Most patients traveling to Istanbul for a hair transplant think of the trip in two parts: the flight, and the procedure.
In practice, the days in between matter just as much — and for many patients, the week becomes a genuine visit to one of the world's most historic cities before the medical part even begins.
Here's what a typical seven-day itinerary looks like, combining a few days of sightseeing with the standard three-day clinical protocol.
Days 1–3: Istanbul, before anything medical happens
Most international patients arrive a few days early, staying at a hotel in the city center rather than heading straight to the clinic. This isn't just downtime before the procedure — it's usually the only time in the trip set aside purely for the city itself.
A typical few days includes the historic peninsula (Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace), the Grand Bazaar, and a Bosphorus boat tour taking in both the European and Asian shorelines. International patients typically arrange this part of the trip — the hotel, the touring days, and the transfers — through Estethica's certified travel partner in Istanbul, BIOHACTOUR (TÜRSAB license A-14433), rather than booking each piece separately.
Day 4: Transfer to the clinic side of the city
On day four, patients transfer from the city-center hotel to accommodation near Estethica's Ataşehir facility — typically a short stay at a partner hotel a few minutes from the clinic. This is also when the initial consultation and pre-operative blood tests happen, ahead of the procedure the following morning.
Day 5: Procedure day
The transplant itself — Sapphire FUE or Multi Implanter DHI, depending on what the surgeon determines is the better fit for the patient's hair structure and donor area — takes place under sedation, with PRP administered during the same session. Graft count is decided individually based on the donor zone; Estethica's surgeons assess this in person before the procedure, not by phone or email in advance.
Day 6: A day to rest
No clinical activity is scheduled on day six. Most patients spend it resting at the hotel.
Day 7: Final protocol, then departure
The last clinical day includes ozone inhalation therapy, infrared therapy, a professional hair wash, a short care-training session covering the following weeks, and the Estethica Med aftercare kit. Patients then check out and transfer to the airport the same day.
Why the order matters
Doing the city days first, rather than after the procedure, means patients aren't walking around Istanbul's summer heat or crowded sites in the early, more sensitive days of recovery. By the time the clinical days begin, the sightseeing is already done, and the focus can shift entirely to rest and aftercare.
This itinerary reflects a typical patient schedule and may vary based on arrival time, individual medical assessment, and the surgeon's recommendation. Ask your coordinator for a schedule tailored to your travel dates.
This itinerary was prepared by BIOHACTOUR, the certified travel partner coordinating Istanbul touring days, hotel bookings, and transfers for Estethica's international patients (TÜRSAB license A-14433). For questions about scheduling or travel logistics, visit biohactour.com or reach the team directly via WhatsApp: +90 532 679 90 57.