VIDEO: What to Do In Istanbul Before a Hair Transplant (Tourism Tips)

Istanbul: Pre-Hair Transplant Travel Tips Collage by Adam Hurly

Please, do not tour around the city after the transplant like a bloody weirdo. Do this tourism beforehand.

As a grooming and travel journalist who has visited Istanbul three times for hair transplants—both my own and others—I’ve learned exactly how to plan the trip. In this video, I share my favorite pre-surgery experiences, from a restorative soak at Zeyrek Çinili Hamam, to crossing both the European and Asian sides of the city, to a breezy Bosporus cruise before your procedure.

You will also see why I always stop by Nishane, Istanbul’s acclaimed perfumery, and make time for classics like the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market. Watch the full video to plan your ideal pre-transplant itinerary.

But above all: If you are traveling to Istanbul for a hair transplant, do your sightseeing before the surgery, not after. The recovery period demands rest, hydration, and protection from sun and pollution, which makes tourism a bad idea once your scalp is healing. Even mild swelling or scalp sensitivity can make simple activities uncomfortable, and the risk of disturbing new grafts is real. Treat the first half of your trip as your vacation, and the second half as your recovery window. That way you can enjoy Istanbul fully without compromising your results.

WATCH: Istanbul Travel Tips, Pre Hair Transplant

Hair Transplant Timeline Playlist:

Also, watch our full spotlight on hair transplants, as we follow my friend Matt from procedure through recovery and regrowth:

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Adam Hurly

Adam Hurly has covered grooming since 2013, and for GQ since 2016. He has written for just about every other men’s publication, too, with bylines found in Men’s Journal, SPY, Forbes, Robb Report, Esquire, Men’s Fitness, Byrdie, Bloomberg, Runner’s Journal, Popular Mechanics, Birchbox Man, nearly every international GQ, and more. Adam is a South Dakota native and University of Kansas graduate. He has lived in San Francisco, New York, Berlin, and now Lisbon.