Before you book a flight for a hair transplant, check the surgeon as carefully as you check the destination. Find out who performs each step, how experienced the surgeon is and whether they belong to a professional body such as the ISHRS. Then look closely at their case studies, and make sure consultations and follow-up will still work once you fly home.
This guide walks through each check in turn, then shows how to plan a Dubai trip around the procedure.
Who will actually perform each step of the procedure?
Ask this first, and expect a specific answer. A hair transplant is a team effort, so knowing who does what tells you how much of the work the surgeon handles personally.
With the DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) technique, the work falls into three main stages:
- Designing the hairline. Deciding where the new hairline sits and how dense each area should be.
- Taking out the follicles. Follicles are removed one by one from the back and sides of the head with fine FUE punches.
- Placing the follicles. Each one goes straight into the thinning area with an implanter pen, by hand.
Ask who designs the hairline, who extracts and who implants. It is also fair to ask how many patients the team treats on the same day. Clear, unhurried answers are a good sign.
How much experience should the surgeon have?
There is no magic number, but years in the field and the number of procedures performed both count. Experience shows in details a patient rarely notices: the angle of each hair and how carefully the donor area is used.
As a reference point, Dr Dimitrios Ziakas of Alborj Hair Clinic in Dubai has 24 years of experience and more than 4,000 procedures. When you compare surgeons, ask each one:
- How many years they have performed hair transplants.
- Roughly how many procedures they have carried out.
- How often they treat hair loss like yours, such as a receding hairline, a thinning crown or thinning in women.
- How they plan for your original hair, which can still thin with age around the transplant.
“People travelling for a procedure often ask me about technique first. I suggest they also ask who will do each step and how we will stay in touch once they are home. Those answers say a great deal about how a clinic works.”
What does membership of a body like the ISHRS tell you?
Membership of a professional body shows that a surgeon takes part in the wider specialist community. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) is an international professional society focused on hair restoration surgery.
Treat a membership as a useful check, not the whole picture. It is a reason to look closer rather than a reason to stop looking.
Ask the clinic directly which professional bodies the surgeon belongs to. Many societies list their members publicly, so you can confirm the answer yourself.
What should a surgeon’s case studies show you?
Case studies let you judge results for yourself, and they matter more than any slogan. Look for patients whose starting point resembles yours. Surgeons describe the stage of hair loss with the Norwood scale for men and the Ludwig scale for women.
- A similar starting point. A case close to your stage tells you more than a dramatic one that is not.
- Results at the right moment. The full result shows at around 12 months, so give most weight to cases shown at that stage.
- A natural hairline. Look at the shape of the front edge and the direction the hairs grow.
- Consistency. Many good results across different patients say more than one standout case.
How do consultations and follow-up work when you live abroad?
The trip may be short, but the result takes about a year to appear. The relationship with the clinic needs to work long after you land back home.
- Before you travel. Ask whether an initial assessment is possible before you book flights, and what information the clinic needs from you.
- In Dubai. Ask whether you will have a face-to-face consultation before the procedure day, so the plan can be confirmed in person.
- Back home. Ask how progress checks work, who you contact with a question and how quickly you can expect a reply.
Language matters too. You need to understand the plan, the consent form and the aftercare instructions fully. Ask whether the team can explain everything in a language you are comfortable with, including the written aftercare.
How should you plan your Dubai trip around the procedure?
Leave room in your schedule. A typical visit includes a consultation, the procedure day, some quiet recovery time and a check before you fly. Your clinic will tell you how many days to allow.
Aftercare timings differ between clinics, so treat these as typical rather than fixed:
- Flying. Many clinics are happy for patients to fly home a few days after the procedure, once the first check is done.
- Sun. Dubai sunshine is strong for much of the year, and clinics often advise keeping the treated area shaded for several weeks.
- Hats. A loose hat is often allowed after the first days, while tighter caps usually wait longer.
- Swimming. Pools and the sea are often off limits for a few weeks, so save beach days for another trip.
Always follow your own surgeon’s instructions, because they know your scalp and how your procedure went. Pack loose button-up shirts, and choose accommodation with an easy journey to the clinic.
About Alborj Hair Clinic
Alborj Hair Clinic is a hair transplant clinic in Mazaya Centre, Al Wasl, Dubai. Its surgeon, Dr Dimitrios Ziakas, has 24 years of experience and has performed more than 4,000 hair transplant procedures. He is a member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) and uses the DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) technique.
Travellers can read about the procedure and request a consultation at alborjhairclinic.com.
The website also includes before-and-after case studies, so you can compare results with your own hair loss before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Should I meet the surgeon before the procedure day?
Where possible, yes. A face-to-face consultation lets the surgeon confirm the plan and gives you time to ask questions before anything starts.
Is ISHRS membership enough to choose a surgeon?
It is a useful sign, but check it alongside experience, case studies and how follow-up works.
How long should I stay in Dubai?
It depends on your plan and your surgeon’s advice. Ask the clinic how many days to allow, including a check before you fly.
Will I see the result before I go home?
No. New growth usually begins at around three months and the full result shows at around 12 months, so follow-up from home matters.
