To uncover the true cost of a hair transplant in the UK, we sent 104 UK clinics the same photographs with the same desired result.
In this exclusive, we reveal the state of hair restoration treatment across the country: from the price you should be paying for your hair transplant, to the red flags you need to look for when finding your hair transplant surgeon and team.
Losing your hair is difficult, which is why hair transplant surgery is so transformative. Hair loss is a natural part of ageing, and it affects millions of people around the world. In fact, 85%t of men — and around half of women — will be affected by hair loss at some point in their lives [1].
Hair transplants have been increasing in popularity for many years now as more people turn to cosmetic surgery to restore their confidence. Thanks to this growing demand, the UK has seen a recent rise in the number of shady hair transplant clinics in operation [2].
These clinics are inexperienced at best and unlicensed at worst. They take advantage of the low confidence and high anxiety that stem from losing your hair, promising amazing results at extortionately high or suspiciously low prices.
Choosing a hair transplant clinic in the follicular Wild West can be a challenge. Inflated prices make clinics appear more competitive; low prices feel like a risk worth taking.
But jumping the gun without doing your research may make a procedure with a >97% success rate a complete disaster, leading to your hair transplant going wrong. As hair transplant patient Spencer Stevenson found out, inexperienced clinicians rarely give you the results you’re looking for. In pursuit of an affordable, successful solution, Spencer ultimately spent £40,000 on 13 hair transplant procedures over a 20-year period [3].
We believe hair transplants should be a last resort. With preventative hair loss treatments such as Minoxidil and Finasteride increasingly available, there are other options to try before you book surgery. But with low costs and clever marketing, it’s easy to see why you might be tempted to give less reputable clinics a shot.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to identify great clinics from not-so-great ones, so you can find a reputable surgeon who’ll deliver the results you deserve. You’ll find out how cost can serve as a good indicator of quality and reveal the red flags to look for when selecting your hair transplant surgeon and team.
Image and identity are now a huge part of people’s self-worth [4]. It’s why social media can be so detrimental to people’s mental health [5]. And it’s part of the real reason for the boom in hair transplants around the world to treat hair loss. Feeling confident in how you look can help you take control of your social life, your love life, and your career.
Here’s the Google Trends hair transplant search data from Jan 2012 to Jan 2024:
Hair transplants have been growing in popularity for the last 45 years. This mainly stems from social media pressures, changing attitudes towards male grooming, and, fundamentally, the success rate of the procedure.
England cricket captain and Wimpole Clinic hair transplant patient Ben Stokes explains how attitudes towards hair transplants have changed in recent years, and how having a hair transplant has boosted his self-confidence:
“I think the way in which hair procedures are perceived is completely different now. Even going back to when I had mine done, it used to be a big secret. Men didn’t want other people to know that they’d had a hair transplant.
“But I think the more it’s publicly out there that people are getting them done, it’s making it a lot easier for men in particular to feel comfortable having it done.”
Watch the full interview here:
Crystal Palace footballer Rob Holding underwent a successful hair transplant with the Wimpole Clinic. Beforehand, Rob’s hair loss seriously impacted his self-confidence. But by choosing an experienced, reputable clinic, he managed to win it back.
“Wimpole Clinic treated me so well and I am so happy with the results. I could not recommend them enough.”
According to the 2020 ISHRS Practice Census, Europe alone saw a 240% increase in hair transplant procedures between 2010 and 2021, with the majority of patients being men [6]. Hair loss is more common in men than women, so men are 5.3 times more likely to seek surgical hair restoration treatment.
Other findings show that:
This infographic shows a summary of the 2022 ISHRS Practise Census:
We sent the same photograph — a male patient with Norwood stage 2 to 3 hair loss — with the same desired result to 104 clinics around the UK. We wanted to discover the differences in pricing, experience and practice of hair transplant clinics and surgeons.
Hair Transplant Costs UK. (You are allowed to share this image.)
Here’s what the data shows:
Hair transplant prices are mainly determined by the number of hair grafts that need to be relocated. The Norwood Scale is used to determine the degree of male pattern baldness for each patient and make suggestions for hair restoration services.
As the chart below shows, Norwood 2 – 3 stage hair loss usually requires a 500 graft hair transplant to a 1500 graft hair transplant, depending on the client’s needs, hair density required and available donor area.
The cost of a crown hair transplant may also be higher, as the balding area tends to be greater than along the hairline. Learn more about the cost of a hairline transplant.
In our results, however, the highest number of grafts a clinic recommended for this procedure was 3,000. 7.7% of respondents quoted a 2,000-graft hair transplant or more.
And that wasn’t the only disparity our survey revealed. In fact, many of the results didn’t fill us with confidence about the consistency of quality and value in hair transplant clinics across the UK.
We surveyed 104 clinics whose details are listed on Google and we received and used data from 58 clinics. We based our results on their quotation estimates since the nature of the survey prevented us from consulting with them in detail. Where a graft or cost range was given, we’ve used the average in our results. (You can find out more about our survey data in the footer of this article.)
There are only 42 surgeons registered with the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery — so the fact that there are more than 100 clinics in operation is a little ominous. In some cases, surgeons work with multiple clinics. In others, surgeons work with businesses that are clinics in name only. These businesses are essentially sales reps who connect patients with surgeons for a referral fee.
A number of the clinics we surveyed offered consultation in the UK, but the surgery actually took place abroad. We extracted these clinics from the data, so they’re not represented in our findings. But it shows the importance of having an open conversation with your hair transplant consultant before any money changes hands.
While getting a hair transplant abroad may be a viable option, we strongly recommend you familiarise yourself with the risks. Medical tourism is on the increase, thanks to lower costs and more accessible travel. And there are many reputable hair transplant clinics in the best countries for hair transplants.
However, the BAHRS highlights the rise of inexperienced clinics in countries where regulation is limited [7]. These clinics promise guaranteed results for extremely low prices, so it’s crucial that you research your chosen clinic and understand the risks of such procedures.
Some cities have fewer hair transplant clinics than others, which is reflected in these average prices. Portsmouth, for example, is home to just one hair transplant clinic. This may explain why the average cost here is higher than in other towns and cities.
You might expect to pay more for a hair transplant in London. This is especially true on Harley Street, where surgeons are generally more experienced. Higher experience levels and operating costs often lead to premium prices.
Surprisingly, though, we found very little correlation between a surgeon’s experience and the cost of a hair transplant. So we decided to take a closer look at the data. We excluded clinics and lead generation websites that acted purely as referral sources (i.e. clinics that didn’t feature a specific surgeon on their website).
27 of the websites we surveyed (26%) did not include a surgeon on their site. When we excluded these from our data, the results were very revealing:
Among reputable clinics that displayed their surgeons on their website, prices were pretty similar.
Harley Street prices went from being more than £1,200 higher than the rest of the UK to less than £250 higher. This equates to an average price hike of around 4%, with a 30% increase in experience.
It’s important to note that these results are based on averages. Prospective patients should examine each clinic individually, as there are some very good clinics offering reasonable prices throughout the UK.
With such big differences in the cost and the number of grafts quoted, how do you know you’re going to get the results you want at the right price?
We’ve delved deeper into our data so you can find out how to spot inflated prices and disreputable clinics.
As demonstrated above, sites that don’t list a surgeon cost much less than those that do — but you don’t know who will be drafted in to perform your surgery.
Even if they mean well and have positive reviews, there is no guarantee you will get the same surgeon as the person who left the positive review or recommendation.
There’s nothing wrong with a surgeon having a working relationship with a clinic and subcontracting their services out. But from a patient’s perspective, it’s great peace of mind to know that the clinic has a principal surgeon on hand to make sure the surgeon is professional and accountable.
It’s also important to be mindful of exaggerations. One affiliate site reported that their surgeon had performed over 3,000 surgeries, while their marketing material suggested it was 4,000. Both these figures are unfeasible given the amount of time the surgeon in question has been practising. Make sure to find out exactly who your surgeon will be, and how long they have been practising, to ensure the stats add up.
Reputable clinics appear to price their services similarly.
It’s clear that cost is a strong indicator of the quality and reputation of a hair transplant clinic. The cost of the procedure should depend on the number of grafts you need and your procedure type, rather than whether or not an affiliate clinic is taking a cut.
That’s why it’s important to consult with multiple clinics. Our study shows that some clinics charge as little as £1,995 or as much as £15,000 for a procedure that costs £4,820 on average. By speaking to multiple clinics, you can get an idea of the average cost for the result you’re looking for.
Ask them the reason behind their recommendations and let them know about quotations from other clinics. Remember, you’re in control. If staff become annoyed by your questioning, this is a tell-tale sign they’re more interested in your money than delivering the desired result.
Don’t necessarily be tempted by the cheapest option — more and more hair transplant clinics are cutting corners (and quality) in an attempt to profit from a growing interest in hair transplant surgery.
A clinic that quoted one of the lowest prices turned out to be operating out of a house rather than a surgical environment — a pretty strong warning sign. But equally, you don’t need to spend £15,000+ at a clinic just because they did a celebrity’s hair.
87% of clinics offer a free consultation, so take advantage of this. Make sure you ask about the surgical team’s experience, their aftercare service, and their hair transplant success rate.
Low-priced hair transplants may seem too good to be true — and that probably means they are. Cheap hair transplants are synonymous with affiliate or referral websites that don’t always have the patient’s best interests at heart.
The majority (96.4%) of ISHRS members reported that up to 25% of their cases were repair cases due to previous black-market hair transplants [7]. The average percentage of repair cases due to a previous Black Market hair transplant was 6%.
Lower prices from these referral clinics often accompany lower quality procedures, less experience, and a less ethical approach to hair restoration. Each of these attributes can result in a poor quality transplant which isn’t worth the money you’ve saved.
Plus, if your treatment is unsuccessful, there is a danger that future treatment may not be possible. Overharvesting of hair follicles can destroy your donor area, making it more difficult for you to undergo further treatments if they’re needed.Reputable clinics will never push to get you into surgery. They know that a hair transplant should be a last resort, and will recommend the right course of action to help you maintain or restore your hair — whether or not that includes surgery.
Many patients who undergo treatment abroad face this pressure since the clinicians know they’re unlikely to see the patient again. That’s why this is one of the key red flags in Turkish hair transplant clinics to watch out for.
“Hair transplant restoration surgery is very safe and there have been no reported deaths in the UK. Sadly, there have been a few deaths from hair transplants abroad, most notably in Turkey and India where the surgery was performed by unqualified technicians.”
You can have as many hair transplants as you need until you run out of follicles in your donor area — but obviously, the fewer procedures you have, the better.
Only 68.2% of patients achieved their desired result after 1 procedure, which suggests that many surgeries don’t have a glowing success rate after a single procedure [7].
Hair transplant failure and continued hair loss are the two major reasons you might need multiple hair transplants. While hair transplants are permanent, it’s important to note that you can still lose hair from other areas even after a successful hair transplant.
For this reason, a reputable clinic will ask you if you’re still experiencing hair loss during your consultation. This is so they can best advise you on whether this is the right time for surgical intervention. Hair transplants should be seen as a last resort after your clinician has done everything they can to prevent further hair loss.
If a clinic prescribes you a course of action you should embark on before having a hair transplant in the future, they most likely have your interests at heart. It will also shine a light on who just wants to get you into the chair.
Only 0.1% of transplants fail after 3 procedures, but it’s a costly endeavour if you don’t see the results you want. Plus, even one extra procedure can double the cost of your treatment, making it hard to stay on budget. Your hair transplant can fail to give you your desired results for any of the following reasons:
To minimise the risk of falling foul of these dangers, take a look at the red flags you should look out for when choosing a hair restoration clinic to work with.
Cost is the biggest factor you should consider when choosing your hair transplant clinic, as it can be the tell-tale sign of an affiliate or referral clinic. But it’s not the only giveaway. Increase the chances of a successful hair transplant by considering these 10 factors when selecting your hair transplant clinic.
A clinic with a low success rate is charging too much, no matter what its prices are. A good success rate is anything from 97% upwards, so make sure you know what standards your clinic is working to.
Take a look at the reputation of your chosen clinic. If they don’t have a gallery of before-and-after hair transplant photos or a series of glowing reviews, they probably don’t have the experience you’re looking for. Before-and-after photos should show a comparable view, so you can see the true result.
You should also speak to friends and people you know who have undergone hair transplant surgery themselves. They’ll be able to make recommendations and tell you about their experiences.
Clinics everywhere claim to be the “leading” hair transplant clinic — but unless they have the achievements and experience to support this, don’t fall for it. The same goes for “guaranteed” results, or “scarless” outcomes.
The long hair transplant recovery timeline means there are no guarantees with any hair transplant, so it’s important to understand this before you pay any deposits. There are a number of marketing strategies used by clinics good and bad, so make sure you know what’s true, and what’s just clever wording.
This also extends to discounts and freebies. Time-limited offers — whether on their own websites or on discount sites like Groupon — are a surefire sign that a clinic doesn’t necessarily have its patients’ best interests at heart.
Before anything, you should check that the clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission. Experienced surgeons like Dr. Michael May, who is a founding member and former president of BAHRS and ESHRS, and a member of the ISHRS, created these organisations to improve the industry so patients can be sure they’re getting high-quality care from their hair transplant clinics.
According to the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery, nobody should suggest they are qualified unless “they are able to support this with a qualification such as that provided by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery, or another qualification recognised by BAHRS and the ISHRS [8].”
Clinics should be willing to give you as much advice and information as they can for free. As our analysis revealed, 87% of the clinics we surveyed offer a free consultation. After all, hair transplant surgery is just that — surgery. It’s not something to be entered into lightly, so choose a clinic that offers a free consultation so you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Your surgeon’s experience is crucial to your hair transplant experience. If a clinic is cagey about who the surgeon performing the procedure will be, this is a big red flag, so ask who will be performing the surgery. Some clinics also use unqualified non-medical personnel to make clinical decisions, so don’t be afraid to ask about the qualifications of any staff who advise or support you through the process.
But it’s not just about the surgeon. The technicians and surgical team play a huge part in ensuring your surgery is a success. A clinic is only as strong as its weakest link, so make sure you’re satisfied that everyone knows what they’re doing.
A team that has been together for a long time will most likely outperform technicians or surgeons who have been drafted in and don’t know each other.
Your donor hair area is finite, so it needs to be properly managed. Inexperienced or disreputable clinics have been known to use up all the donor hair to achieve the results they’ve promised, leaving the donor area unusable if future procedures are needed.
From pain management to pillow protection, choose a clinic that’s thought of everything when it comes to hair transplant surgery aftercare. This should include follow-up appointments to ensure your recovery is progressing well and advice on what to do in case of questions or concerns.
Your consultant should ask you about the current hair loss you’re experiencing, so they can plan for potential future procedures. If you’re losing hair, good clinics will recommend preventative hair loss medication before they opt for surgical intervention. It’s all about doing what’s best for the patient.
Hey, everyone has to start somewhere. Not all hair transplant surgeries will have 45 years of experience. But you need to decide if you want to be the guinea pig for a new or inexperienced clinic.
According to BAHRS anybody proclaiming ‘experience’ should have “practised this method of Hair Transplant Surgery for at least 5 years (the minimum time most surgeons take in higher surgical training to completion of specialist training in the NHS is six years) [8].”
A good hair transplant clinic should never want to rush you into surgery. They should make sure you have all the information you need to make the right decision for you — whether it’s preventative hair loss medication, FUT, FUE, or embracing the Jason Statham look.
Thousands of successful hair transplants take place in the UK every year — so it’s clear there are many reputable clinics in operation. But to get the results you want from your hair restoration treatment, it’s important to recognise the risks of signing up with shady or affiliate clinics.
Disreputable clinics are likely to prioritise expensive surgical treatment over accepted best practices for hair loss prevention and treatment. While affiliate clinics aren’t necessarily disreputable, they tend to carry the most risk, which usually means they work out to be more expensive than working directly with a clinic that has a registered in-house surgeon — and you won’t necessarily be paying for experience or care.
At the Wimpole Clinic, our patient advisors are happy to help and answer any questions you may have. If you’d like to come prepared with the right questions to ask your hair loss specialist, take a look at our list of questions you really want to ask about hair transplants.
This study is intended as a general guide. We acknowledge that there are gaps in the study, particularly created where clinics were not forthcoming in their responses or gave no response.
Of the 104 clinics we surveyed, 8% wouldn’t provide prices or make recommendations on the number of grafts without a free consultation, while 7% would only provide this information in a paid consultation. Two clinics needed to see the patient in person before they could give a quotation. 21 clinics didn’t respond.
We surveyed each of the UK-based clinics and affiliate lead generation websites we could find online. Each clinic was given the opportunity to respond to our survey. As a result, while we acknowledge gaps in our data, we believe this is an accurate reflection of current operations and costs of hair transplants in the UK. Please also note:
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