over-harvesting or limiting future options. | Confirmed in your plan |
| Hairline design | The single biggest factor in a natural result: age-appropriate height, shape and density, agreed with you. | Confirmed in your plan |
| Local anaesthesia | Numbing the scalp safely and comfortably. | Confirmed in your plan |
| Graft extraction | Removing follicular units intact; careless extraction damages grafts. | Confirmed in your plan |
| Channel creation | Setting the exact angle, depth and direction each hair will grow — a defining skill. | Confirmed in your plan |
| Implantation | Placing each graft; gentle handling and short time out of the body protect survival. | Confirmed in your plan |
| Final check | Reviewing the donor and recipient areas before you leave. | Reviewing physician |
| Follow-up & aftercare | Assessing your recovery against your plan over twelve months. | Care team & coordinator |
“Confirmed in your plan” is a promise, not a gap. For your specific procedure, we set out in writing exactly who performs each hands-on step above — before you book. Your procedure itself is carried out at Acıbadem, an accredited private hospital in Istanbul, under the supervision of a physician. If any clinic will not do the same, treat that as your answer.
What to ask any clinic
- Which clinician reviews whether the procedure is medically right for me?
- Who performs the extraction, the channels and the implantation — and how experienced is that team?
- How many procedures does the clinic run in a day? (An unhurried schedule beats a high-volume one.)
- Will I get all of this in writing before I pay a deposit?
Hesitation on any of these is itself an answer. See also is Turkey safe for a hair transplant? and your hair transplant journey.
Find out what is realistic for you
Send a few photos on WhatsApp. A physician reviews them personally, and you get a straight opinion on your options, how many grafts the area would need, and what the result can and cannot look like. No obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Will I meet the person who performs my procedure?
Yes. You should meet and speak with the clinical team responsible for your case — not just a salesperson. At Clinic Elia this takes place at Acıbadem, an accredited private hospital in Istanbul, under physician supervision.
Is a doctor involved in a hair transplant?
Your suitability is reviewed by a physician, and the procedure is carried out under physician supervision by an experienced team.
Do technicians perform hair transplants?
Trained team members carry out much of the meticulous manual work; what matters is that a physician is accountable and you are told the truth about who does what.
Who designs my hairline?
Your hairline is planned with you before anything is touched — see how a natural hairline is designed.
Where does my surgery take place?
At Acıbadem, an accredited private hospital in Istanbul, under physician supervision.
Can I get who-does-what in writing?
Yes — we set out who performs each step in writing before you book. If a clinic will not, treat that as your answer.
Are the before-and-after photos real?
Not always — it is the most-faked thing in this field. See how to read a before-and-after honestly.
Continue reading
Ask us anything before you book
Send a few photos on WhatsApp for a free assessment — and ask us exactly who would perform each step of your procedure. You will get a straight answer.