Cosmedica Hair Transplant Review: Why I Didn’t Choose This Clinic in Istanbul
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When I started researching hair transplants in Turkey, Cosmedica was one of the first clinics that kept popping up. With Dr. Levent Acar’s reputation and thousands of international patients, it seemed like a very strong option.
But after six months of careful research and nine months living through my own hair transplant journey, I decided against choosing Cosmedica. In this review, I’ll explain what makes Cosmedica stand out, where I felt there were limitations, and why I ultimately went with another clinic that offered a few key advantages.
If you’d like to see my full results, photos, and step-by-step journey, you can join my free members area, where I share everything in detail.
Who is Dr. Levent Acar and What is Cosmedica?
Cosmedica was founded in 2007 by Dr. Levent Acar, a German-born doctor who studied medicine at Istanbul University. He is an associate member of the ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) and a member of FUE Europe.
The clinic is based in Şişli, Istanbul, a popular district for international patients. Since its opening, Cosmedica claims to have performed more than 20,000 successful hair transplants.
Dr. Acar is very much the public face of the clinic, and many patients are attracted by his experience with modern techniques like Sapphire FUE and DHI (Direct Hair Implantation).
What Treatments Does Cosmedica Offer?
Cosmedica promotes two main procedures:
Micro Sapphire DHI – their flagship method, using sapphire blades and a DHI implanter pen.
Sapphire FUE – follicular unit extraction with sapphire blades for incisions.
They also highlight needle-free anesthesia to make the experience more comfortable.
The general process at Cosmedica includes:
Consultation and scalp analysis.
Graft extraction with micromotor.
Grafts stored in nutrient solution.
Precise implantation with DHI pens or sapphire blades.
Designed hairline with finer hairs at the front for naturalness.
Cosmedica advertises this approach as minimally invasive with faster healing.
What’s Included in Cosmedica’s Packages?
One of Cosmedica’s biggest selling points is its all-inclusive packages. These typically include:
VIP transfers between airport, hotel, and clinic.
5-star hotel accommodation during your stay.
Interpreter and companion for non-Turkish speakers.
Aftercare kit and a 4-month “hair power booster pack.”
Ongoing assistance hotline for questions post-op.
This makes things simple for international patients. Everything from arrival to aftercare is arranged for you, which is very reassuring.
How Much Does a Hair Transplant at Cosmedica Cost?
Cosmedica’s prices are package-based, not per graft. According to their site:
Packages start at €2,450.
Their flagship DHI Sapphire package is €3,190.
A megasession upgrade can add around €800.
This is competitive compared to many Western clinics, but it can add up if you need a large number of grafts. For example, because I needed over 4,500 grafts, Cosmedica’s price was noticeably higher than the clinic I chose, which charged a flat €2,850 for up to 5,000 grafts without extra fees.
Testimonials
What Do Cosmedica Reviews Say?
Cosmedica promotes an impressive reputation:
4.9 stars on Google (self-reported on their site).
Awards such as the WhatClinic Award and Customer Service Award.
Recognition on platforms like RealSelf.
On Trustpilot, Cosmedica has around 788 reviews, most of them positive. This is a good number, but it was much smaller than the clinic I eventually went with, which had thousands of independent reviews (over 5,000 across different platforms).
That sheer volume of feedback gave me more confidence, since it suggested a wider base of consistent results.
What Are the Strengths of Cosmedica?
Based on my research, here are Cosmedica’s main strengths:
Long track record (founded 2007, 20,000+ procedures).
Use of modern techniques like Sapphire FUE and DHI.
Strong international branding and 19 country representatives.
All-inclusive package system for convenience.
Multilingual staff and VIP patient support.
It’s easy to see why many people choose this clinic—it looks professional, organized, and highly experienced.
What Are the Limitations or Risks?
However, during my research, I also noticed a few limitations that made me hesitate:
Graft limits not transparent – the website doesn’t clearly say how many grafts each package includes.
No guarantee – Cosmedica doesn’t seem to offer a written guarantee if grafts fail to grow.
Membership level – Dr. Acar is an “associate member” of ISHRS, which is not the same as full membership.
No published clinical studies – they claim high survival rates but provide no peer-reviewed data.
Fewer independent reviews compared to other clinics.
Why I Chose a Different Clinic Instead
Cosmedica is clearly a good clinic—but two main reasons made me decide against it:
Review volume – 788 reviews vs over 5,000 for the clinic I chose. That difference gave me far more confidence.
Pricing – with megasession costs, my transplant at Cosmedica would have been significantly more expensive.
Other reasons I preferred my chosen clinic included:
Procedure guarantee – if implanted roots didn’t grow, they promised to fix it free of charge.
Transparent flat pricing – one package covered everything, up to 5,000 grafts.
Thousands of results – with consistent five-star feedback.
Personalized plans – no “copy-paste” approach; each patient gets a tailored solution.
For me, the guarantee alone was priceless. It meant I could relax, knowing I’d either get results or a free redo.
My Personal Experience Compared to Cosmedica
Having now gone through nine months of recovery, I can honestly say that choosing my clinic was the right decision.
The growth has been consistent, the hairline natural, and the entire process was smoother than I expected. The peace of mind that came from their clear guarantee and transparent package made a huge difference.
If you’d like to see my before-and-after photos, timelines, and updates, I share everything in my free members area. It’s the best way to follow a real patient journey from day one.
Should You Choose Cosmedica for Your Hair Transplant?
If you’re looking at Cosmedica, I don’t think you’d be making a bad choice. It’s a reputable clinic with a trusted surgeon, modern methods, and a strong international reputation.
But if you’re like me—wanting maximum transparency, a results guarantee, and thousands of independent reviews—you may want to explore other options before deciding.
Final Thoughts
Cosmedica is a strong player in the Turkish hair transplant market. But after months of research, I realized there was a clinic that fit my needs better in terms of reviews, pricing, and guarantees.
I’d recommend anyone considering Cosmedica to compare carefully, ask detailed questions about graft counts and guarantees, and read plenty of independent reviews.
To see exactly how I made my decision and how my own results turned out, you can join my free members area where I document my full hair transplant journey.
Before & After Photos: My 6-Month Hair Transplant Result
Before: noticeable recession, I’m bascially bald at the front.
6 Months: A really good head of hair and it
