Hair transplantTürkiye5 min read
Did Suat Kaya have a hair transplant? Yes, after 20 years of a hairpiece
In December 2019 Suat Kaya, the former Galatasaray and Turkey national team player, surprised fans: he said he had worn a hairpiece for 20 years and had now had a hair transplant. Below is exactly what he said, where it was published, and what the procedure involves for anyone considering it today.
By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Medically reviewed by Ellina V. Goncharova, dermatovenereologist, trichologist, surgeon. Review date: .
The main points in 30 seconds
- On 4 December 2019 Sabah published Suat Kaya's words from a DHA interview: after 20 years with a hairpiece, he had a hair transplant.
- He said his hair is about his own happiness and that everyone thought the hairpiece was his own hair, which he could tell no one.
- A modern hair transplant is an outpatient operation under local anaesthesia, and you go home the same day.
- New hair begins to grow after 3–4 months, density is clearly visible at 6–9 months, and the final result is assessed at 12–18 months.
- At City Medical Centre an FUE hair transplant costs $2,200, and the first consultation is free.
Key facts about the procedure
- Stay in clinicSame day
- Final result12–18 months
- AnaesthesiaLocal
- Price
$2,700from $2,200
Profile
Suat Kaya
- Country
- Türkiye
- Who
- Former footballer and football coach
- Year of operation
- 2019
- Quote source
- Sabah, 4 December 2019
My hair is about my own happiness. I am 53 and I used a hairpiece for 20 years. Everyone thought it was my own hair. I couldn’t tell anyone it was a hairpiece. Now I have had a hair transplant. I make changes for myself. God willing, I will get a good result from the transplant in April.
What did Suat Kaya say about his hair transplant?
In December 2019 the former Galatasaray and Turkey midfielder, by then a football coach, gave an interview to the DHA news agency about Turkish football and his own career. He mentioned that after leaving Menemenspor he took a break, “had a hair transplant” and then received an offer from Sakaryaspor.
Hair Transplant London, Hair Transplant Dublin — price and consultation.
Price in your country — message us on WhatsApp
WhatsAppSabah published his words on 4 December 2019: “My hair is about my own happiness. I am 53 and I used a hairpiece for 20 years. Everyone thought it was my own hair. I couldn’t tell anyone it was a hairpiece. Now I have had a hair transplant. I make changes for myself. God willing, I will get a good result from the transplant in April.” The next day A Haber quoted the same statement.
That is all we rely on here. Kaya did not describe the technique, the number of grafts or other medical details, so this article does not guess at them. Where the text below explains methods and timelines, it describes hair transplantation in general, not his treatment.
From a hairpiece to his own hair
For two decades Kaya kept a secret that the public never suspected. In the interview he explained it simply: his hair is about his own happiness, and he makes changes for himself. For many men who wear a hair system, the question is the same — whether to keep hiding hair loss or to look at a medical option. A transplant works differently from a hairpiece: it does not cover the scalp, it moves the patient’s own follicles, which then grow as normal hair.
More on this topic: Hair Transplant, Beard Transplant, Eyebrow Transplant, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Singapore, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Málaga.
His words also show realistic expectations. He did not claim an instant result; he spoke of waiting several months — which is exactly how transplanted hair behaves.
Hair transplant abroad: choose a city and clinic
Prices, the clinic and a free online consultation for each city:
How a hair transplant works today
A modern hair transplant is an outpatient operation under local anaesthesia. Follicles are taken one by one from the donor area, usually the back of the head and the temples, and implanted where hair is missing. The main techniques are:
- FUE — grafts are extracted individually through tiny punctures and placed into channels made by the surgeon. No linear scar and no stitches.
- DHI — grafts are implanted with a special pen (Choi implanter) without pre-made channels, which gives fine control over angle and direction.
- Combined DHI+FUE — FUE extraction with DHI implantation.
Whose hair
- Hairpiece (what he wore for 20 years)
- Artificial or donor hair on a base
- Hair transplant today
- The patient’s own follicles from the back of the head
Care
- Hairpiece (what he wore for 20 years)
- Fixing, removing and replacing the system
- Hair transplant today
- Normal hair care after the healing period
Procedure
- Hairpiece (what he wore for 20 years)
- No surgery
- Hair transplant today
- One day under local anaesthesia, no stitches
When the result shows
- Hairpiece (what he wore for 20 years)
- Immediately
- Hair transplant today
- Growth from months 3–4, final result at 12–18 months
Price at City Medical Centre
- Hairpiece (what he wore for 20 years)
- —
- Hair transplant today
- FUE $2,200, DHI $2,500
Which technique fits depends on the extent of hair loss and the density of the donor area, which is why the choice is made at a consultation, not from a celebrity story.
Who is a good candidate and how to prepare
A transplant works best when the donor area at the back of the head is dense enough to give grafts. Typical reasons people consider it are a receding hairline, thinning temples or crown, low overall density, and hair loss after trauma, burns, illness or hormonal disorders. Age in itself is not a barrier for an adult patient; what matters is health and the donor area.
There are also contraindications, including patchy (focal) alopecia, trichotillomania, body dysmorphic disorder, cancer, severe heart disease, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a pacemaker and intolerance to anaesthetics. The surgeon checks these before a date is booked. The patient then receives a list of tests and instructions; the number of grafts is estimated free of charge at the consultation.
Why he spoke of waiting until April
Kaya expected a good result “in April”, a few months after the operation. That fits the usual course. The scalp heals in about ten days. In weeks 2–4 the transplanted hairs shed — this is normal, the follicles stay under the skin.
New growth starts at months 3–4, noticeable density comes at months 6–9, and the final result is assessed at 12–18 months. The timeline below shows the stages.
How hair transplant results usually develop
- Day of surgeryLocal anaesthesia, grafts are taken and implanted; you go home the same day.
- Days 1–10The scalp heals and small crusts fall off; you follow the washing and sleeping instructions.
- Weeks 2–4Transplanted hairs shed. This is expected: the follicles remain under the skin.
- Months 3–4New hair begins to grow, often fine at first.
- Months 6–9Density becomes clearly visible.
- Months 12–18The final result can be assessed.
A hair transplant at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs FUE, DHI and combined hair transplants for international patients. The first consultation is free and can be held online: the doctor assesses photos of the hair and the donor area, estimates the number of grafts and names the price, which is then fixed in the contract. Current prices are $2,200 for FUE, $2,500 for DHI and $2,700 for the combined method.
The price includes follow-up appointments at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, and the clinic gives a lifetime guarantee of hair growth. More details are on the hair transplant page.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Suat Kaya or his treatment. His story is simply a well-known example of a man who talked openly about the procedure.
Hair transplant prices in this article are the current offer, valid until 30 November 2026. Regular prices: FUE $2,700, DHI $2,900, combined method $2,900. The price that applies to you is confirmed at the consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Did Suat Kaya have a hair transplant?
Yes. In an interview published by Sabah on 4 December 2019 he said he had worn a hairpiece for 20 years and had now had a hair transplant. A Haber quoted the same words.
How old was Suat Kaya at the time?
He said in the interview that he was 53.
Which method did Suat Kaya use?
He did not say which technique was used, so we do not speculate. Today most transplants are done by FUE, DHI or a combination; the choice depends on the individual hair loss and donor area.
Can a hair transplant replace a hairpiece?
It depends on the donor area. If the back of the head gives enough grafts, a transplant can restore the patient’s own growing hair. The surgeon assesses this at the consultation.
How much does a hair transplant cost at City Medical Centre?
Prices are $2,200 for FUE, $2,500 for DHI and $2,700 for the combined method. The final price is given after the free consultation and fixed in the contract.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
Medical background and further reading
General information about the procedure from health authorities and medical societies. It is not advice for any individual patient.
- PubMed / NCBI — Follicular Unit Extraction for Hair Transplantation: An Update (Actas Dermosifiliogr, 2017)
- PubMed / NCBI — Donor site healing in follicular unit extraction hair transplantation (Cell Mol Biol, 2025)
- International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery — Hair loss treatments and solutions
How we prepare and review medical content · Medical disclaimer
Considering the same operation? Get a free consultation
Message a coordinator on Telegram: we reply right in the chat, and you can send photos and questions there too.
- The first consultation is free, online consultations are available
- The doctor names the cost after the assessment, and it is fixed in the contract
- A personal coordinator guides you from the first message to recovery
Read also
Hair transplantDid Mustafa Ceceli have a hair transplant? Yes, and he said so himself
Turkish singer Mustafa Ceceli confirmed his hair transplant in April 2024 and asked fans for two months. What he said and how the procedure works today.
Hair transplantJohn Cena's hair transplant: “I got a problem, I try to fix it”
John Cena spoke openly in 2025 about his hair transplant and the fan signs that pushed him to it. His words, how the procedure works and the recovery.
Hair transplantWayne Rooney's hair transplant: the tweets that started a conversation
Wayne Rooney announced his hair transplant on Twitter in June 2011. His exact words, what the procedure involves and how the first months usually go.
Hair transplantEyebrow Transplant: How It Works, Results, Cost and How to Avoid Regret
Eyebrow transplant guide: how FUE works for brows, recovery in 7–10 days, how long results last, why trimming is needed, common regrets and the price at our clinic.