Losing hair for years was killing confidence in public interactions and on dates. I tried everything under the sun. Dermarollers, Minoxidil, Finasteride, and even Dutasteride. In an off-the-record suggestion, my dermatologist, who’s seen me through this hair loss journey, mentioned that a decent hair transplant in Canada could cost over $20,000, and some people fly to Turkey or Thailand for affordable options. Indeed, a hair transplant abroad seemed out of the question initially, but that changed when I got a quote of $25,000 from the Hasson & Wong clinic in Canada. It was frankly unaffordable, so I started looking at clinic options in Turkey and Thailand. Folks on hair transplant forums and Reddit strongly recommended Dr. Laorwong in Thailand, but his schedule was full for the next 8-9 months. Communication with Dr. Laorwong's clinic was quite slow, imagine getting a simple answer could take a week. I wasn’t going to risk a botched job from a low-price, no-name clinic either. Reviews are crucial for anyone who researches hair transplant clinics and doctors online, and most hair clinics in Turkey have thousands of Google and Trustpilot reviews, but many seem fake. Even their Instagram followers look shady. Then contacted Diamond Hair Clinic in Istanbul. Dr. Mehmet Demircioglu seemed very reputable, and the reviews appeared real and not inflated. The biggest game changer for me was the Diamond Hair Clinic's one operation a day rule, which seemed very patient-friendly and boosted my confidence in the clinic. The most significant factor in choosing the clinic was Dr. Demircioglu’s involvement in the surgery, especially in making incisions. I didn’t want a doctor who was merely supervising but one who was performing the surgery himself. Everything has been seamless since I set foot in Istanbul. A driver met me at the airport and brought me to a comfortable hotel close to the clinic. The night before the surgery, my nerves were at their worst. I could not sleep. Nervous as I was, meeting Dr. Demircioglu on the surgery day morning calmed me down. Everything was so professional in the operation room, and all the processes were explained by the doctor patiently while a hairline was being designed to suit my face. The clinic is clean and modern. The operation lasted about eight hours, and during this time, after the local anesthesia, which was a little bit painful at first, I did not feel any significant pain. They extracted and implanted 4650 hair grafts. It was very comforting and encouraging to see Dr. Demircioglu himself on the scene during the procedure in the surgery room. I was checked on often, and I even had a lunch break, which made the day less exhausting. After the surgery, they gave me the necessary instructions and a recovery kit. Ten months later, I am very happy with the progress. As for communication, I received great WhatsApp support from the doctor’s assistant, Mahmod, before the surgery. And even afterward, I was in direct WhatsApp contact with Dr. Demircioglu himself. I still send my headshots to the doctor monthly and get his assessments about my progress. I waited ten months to write this review because wanted to observe the results and ensure they were lasting. Reviews left immediately after surgery can be misleading since they don’t reflect the final outcome. The growth so far is very promising, and my new hairline looks natural, boosting my confidence. Concerning the cost, I paid $6,000 for the surgery package including hotel stay, transfers, surgery, post-surgery recovery kit, and $1,750 for flights, so in total, it cost almost $8,000.