PATIENT VERIFICATION GUIDE
Questions to ask your hair transplant clinic in Türkiye.
Before booking a procedure, ask the clinic for verifiable official documents rather than relying only on marketing pages or package summaries. In Türkiye, healthcare facility licensing, hair transplant unit operation permits, individual physician training certificates and international health tourism authorization are governed by separate Ministry of Health rules. This guide explains the nine essential questions to ask and includes real sample records from OTEK Hair Clinic (Özel Otek Polikliniği) so you know what official documents look like.
Thank you to OTEK Hair Clinic for sharing the sample documents in this guide.
Do not confuse health tourism authorization with a hair transplant unit permit.
An International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate confirms that an institution is registered to provide international health tourism services, but it does not by itself authorize a facility to perform hair transplantation. Conversely, a Hair Transplant Unit Operation Permit confirms that a licensed healthcare facility operates an inspected hair transplant unit, without automatically establishing health tourism authorization. Likewise, an absent match in an online directory is never proof that a clinic lacks authorization—commercial brand names and registered legal names often differ.
Is the healthcare facility licensed, and who is its Responsible Manager?
In Türkiye, hair transplantation is a medical procedure that may only take place inside a Ministry of Health–licensed healthcare institution, such as a licensed hospital, medical center, polyclinic or authorized physician practice. Every licensed private healthcare facility must also have an officially appointed Responsible Manager (Mesul Müdür)—a physician accountable to the Provincial Directorate of Health for legal and clinical compliance.
Ask the clinic for the healthcare institution’s official Turkish registered name, its Ministry license number, its physical address and the Responsible Manager Certificate.
Responsible Manager Certificate (Mesul Müdürlük Belgesi)
Issued by: Republic of Türkiye Antalya Governorship · Provincial Directorate of Health (T.C. Antalya Valiliği İl Sağlık Müdürlüğü)
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What this document proves: Confirms that Özel Otek Polikliniği is a licensed private polyclinic in Antalya and that Physician Okan Tanın is officially approved as its Responsible Manager. It does not by itself replace the dedicated Hair Transplant Unit Operation Permit or International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate.
Does the facility hold a specific Hair Transplant Unit Operation Permit?
Under the Regulation on Hair Transplant Units (Saç Ekimi Birimleri Hakkında Yönetmelik, published in the Official Gazette dated 06.05.2023 and numbered 32182), a general polyclinic or hospital license is not enough on its own. The facility must also obtain a dedicated Hair Transplant Unit Operation Permit (Saç Ekimi Birimi Faaliyet İzin Belgesi) from the Provincial Directorate of Health after inspection of its procedure rooms, medical equipment and registered practicing physicians.
Ask to see the facility’s Hair Transplant Unit Operation Permit and check that the attached healthcare institution, street address, number of approved procedure rooms and registered doctors match what you have been told.
Hair Transplant Unit Operation Permit (Saç Ekimi Birimi Faaliyet İzin Belgesi)
Issued by: Republic of Türkiye Antalya Governorship · Provincial Directorate of Health (T.C. Antalya Valiliği İl Sağlık Müdürlüğü)
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The sample shows a hair transplant unit operation permit for Özel Otek Polikliniği, naming Dr. Okan TANIN and five procedure rooms. The image contains English and German reference translations of the permit.
Does the clinic hold an International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate?
Under the Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist’s Health (Uluslararası Sağlık Turizmi ve Turistin Sağlığı Hakkında Yönetmelik), healthcare institutions that provide planned medical services to international patients must hold an International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate (Uluslararası Sağlık Turizmi Yetki Belgesi) issued by the Ministry of Health General Directorate of Health Services. If an intermediary travel agency coordinates your travel, that agency requires its own intermediary authorization and must work with an authorized healthcare facility.
Ask for the certificate number (such as an ST-prefixed certificate number) and verify that it is issued to the healthcare institution where your procedure will take place—not solely to a marketing or travel company.
International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate (Uluslararası Sağlık Turizmi Yetki Belgesi)
Issued by: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health · General Directorate of Health Services (T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı Sağlık Hizmetleri Genel Müdürlüğü · USHAŞ / Health Türkiye)
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What this document proves: Confirms that Özel Otek Polikliniği is authorized by the Ministry of Health under Certificate No. ST-6607 to engage in international health tourism activities. This certificate is separate from the Hair Transplant Unit Operation Permit—international patients should check both records.
In which exact healthcare facility and address will the procedure take place?
Many clinics promote their services internationally under a short brand name while operating legally as a registered polyclinic, medical center or hospital. In other cases, unlicensed brokers advertise online and refer patients to third-party facilities on arrival.
Ask for the exact legal name of the healthcare facility and the street address where you will be admitted on the day of your procedure. Check that the same legal entity name (for example, Özel Otek Polikliniği for OTEK Hair Clinic) appears consistently across the facility license, hair transplant unit permit and health tourism certificate.
Who will perform the procedure, and how are physician responsibility and supervision ensured?
Under the Regulation on Hair Transplant Units (06.05.2023, No. 32182) and the Ministry of Health Certified Training Regulation (04.02.2014, No. 28903), hair transplantation must be performed or directly supervised by authorized physicians—including relevant specialist physicians or physicians holding a Ministry-registered Hair Transplant Practitioner Certificate or Aesthetic and Cosmetic Applications Certificate. Certified health personnel may assist with permitted steps only under a certified physician’s active responsibility and on-site clinical supervision.
Ask for the full name and Ministry registration number (Tescil No) of the physician responsible for your pre-operative evaluation, hairline and graft planning, anesthesia administration, channel opening and clinical supervision throughout the procedure.
Hair Transplant Practitioner Certified Training Program Certificate (Saç Ekimi Uygulayıcı Sertifikalı Eğitim Programı)
Issued by: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health · General Directorate of Health Services
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What this document proves: Confirms that Physician Ertan Karaçay completed the Ministry of Health’s certified Hair Transplant Practitioner training program under the 04.02.2014 Certified Training Regulation (No. 28903) and is registered under No. 234099.
Certificate for Aesthetic and Cosmetic Applications (Estetik ve Kozmetik Uygulamalar Sertifikası)
Issued by: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health · General Directorate of Health Services
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What this document proves: Confirms that Physician Okan Tanın completed the Ministry of Health’s certified training program on Aesthetic and Cosmetic Applications and holds individual Registration No. 220869.
How are the technique, planned graft count and medical risks explained?
Safe hair transplantation depends on your donor area density, hair shaft thickness, scalp condition, medical history and future hair loss pattern. Advertising "unlimited grafts" or guaranteeing identical results for every patient without a clinical assessment can lead to donor overharvesting or unnatural coverage.
Ask how the physician evaluates your donor capacity, why a specific method (such as FUE, DHI or unshaven hair transplantation) is recommended for your case, what realistic graft range is planned, and what medical risks or limitations apply to you.
How are complications or medical emergencies handled if they occur?
Under the Regulation on Hair Transplant Units, procedure rooms must be equipped with mandatory emergency resuscitation equipment, monitoring devices and emergency medications, and must follow established clinical protocols if hospital transfer is needed.
Ask what pre-operative blood tests, allergy checks and medical history screenings are completed before local anesthesia is given, how on-site medical intervention is organized during the procedure, and how to reach the medical team urgently during the first days after treatment.
How are post-procedure follow-up and patient support provided?
Healing and hair growth take place over 12 to 18 months. For patients traveling from another city or country, structured post-operative care both before departure and after returning home is essential.
Ask whether a physician examines the donor and recipient areas before you travel home, how the first clinical wash and aftercare instructions are provided, and whether your follow-up photos and medical questions at 10 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months are reviewed by clinical staff.
Are written patient information, informed consent and a clear cost breakdown provided?
Turkish patient rights and healthcare regulations require clinics to inform patients clearly about the planned procedure, alternatives and risks, and to obtain a signed Informed Consent Form (Aydınlatılmış Onam Formu) in a language the patient understands before treatment begins.
Before paying a deposit or starting treatment, ask for a written scope of what is included in the price (medical tests, medications, post-op care kit, interpreter support, transfers or accommodation if applicable), ask whether any clinical finding on arrival could change the fee, and request copies of your signed consent form, official invoice and medical discharge summary (Epikriz) issued under the healthcare facility’s legal name.