When I decided to get my hair transplant in Turkey with Clinicana Hair Transplant & Esthetic Surgeries, I expected to look different. What I didn’t expect was how everyone around me — and even I myself — would react once it was done. From the first week of healing to the first time people started noticing real growth, the journey was full of surprises, both emotional and social. Here’s what really happened after I came home from Istanbul, and the reactions that caught me completely off guard.
The First Reactions: Curiosity And Concern
The first few days after the transplant were probably the most confronting. My scalp was red, swollen, and dotted with hundreds of tiny grafts. When I looked in the mirror that first night, I’ll admit — it was a bit of a shock. It didn’t hurt much, but visually it looked like I’d gone through a major operation.
Clinically speaking, this stage is perfectly normal. The Mayo Clinic notes that redness, swelling, and scabbing are typical within the first week after a transplant. Clinicana had told me exactly what to expect, and their aftercare instructions matched what reputable medical sources recommend: keep the scalp clean, avoid sun exposure, and sleep with your head elevated for a few days.
Still, when my family first saw me, their reactions ranged from concern to disbelief. One friend blurted out, “Are you sure it’s supposed to look like that?” I laughed it off but understood their worry — if you’ve never seen someone right after an FUE transplant, it can look worse than it feels.
After reassuring them with what the Clinicana team had told me — and showing them the clinic’s WhatsApp messages confirming I was healing perfectly — the concern faded. In just a week, the swelling was gone, and the scabs began to fall off. That’s when the next wave of reactions began.
The Shedding Phase: Doubt and Curiosity
About three weeks in, I entered what’s called the shedding phase — when the transplanted hairs fall out before regrowing. It’s a completely natural part of the process, but it can catch people (and patients!) by surprise. According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), this happens because the follicles temporarily enter a resting stage before starting new growth.
For a few weeks, my head looked more or less the same as before the transplant — maybe even thinner. Friends started asking questions like, “Did it not work?” or “Do you have to go back?” Even though I’d been warned this would happen, it still played with my confidence a little.
At the same time, colleagues at work were fascinated. I got constant questions about the cost, pain, and recovery process. When I told them I’d had the full procedure, hotel, and transfers included for around €2,850, their jaws dropped. Most assumed something like that would cost over £8,000 in the UK. You can read more about the breakdown in my post on Understanding Hair Transplant Prices in Turkey.
As my confidence returned, so did my patience. Clinicana had told me real results start to appear after 3–4 months, and they were right.
The Growth Phase: “Wow, It Actually Works!”
At around month four, tiny new hairs started appearing across my frontal hairline. They were soft and thin at first, but by month six, things began to look properly filled in. That’s when the compliments started rolling in.
Even people who knew I’d had the transplant were surprised at how natural it looked. Some didn’t even believe it was transplanted hair. According to PubMed studies, modern FUE methods have a graft survival rate of over 85% and a patient satisfaction rate above 90% — and I was seeing that reflected in my own mirror.
Clinicana’s surgical team, led by Dr. Soner Tatlıdede, clearly knew what they were doing. Every graft seemed perfectly placed, and the density felt realistic. People who hadn’t seen me in a few months would do a double take — “You look younger!” became the most common comment.
That’s when I realised that the best reactions weren’t about my hair at all. They were about my confidence.
The Emotional Reaction: Rediscovering Confidence
No one really talks about the emotional side of a hair transplant — the quiet confidence that comes when you stop feeling self-conscious about your appearance. I noticed I was standing a little taller, smiling more in photos, and no longer reaching for a cap every time I left the house.
Psychological studies (for example, those discussed in Psychology Today’s features on cosmetic confidence) consistently show that restored hair can significantly improve self-image. I can personally vouch for that.
It’s not vanity — it’s about feeling like yourself again. When you’ve watched your hairline recede for years, you almost forget what it’s like to look in the mirror and see “you.” Getting that back is deeply personal.
And that feeling only grew stronger as more people started noticing.
The Long-Term Reactions: “You Look Great — What’s Your Secret?”
By the eighth month, I was getting reactions from people who hadn’t seen me in ages — and they were floored. Some thought I’d lost weight, others guessed I’d changed my hairstyle, but most couldn’t put their finger on it. When I told them I’d had a hair transplant, they were genuinely surprised because the results looked so natural.
That’s the hallmark of a well-performed transplant: it blends so seamlessly that people just think you look “better,” not “different.” Clinicana’s attention to natural design, direction of hair growth, and density placement made all the difference.
Even online, where I’d shared my progress videos in my members area, the feedback was incredible. People appreciated the transparency — seeing real photos, not just polished marketing shots. Many told me they finally felt confident to book their own procedures after following my journey.
That kind of reaction — helping others gain confidence — was the most rewarding part of all.
What These Reactions Taught Me About Hair Transplants
Looking back, the reactions from others mirrored my own emotional stages: initial shock, curiosity, patience, and finally, pride. It taught me that while a hair transplant changes how you look, it also reshapes how you feel.
It’s also why I’m so glad I chose a reputable, medically regulated clinic. The World Health Organization advises that anyone seeking medical tourism should choose accredited facilities that meet hygiene and patient safety standards — exactly what Clinicana provides inside Acıbadem Taksim Hospital in Istanbul.
If you’re considering a hair transplant yourself, don’t just think about the surgery — think about how you’ll feel afterwards. The reactions from others might surprise you just as much as mine did.
And to help you prepare for what to expect (including what I wish I’d known before booking), I’ve created a completely free guide: 8 Things I Wish I Knew Before Booking My Hair Transplant in Turkey. It includes honest lessons, cost-saving advice, and tips for getting the most natural-looking results.
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