Why I DIDN’T Choose Estenove for My Hair Transplant in Turkey [Full Review Based on My Experience]

When I first started researching hair transplants in Turkey, Estenove was right at the top of my shortlist. I spent over six months comparing clinics, reading reviews, speaking with former patients, and gathering as much data as I could before making my decision. I wanted to make sure I chose a clinic that was safe, reliable, well-reviewed, and had a proven track record of success.

In this article, I’ll give you my full Estenove review based on everything I learned during my research. I’ll also explain why, despite being impressed by Estenove, I ultimately chose Clinicana — and now, nine months post-surgery, I’m confident I made the right call.

If you’re thinking about a transplant and want to follow my full hair restoration journey, join my free members area to access real photos, updates, and tips based on my personal experience.

What is Estenove?

Estenove is a well-known Istanbul-based clinic that offers various hair restoration procedures, including:

• FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)

• DHI (Direct Hair Implantation)

• Stem Cell Hair Transplants

• Beard, moustache, and eyebrow transplants

They primarily serve international patients and offer “all-inclusive” packages that bundle together:

• Accommodation (2–3 nights in a 4-star hotel)

• VIP transfers

• Translator support

• Pre-op consultation and health checks

• The surgical procedure itself

• PRP treatment (1–2 sessions depending on package)

• Aftercare kit and 1-year WhatsApp support group

They perform procedures in licensed medical facilities and say their doctors are involved in the surgery, not just overseeing it.

From a features standpoint, Estenove ticks a lot of boxes. The clinic is clean, modern, and highly reviewed — which made my decision incredibly difficult.

How Much Does Estenove Cost?

Estenove offers a fixed-price package of $3,750 (about €3,600) for up to 5,000 grafts. The price includes:

• Doctor involvement

• PRP

• Hotel stay

• Transfers

• Aftercare

• Translation

• No per-graft pricing model

This is a mid-to-high-end price for Turkey. It’s not the most expensive, but it’s above the average, especially when compared to some equally reputable clinics.

💡 Clinicana, the clinic I chose, charges just €2,850 — also for up to ~5,000 grafts — with no hidden costs and no per-graft upselling.

This price difference was one of the key reasons I leaned toward Clinicana. It’s not just cheaper — it’s also more straightforward.

Estenove Review: My Impression After Extensive Research

I spoke to several past patients of Estenove and read dozens of reviews. Here’s what stood out:

Pros of Estenove (based on research):

• Advanced methods like Sapphire FUE, ICE method, and Comfort-In anesthesia

• Strong focus on comfort and patient service

• Clean facilities and a professional-looking team

• 4.9/5 rating from over 1,500 reviews on their website

• English-speaking staff and dedicated coordinators for international patients

Potential Weaknesses:

• Most reviews are published on their own website, not on platforms like Trustpilot or Google

• Their “guarantee” for revisions is conditional and not clearly explained

• No public clinical data or international accreditations like ISHRS

• A few mentions online of communication issues (e.g. changes in accommodation or surgery timing)

One review I found even mentioned that the “needle-free anesthesia” was still quite painful — although this seems to be a personal pain tolerance issue more than a process flaw.

Who Are the Doctors at Estenove?

Their main listed surgeons include:

• Dr. Zafer Çetinkaya – Over 10,000 procedures

• Dr. Ahmet Azak – FUE/DHI specialist

• Dr. Ömer Sağır – Plastic surgeon

• Dr. Emin Güler – Hair transplant specialist

From what I gathered, they have a good team, but it wasn’t clear who performs the graft implantation — the most critical part of the process. This made me nervous.

When I asked Clinicana who would do mine, they explained that the lead surgeon was hands-on and would personally handle the most important parts of the procedure. That level of clarity and transparency helped me trust them more.

Aftercare at Estenove: What Do You Get?

Estenove provides:

• A take-home aftercare kit (shampoo, vitamins, painkillers)

• 1-year of support via a WhatsApp group

• One or two follow-up PRP sessions

• Written post-op instructions

This is fairly standard for Turkish clinics, but again — I preferred Clinicana’s approach. They assigned a personal aftercare specialist who messaged me daily during the first 10 days, then weekly after that. I felt more supported and could ask anything without going through a group chat.

Estenove Guarantee: Do They Offer a Second Operation?

Estenove does offer a satisfaction guarantee, which includes free revisions — but only if certain conditions are met. Hair loss due to other causes (e.g. stress, hormones) isn’t covered. Also, they don’t publicly commit to redoing a procedure if the grafts don’t grow.

This was one of the biggest deal-breakers for me.

Clinicana, on the other hand, offers a procedure guarantee:

If the implanted roots don’t grow, they’ll redo the operation for free.

They’ve performed thousands of operations and rarely need to use this, but knowing it’s there gave me total peace of mind. I didn’t want to gamble with something as visible — and emotional — as my hair.