Procedure Date: February 2025 Grafts: 4,600 (Single Operation) Technique: Sapphire FUE Clinic/Doctor: Dr. Erkam Caymaz
It has been exactly 12 months since I boarded a flight from the United States to Istanbul, full of the usual anxieties you’d expect when traveling halfway across the world for a medical procedure. Now, a year later, looking at my reflection with a completely restored, dense, and incredibly natural hairline, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions of my life.
I wanted to write down a detailed account of my experience with Dr. Erkam Caymaz. When I was doing my own research, in-depth reviews were my lifeline, so I hope this helps someone out there who is on the fence.
3-4th Month
Surgery Day
Before HT
The Research Phase: Dodging the “Hair Mills”
Like most guys from the US looking into hair transplants in Turkey, I was initially overwhelmed. The price difference compared to American clinics is a huge draw, but the horror stories of Turkish “hair mills”—where 30 to 50 patients are processed in a single day by overworked, uncertified technicians—terrified me.
I knew I needed a boutique, surgeon-led clinic. During my research, Dr. Caymaz’s name kept coming up for his strict ethical standards. When I visited DrCaymaz.com, three things immediately sold me:
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The 20-Case Monthly Limit: Dr. Caymaz has a strict rule—he performs a maximum of 20 surgeries a month.
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1-2 Patients a Day: He only takes on 1 or 2 operations per day. You are not a number on an assembly line; you are his sole focus.
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Single Operation Philosophy: Despite my high level of hair loss requiring a massive 4,600 grafts, Dr. Caymaz and his team expertly managed to extract and implant everything safely in a single, well-planned session without overharvesting my donor area.
Arrival & The VIP Experience
Traveling from the US is a long haul, but the clinic’s VIP package took all the stress out of it. From the moment I landed at Istanbul Airport, I felt completely taken care of. I wasn’t grouped into a shared shuttle with a dozen other bandaged guys; I was picked up in a private, luxury vehicle. The hotel accommodations were top-tier, allowing me to rest up properly before the big day.
TIP: Bring a button-down shirt or a zip-up hoodie for the day of the surgery. You do not want to be pulling a t-shirt over your head after getting thousands of new grafts!
The Consultation and Design
Meeting Dr. Caymaz in person immediately put my nerves at ease. He has a very calm, authoritative, yet warm presence. We spent a significant amount of time designing the hairline. Coming from the States, I think we sometimes have a tendency to want that aggressive, perfectly straight teenage hairline. Dr. Caymaz politely but firmly explained the artistry behind a natural hairline—incorporating micro-irregularities so that it never looks “drawn on.”
He mapped out exactly where the 4,600 grafts would go to provide maximum density at the front and mid-scalp while ensuring a seamless blend.
The Surgery: Sapphire FUE
The procedure itself was long (you are moving 4,600 hair follicles, after all!), but far more comfortable than I anticipated. The local anesthesia involves a few pinches, but after that, I was completely numb.
Dr. Caymaz uses the Sapphire FUE technique, which utilizes blades made from precious sapphire rather than traditional steel. He explained that this allows for much finer, V-shaped incisions. This means they can pack the grafts much closer together (dense-packing) and the angles can be controlled much more precisely.
Because it’s a VIP operation, the doctor’s presence and oversight are constant. The level of focus, precision, and care in that room was astounding. When they finally handed me the mirror at the end of the day, I was speechless. Even with the redness, the density and the shape of the new hairline looked incredible.
Recovery and the 12-Month Mark
The first two weeks require patience. Sleeping at a 45-degree angle with a neck pillow is annoying, and the scabbing phase isn’t pretty, but the clinic’s post-op support is phenomenal. They monitored my healing through daily photo updates, ensuring everything was on track. Because of the Sapphire FUE technique, my recipient area healed incredibly fast—the scabs were completely gone by day 10, and my donor area recovered beautifully without looking “moth-eaten.”
Then comes the shedding phase, which tests your sanity, but trust the process.
The Results Today: Now, at the 12-month mark, the results have completely exceeded my wildest expectations. The hair is thick, the texture is perfect, and the hairline is completely undetectable as a transplant. Even my barber back here in the US was blown away by the density and the angulation of the grafts. I can style it however I want, run my fingers through it, and I’ve honestly got my confidence back.
Final Thoughts
If you are coming from the US and are worried about flying to Turkey for this procedure, do yourself a favor and look into Dr. Erkam Caymaz. The VIP, one-on-one attention, the mastery of the Sapphire FUE technique, and his absolute refusal to run a “hair mill” make him one of the best in the world at what he does. The trip was worth every single penny and every hour on that airplane.