Update 2022: I’ve updated the hair transplant prices on this page to reflect the current prices being charged in the UK. I also got four quotes from hair transplant companies in Turkey so you can see the difference.

A couple of years ago I bluntly asked my wife to go and get prices for liposuction.

My less-than-tactful approach didn’t exactly go down so well (more about that here).

However, after some grovelling, backtracking and explaining that I wanted to know the cost so I could publish an article here on my website, my wife agreed but with one condition:

I had to go and get prices for a hair transplant to fix my bald spot and also some botox for my forehead wrinkles.

If you’re wondering how much a hair transplant costs, read the rest of this page which I last updated with fresh research in April 2022.

Is This Your First Time Visiting My Website?

I created Job Prices with my partner so people living in the United Kingdom can discover how much certain projects cost.

The idea was simple; I research the cost and publish my findings on this site.

My research was originally about home improvement costs but I’ve since looked at garden projects, motoring and also private healthcare such as how much hair transplants cost.

So Where Did These Hair Transplant Prices Come From?

Way back in July 2017 I visited four hair transplant consultants in the south and south-east of the UK and had a chat with them about getting a hair transplant and how much it would cost.

Update 2022: I then contacted the same clinics again in 2022 and asked for an update on their prices.

I also got in touch with four hair transplant firms in Turkey.

The figures on this page are based on the quotes I was given.

I’ll also show some photos of my hair (or lack thereof) so you can see what work I wanted to be done.

Why I’m Doing This

Why would I want to spend my time visiting clinics and getting prices for a hair transplant?

I’ve found that many businesses either don’t publish their prices online or they underestimate the true cost, just to get you to book a consultation.

My goal with this part of my website is to discover the true cost of cosmetic surgeries such as hair transplants. It’s no different to the other parts of this site where I publish the results of my research.

Can You Trust My Hair Transplant Prices?

The prices displayed here are based on my head but they should give you an idea of how much this treatment will cost.

I will make one promise to you though:

As I want this website to be as impartial as possible, I won’t be recommending any specific clinics or businesses.

The purpose of this article is to research and then publish prices, nothing more and nothing less.

My Head

Below you’ll find a couple of photos showing my hair loss.

As you can see, I have a receding hairline and also a growing bald spot on the crown.

As a 38-year-old male, this is quite typical for someone who has progressive male pattern baldness. My hair loss is neither unusually severe nor mild.

How Much Do You Think My Hair Transplant Will Cost?

This may sound like a strange question.

I know you came here to discover how much a hair transplant will cost but I’m also conducting research into how much people think certain procedures will cost.

The question below is entirely optional. You can skip it if you wish.

Hair Density and My “Desired” Look

At the clinics, I was asked lots of questions about what I wanted to achieve with a hair transplant.

While I was realistic in my demands and expectations I also knew exactly what I wanted and did not want:

I wanted to get rid of the bald spot on my crown as that bothered me the most. I wanted some minor work done on my receding hairline at the sides of my forehead, which you can’t see clearly in the photos.

I didn’t want too much work done on the front of my hairline and I wanted the overall work to look as natural as possible.

I accept that I’m not 18 years old and trying to look like that again is not realistic for me.

The Clinics I Chose

I’m fortunate that I live near London so there are plenty of clinics for me to choose from.

I selected a total of four clinics. Two were based in London, one in nearby Surrey and one in Hampshire.

I did complete some basic checks before visiting the clinics:

• First I did a few Google searches and checked the reviews written by previous customers.
• Next, I explored the Care Quality Commission’s ratings of the clinic (I suggest you do that too).
• I also explored the General Medical Council’s information regarding the doctor/surgeon and their current status (you can do that too here).

What Hair Transplant Prices Was I Given?

The table below shows the four clinics I visited and the transplant prices I received.

Each clinic gave me an estimate of how many “grafts” they thought I would need. All four suggested between 2400 and 3000, this was split roughly between the area on my crown and my receding hairline to the front/side of my forehead.

It’s worth noting that each graft holds several hairs.

(Do remember that the hair transplant price you’ll pay will depend on how bad your hair loss is, no two heads are the same!)

Prices From Turkey

In 2022 I also got in touch with four clinics in turkey, two of them arranged a video call so they could look at my hair closer and have a chat about the procedure and all of them asked for photos.

I then received prices, which are averaged and displayed in the table below:

Would You Go Abroad For a Hair Transplant?

There are lots of horror stories in the media about botched procedures abroad but I’m sure there are plenty of reputable firms too.

You can answer this poll if you like:

My Thoughts on Going Abroad

Greece and Turkey appear to be popular destinations for hair transplants. From what I have read online, the prices can be as much as 75% lower than the top-tier clinics in London.

I’m not sure if I would enjoy flying after having this surgery but if the cost is that much lower, I would certainly consider it.

Another potential issue is what would happen if something went wrong during the days after the surgery? I would be in a different country from the surgeon – not exactly an ideal situation.

What About Failure Rates and Follow Up Treatments?

When researching hair transplant costs, it became clear that I would need more than one treatment as my hair would continue to fall out, even after the surgery.

Also, I was told that not every graft would hold and some would fail. That’s normal apparently and I would need a follow-up procedure several years after the initial procedure.

This would be an opportunity for the surgeon to check for any failed grafts and unevenness in my hair and calculate a new hair transplant price for the next round of treatment.

The cost of any follow-up treatments would be much cheaper than the first hair transplant but none of the clinics I visited would give me an indication of how much it would cost.

Not Sure How Many Grafts You Need? Try This Hair Transplant Calculator:

You can find a nifty hair transplant calculator on this website, although it did underestimate the number of grafts I needed by about 10%, it’s still worth exploring.

Also, below you can see the Norwood scale image, I believe my head is around a 3V but with slightly more loss at the crown.

You can use this Norwood scale to estimate how much work you’ll need. There are several clinics online that provide guides prices based on this scale.

FUE or FUT Hair Transplant Method?

All of the clinics that provided me with a hair transplant cost guide recommended the FUE method of extracting the hairs from the back of my head.

They explained that the FUT method involves cutting a strip of skin with plenty of hairs on it, but this leaves a scar that would be visible if I kept my hair short.

The FUE method involves removing the hairs individually, this takes longer and costs more but there is less scarring.

The hair transplant prices displayed on this page are for the FUE method only.

Sessions, Recovery and What to Expect

I was told by all the consultants that the procedure could be completed in one day and wasn’t done under general aesthetic but local painkiller injections.

It was also suggested that the pain isn’t too bad during the procedure but I would feel soreness for a week or two afterwards. One of the consultants compared the after pain to the soreness experienced after having a tattoo.

Apparently, most of the grafts would fall out after a few weeks but after a few months, new hairs will grow through.

The clinics all suggested that I was a good candidate for this treatment as my hair loss was in the typical places; crown and receding hairline.

I’m sure they say that to everyone though.

Did I Book a Treatment?

Not yet.

To be honest, I’d never seriously considered a hair transplant but now the wife has made an issue of it and I’ve seen the prices, it’s something I would consider.

My main concern is the follow-up treatments.

How many will I need and how much will further hair transplants cost?

I know that the footballer Wayne Rooney has had two treatments and several experts claim he needs at least another two sessions.

While one or two sessions would be within my budget, four is out of the question.

FAQs

When sourcing prices for this procedure, I had the chance to ask questions about the procedure and aftercare.

Here are the answers to the questions I asked:

How many hair transplants does the average patient need?

For very mild baldness, one hair transplant should be enough, however, most patients will need a follow-up procedure a few years after the first.

Will hair continue to fall out after the procedure?

The transplanted hair follicles should not fall out but the original hair will continue to do so, hence why a follow-up treatment may be required.

Does the procedure leave scarring?

The FUE procedure, where follicles are removed one by one leaves very little, if any, scarring. The FUT method, which involves cutting a strip of skin from the head, will likely leave a scar.

How long does it take to recover from hair surgery?

You may want to take a few days off work and avoid strenuous exercise for a couple of weeks. Most patients recover quickly although you’ll need to protect the hair for a few days to stop the hair from being pulled out by clothing, bed pillows and hats etc.

This guide to hair transplant costs was written by Danny Woodley and was last updated in April 2022.

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