Medical tourism for hair transplants has surged as patients seek attractive deals to restore their hairlines, but experts warn that opting for cheap procedures abroad can be risky. Think Bollywood star, Salman Khan, who went to America for a procedure but when he came back, the transplant went horribly wrong, and he was forced to shave his head bald. Many other celebrities have fallen prey to unscrupulous aesthetic practitioners, with the booming medical tourism industries in Turkey, Pakistan and Bangladesh, being cases in point.
While hair restoration procedures offer the most effective, reliable, and long-lasting solution to hair loss and balding, they are still surgeries. So, hair transplants should be approached with the same amount of care and research as any other procedure, emphasises Dr Kashmal Kalan, Medical Director of the Alvi Armani clinic in Sandton.
“When it comes to surgery, any Black Friday deals, half-price specials, or all-expenses paid packages should be viewed with scepticism, and treated with extreme caution. You wouldn’t trust someone offering a ‘20% off your next heart surgery’ special, so why risk it with your scalp?” he says.
“Unfortunately, many clinics abroad in countries with expansive and highly competitive hair restoration markets offer so-called specials to attract more patients to their growing cosmetic surgery tourism sector, promising quality for a fraction of the price. But the reality is that it’s difficult to determine which of these clinics have the proper credentials, or whether their doctors can produce the natural-looking and lasting results you’re looking for without damaging your scalp.”
Meanwhile, South Africa offers premium hair restoration services from some of the best clinics in the world. These procedures are usually worth the price tag and may not be as expensive as expected.
Medical risks and other costs to consider
Dr Kalan adds that there are also other expenses, intended or not, which one must consider before selecting a clinic: “We are seeing an alarming rise in the number of patients seeking help to fix the results of a failed or poor-quality hair transplant procedure. This comes after they’ve visited less well-equipped clinics abroad with relatively inexperienced doctors who’ve enticed patients with below-average prices.
“A considerable number of patients then turn to us months or a couple of years after visiting one of these ‘discount’ clinics to repair transplants that haven’t ‘taken’. And it’s a lot more expensive and challenging to undo a mistake than to go to the right clinic the first time around.”
Beyond this, patients need to budget for flight and accommodation costs, which can be especially expensive because of foreign exchange rates. Conversely, local procedures save on travelling expenses and allow patients to recover at home.
“Another serious consideration is the potential impact your post-op flight might have on your scalp following the procedure. Some swelling and sensitivity of the scalp is normal for a few days after surgery, causing slight discomfort – something that calls for the comfort of one’s own home instead of an uncomfortable, lengthy flight. Staying in the host country to see the sights and visit tourist attractions is also not ideal directly after undergoing a medical operation.
“Even more critically, the plane’s lower air pressure may impact how well the scalp heals, how quickly the swelling goes down, and how much oxygen the cells receive to heal and for the grafts to take properly. We usually recommend that patients not travel for at least a week after their procedure.”
Lastly, it’s difficult and impractical to receive the appropriate aftercare or to go for a post-procedure follow-up once a patient has travelled home to another country. In contrast, visiting a local clinic is simple and hassle-free, with the additional benefit of receiving aftercare from the same team that performed the hair restoration procedure, ensuring they have the full context of your treatment journey to provide you with the best care possible.
Alvi Armani is a premium destination for hair restoration solutions in South Africa, drawing from the experience and expertise of its award-winning clinics in Dubai, New Delhi, Buenos Aires, Uruguay, and Beverly Hills in America. The clinic is known for its revolutionary follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure called Maximus FUE, which, combined with its Vitruvian design principles, results in a more natural, dense, and aesthetically pleasing hairline with minimal post-procedure discomfort and healing time.
“There’s a saying that local is lekker, and this applies to hair transplants as well. Patients should seek advice and treatment from hair restoration professionals with specific expertise in the field for the best results – and ideally one that is closer to home, if possible.”
