Guide · Updated 2026-11-01
What's included in a hair transplant package, and the costs that aren't
Two packages at the same price can be very different deals. One covers three hotel nights, transfers, PRP and medication. The other covers the surgery only. Here is what clinics in our database actually say they include, and the costs that tend to appear later.
How often each item is included
Of the 150 prices in our database, only 25 (17%) state what's included at all. That's the first lesson: most published prices don't tell you. Among the 25 that do:
| Item mentioned | Packages |
|---|---|
| PRP | 11 |
| Hotel nights | 11 |
| Airport transfers / transport | 10 |
| Medications | 6 |
| Blood tests | 5 |
| Follow-up visits | 6 |
| Aftercare / washing kit | 6 |
| Interpreter | 2 |
Counted from the “What's included” text of each sourced row. One package can mention several items.
By country, Turkey dominates the bundled packages: 10 of the 25 rows that list inclusions are Turkish. US clinics that list inclusions mention follow-ups (Carolina Hair Surgery's 6- and 12-month visits, Armani Medical's 36 months), not hotels.
Item by item: what to ask
Hotel nights
Packages that include a hotel usually say 2 or 3 nights. DK Klinik in Antalya shows what that's worth to the clinic's pricing: €2,100 without the hotel and €2,300 with three nights. Ask how many nights, what grade of hotel, whether a companion is covered, and what extra nights cost.
Airport transfers and transport
Usually airport to hotel, hotel to clinic, and back. Ask whether it covers your follow-up visit and the day you fly home.
PRP and other add-ons
PRP is the most common add-on in our data. Some clinics list a specific number of sessions (Dr Alain Brun in France lists 3 PRP sessions). Others list PRP with no detail. We don't assess whether PRP helps. For cost purposes, ask whether it's included or billed separately, how many sessions, and whether you can decline it for a lower price.
Medication and aftercare kits
Post-op medication, shampoo and lotions show up in several Turkish packages (Dr Erkan Demirsoy, HairNeva, Dr Ilker Apaydin, Estepera). If they aren't included, you'll buy them at home. Any prescription medication should come from a doctor who knows your history.
Blood tests and anaesthesia
Pre-op blood tests appear in 5 packages. Dr Ilker Apaydin's package is one of the few that explicitly lists anaesthesia. If a package doesn't mention either, ask whether they're billed on the day.
Follow-up
Follow-up is mentioned in only 6 packages. Estepera lists 12-month follow-up, Carolina Hair Surgery 6- and 12-month visits, and Armani Medical 36 months. If you travel abroad, ask how remote follow-up works and who you call if there's a problem after you're home.
Hidden costs we've actually seen in sourced prices
- Booking or admin fees. FKS Clinic in the UK lists its prices "plus £200 fee".
- Tax on top. Dr Malay Mehta in Mumbai lists per-graft prices "plus 5% tax". Centre des Canuts in France notes that VAT is included. Always ask whether a quote is before or after tax.
- Graft caps. FKS prices FUE at £2,999 for up to 3,000 grafts and £3,599 for up to 5,000. Cosmedica's Sapphire FUE is €2,550 for up to about 4,000. Cross a cap and you're in a different price band.
- Minimum fees. US clinics such as Northwestern Hair ($7,500) and Carolina Hair Surgery ($6,000) set minimums, so a small session can cost more per graft than the headline rate.
- Technique upcharges. DHI and "sapphire" usually cost more than standard FUE at the same clinic. See FUE vs DHI vs FUT.
- Payment method. Dr Ilker Apaydin's example shows €4,000, or €3,750 in cash. Card fees and currency conversion can add a few percent.
Questions to send before you book
Copy these into your email to each clinic. Ask for the answers in writing, so you can compare them side by side later:
- How many grafts does this price cover, and what does each extra graft cost?
- Which technique is this price for, and what would the alternatives cost at the same graft count?
- Is tax included? Are there booking, admin or card fees?
- How many hotel nights are included, and is a companion covered?
- Are transfers included for every trip between the airport, hotel and clinic?
- Which medications, tests and aftercare products are included?
- What follow-up is included after I go home, and who do I contact?
- Which doctor is responsible for my surgery, and which steps will they perform?
- What is the deposit, and what are the refund and cancellation terms?
Costs no package covers
Flights, time off work, a companion's travel, travel insurance (check whether it covers elective surgery, because many policies don't), and any care you need after you return home. The CDC's medical tourism page (CDC: Medical tourism (Yellow Book / travelers' health)) suggests planning for follow-up care at home before you travel.
A simple way to compare two packages
- Get the graft count or cap in writing, and work out the price per graft.
- Remove the travel items (hotel, transfers) and price them yourself. Compare the surgery part on its own.
- List what's not included: tax, fees, medication, follow-up.
- Compare against real numbers in our database and the country ranking.
Then read our quote red-flags guide. When you have a quote, share it anonymously. Listing exactly what was included is the most useful thing you can add.