A 36-year-old British man of Albanian descent has died in Istanbul after undergoing a hair transplant and dental treatment, Turkish authorities have confirmed.
Mentor Rama was staying in a hotel in Şişli, near the clinic where he received the hair transplant. The following day, he underwent dental treatment before collapsing at the hotel. Emergency services transported him to Seyrantepe Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 4:30 p.m. on November 11.
Turkish police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. After an autopsy, Rama’s body was returned to his family and transported to his home country.
Turkey is a global hub for hair transplants, performing nearly 60% of such procedures worldwide. The country has become a popular destination for British medical tourists, with hair transplant costs starting at around £1,500—significantly lower than the £10,000 average in the United Kingdom.
This incident follows a similar case in August, when a 38-year-old British man reportedly fell ill while preparing for a hair transplant at a private clinic in Istanbul’s Besiktas district. The clinic stated that the patient became unwell unexpectedly during the preparatory phase, before the procedure began.
Medical tourism is a major contributor to Turkey’s economy, with an estimated 150,000 Britons traveling to the country in 2022 for cosmetic procedures, generating over £2 billion in revenue.
