I couldn't afford a $13,000 hair transplant in the US. So I flew to Turkey and I love the results.

This narrative is according to an discussion alongside Nicole Ethridge, 39, a Southern Marylander who plant in backing and is additionally an influencer. It has been edited for dimension and clarity.

My tress had continually been thin, but I archetypal noticed it coming out shortly following the commencement of my daughter, now 19.

It was chiefly at the front, which made it noticeable. I was self-conscious and particularly hated going to hairdressing salons, anywhere it was unattainable to conceal the problem.

The dermatologist diagnosed me alongside traction alopecia, sometimes caused by tight hairstyles and another things that drag on your hair.

I started wearing wigs

I started wearing wigs that mimic your hairline. They were expensive, ranging from $300 to $700, but they don't final forever. I'd go through as many as nine a year.

The disbursal motivated me to commencement making my own wigs, which I started to market to another women in the identical position.

However, I motionless didn't awareness akin myself since it wasn't my real, natural hair.

I tried all care under the sun, specified as creams and ointments. They included an FDA-approved over-the-counter tress growth supplement. I didn't have elevated hopes that it would work, but it really brought several of my tress back.

Still, I felt it wasn't enough. My notice turned to getting a tress transplant.

I established a medicinal center in Istanbul

I looked into having the procedure in the US. The prices were upward of $13,000, and I didn't have the budget.

I knew several group traveled abroad to get it done much additional cheaply, and I considered Mexico. I was put off since whenever I did my research, I didn't discover many testimonials from African Americans.

Turkey seemed akin a improved option, and I saw that a lot of patients who looked akin me were going to a particular medicinal center in Istanbul.

I collaborated alongside an global facilitator called Doctours, who connected me alongside the medicinal center and arranged my care and inn accommodation. As an influencer, I paid 50% of the quoted $2,600 cost.

My flights were additional at $1,250, and I traveled in August 2025. Although I was excited, I was nervous on the airplane since my allies told me I was taking a hazard going to Turkey.

Nevertheless, I was consenting to obtain that risk. I wanted to be liberated of the wigs and tress wraps for good.

My caput was shaved

The lone parts of the procedure that hurt were the injections to numb my scalp. I was completely awake, lying down, either listening to music or being solitary alongside my thoughts.

The medicinal squad extracted idiosyncratic follicles from the rear of my caput and moved them to the issue area. It's optional, but I chose to have my caput completely shaved in advance since I wanted the cognition to be additional sterile.

I came rear the following day for a specialized hair-washing treatment. They advised me on upkeep. All in all, I spent four days in Istanbul.

My tress started to develop rear inside four months, but there wasn't a wow aspect at that stage. There was a huge difference at the six-month mark.

I'm getting wed next year

I started going out alongside a wig — item I hadn't done for nearly 20 years — and felt assured concerning my appearance. Now my tress is pixie length, which I love.

My fiancé and I are getting wed next year. It makes me blessed to think I'll have a nice caput of tress for the wedding.

Maybe I'll have a bob by then. It doesn't matter, though. I eventually awareness blessed alongside how I appearance and feel.