Should I get a hair transplant in Finland or elsewhere?
In recent years, Turkey in particular has gained a foothold as a destination for aesthetic surgery tourism due to its lower price level. People from the Nordic countries travel to Turkey especially for hair transplants and nose jobs.
Health tourism has its problems. All those working in the field of plastic surgery in Finland have certainly encountered various problems with patients treated abroad. Finnish patient insurance does not cover the adverse effects of procedures performed abroad, and it may prove impossible to file a complaint with a foreign clinic.
There are cultural differences in techniques used in Finland and elsewhere
Hair transplantation is a technical procedure that requires solid experience and high-quality expertise to achieve optimal results. It all starts with a consultation with the patient, during which the areas to be transplanted are planned and the future is also considered, as hair thinning will inevitably progress.
Often, outside Finland, a so-called "all at once" transplant is performed, in which all possible hair is removed from the back of the head using the FUE technique* and then implanted in the entire thinning area on the top of the head. This can result in the death of hair follicles that are still viable but already thinning, and ultimately the remaining density in the transplant area is not significantly better than before the transplant. At the same time, the possibility of a new transplant in the future is also lost if the entire "hair reserve" is used up at once.
A clear cultural difference can also be seen in the styling of the hairline. In Mediterranean countries, men often have a straight hairline, which may seem slightly unnatural to Nordic eyes.
*FUE, or Follicular Unit Extraction, refers to a method in which hair follicles are extracted from small incisions, usually across the entire back of the head, leaving numerous small scars hidden among the remaining hair.
When seeking treatment abroad, it is important to carefully consider the benefits and risks
Perhaps a general piece of advice would be that no surgery or procedure should be chosen only on the basis of price, but that quality issues should also be taken into account. It is certainly possible to receive excellent treatment abroad, just as in Finland, as long as the procedure is performed by a skilled and experienced practitioner. When seeking treatment, it is always important to carefully weigh the benefits and potential risks, and perhaps even more carefully so when seeking treatment abroad. There are countless stories of people who have gone abroad mainly for cheaper treatment, but ended up paying many times more for follow-up care. After an unsuccessful outcome, it is also possible that the body will never return to its previous state.
When considering treatment, it is worth remembering that Finland has a long tradition of hair transplants and other aesthetic surgery. Thanks to this expertise, there is no need to look further afield.
Atte Manninen
Plastic surgeon
Specialist in ear, nose, and throat diseases
