An eyelash transplant moves individual hair follicles, usually from the back of the scalp, into the upper eyelid margin to restore lashes lost through injury, burns, surgery, scarring or long-term pulling.
It can rebuild a lash line where none will otherwise grow. The transplanted hairs remain scalp hairs: they keep growing and must be trimmed and curled regularly for life, and the direction of growth is never perfectly controllable.
What Eyelash Transplant involves
A small strip or a few dozen single follicles are taken from the scalp behind the ear, where hairs are finest. Under magnification the technicians prepare single-hair grafts and leave the hair shaft long. With the eye protected by a corneal shield and the lid numbed, each graft is placed using a curved needle that is threaded through the lid skin and out at the lash margin, pulling the hair into position so that the follicle sits in the lid and the shaft curves outwards. Alternatively, tiny slits are made and grafts are implanted with forceps or an implanter. Typically 25 to 60 grafts are placed per upper lid in one session. Lower lids are rarely treated.
Who is a good candidate for Eyelash Transplant?
It is best thought of as reconstructive surgery, not as an alternative to lash extensions.
- Lash loss after trauma, burns or tumour removal from the lid
- Scarring from long-term false lash glue or previous lid surgery
- Congenital absence of lashes
- Trichotillomania that has been in remission for at least a year or two
- A stable cause of loss with a healthy lid margin
It is usually not the right choice if:
- Healthy people simply wanting longer lashes; serum such as bimatoprost or extensions are safer
- Active trichotillomania, blepharitis or lid skin disease
- Alopecia areata or other active autoimmune hair loss, where grafts may be lost too
- Chemotherapy-related loss, which normally regrows
- People unwilling to trim and curl the lashes every week or two
Technique options
- Needle-threading technique: Gives the best control of angle and curl.
- Slit and forceps or implanter placement: Faster, but with less control of direction.
- FUE harvest: Single follicles taken without a linear scar.
- Small strip harvest: Allows long-hair grafts, making the curl easier to orient.
What happens during your treatment
It takes 1 to 3 hours under local anaesthetic, often with oral sedation. The lid injections sting briefly. You go home the same day, with swollen lids and antibiotic ointment.
Preparing for your trip
Plan for 3 to 5 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.
- Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
- Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
- Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
- Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly
Recovery and results
Lid swelling and bruising last 3 to 7 days, and small crusts fall away within 10 days. Do not rub your eyes, and avoid mascara, extensions and swimming for 2 to 3 weeks. The transplanted hairs shed at 2 to 4 weeks, regrow from about 3 to 4 months, and the result is judged at 9 to 12 months. From then on you trim them every 1 to 2 weeks and use a lash curler or perm to keep them turned outwards.
- Back to everyday activity: About 1 week
- When results show: Growth from 3 to 4 months; final at 9 to 12 months
- How long they last: Permanent; needs lifelong trimming and curling
Safety, risks and revision policy
The eyelid is delicate, so problems with direction matter more here than elsewhere.
- Lashes growing towards the eye and scratching the cornea, needing removal
- Graft survival that is lower and less predictable than on the scalp, often 50 to 80 in 100
- Straight, thick or uneven lashes that look different from natural ones
- Lid infection, styes or small cysts
- Lid margin scarring or notching
- Need for a second session to improve density
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of Eyelash Transplant in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Eyelash Transplant, because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- Number of grafts and one lid or both
- Harvest method
- Whether a reconstructive eyelid surgeon is involved
- A possible touch-up session
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will they look like natural lashes?
Closer than having none, but not identical. Scalp hair is usually straighter and grows continuously.
Is it safe for my eyes?
In experienced hands, yes. The main risk is misdirected lashes, which can be removed if they irritate the eye.
Should I try a serum first?
If you still have follicles, yes. Prescription bimatoprost lengthens and darkens existing lashes and avoids surgery.