Frequently Asked Questions

Hair loss in women may occur for many reasons and similar to hair loss in men is often caused by androgenetic alopecia hair loss. Most women typically retain the hairline on the forehead but experience thinning across the crown of their head. Other causes of hair loss in women include hormone imbalance, physical or emotional stress, shock, nutrient deficiency medical conditions, treatments and factors such as poor hair kept practices.

Male pattern baldness is the process by which genetic hair loss occurs in a man. It is measured against a scientific index called the Hamilton-Norwood Scale which identifies seven key stages of natural hair loss, commonly experienced on the hairline, temples and then crown on the head. All hair on a man’s scalp follows growth cycles but these cycles become weaker over time due to the ageing process and genetic profile of each man.

Female pattern baldness is the process by which genetic hair loss occurs in a woman. It is measured on the Ludwig scale which shows three key stages of hair loss. Also called androgenetic alopecia, female pattern baldness begins on the crown of the head, often along a centre parting line before the hairline recedes. Like men, women’s hair grows in cycles which become weaker with age until hair loss occurs in line with the genetic predisposition of the woman.

At present, there is no cure for natural hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia. While no cure currently exists, scientists continue to work towards breakthroughs which could cure baldness for good but at present no cure is in sight or anticipated. Nevertheless, treatments which reverse balding have advanced extensively during recent years and men and women can recover a full head of hair even after a significant amount of hair loss has occurred.

MHR Clinic provides every client with a thorough consultation during which we perform an extensive assessment of your hair and hair loss using advanced microscopic camera technology. This enables us to give you a clear expectation about your potential to regain a full head of hair. We will be able to determine the number of follicles we will need to transplant and the capacity of your donor areas to provide them. In addition, we can judge the extent to which we can recover hair growth from dormant follicles using medications and laser therapy. Certain medical conditions, such as haemophilia, make some people unsuitable for a hair transplant. A full assessment of each client’s medical history is part of our consultation process.

MHR Clinic does not perform hair transplants on anyone under the age of 25 years-old without strong reason, as a person’s fully developed adult hair pattern is not properly in place before the age of 25. To perform a hair transplant before an adult hair pattern has been fully formed risks creating an unnatural appearance and distribution of hair later in a client’s life. However, in rare cases of medical necessity or the need for immediate corrective action, some procedures may be undertaken on clients under the age of 25. Adults can be suitable candidates for a hair transplant up to any age, so long as a person has a sufficient number of donor hairs to carry out a procedure.

Yes. MHR Clinic has an exceptionally high rate of hair transplant success. Our record of producing results that clients want leads us to believe there is no more successful hair transplant clinic in the UK. As a result of our high success rate, we guarantee the results of our hair transplants in all cases where clients have followed their hair restoration programme and our advice fully. As part of our guarantee, if a client is unsatisfied with the results of their hair transplant and we have not achieved more than a 95 percent yield from their hair transplant we promise undertake additional treatments and surgery, and whatever other measures are necessary, to address the situation until client satisfaction is achieved.

MHR Clinic’s hair transplant procedures are undertaken in our state-of-the-art surgery at ‘MHR Manchester’, located in a modern barn conversion in the quiet surrounds of Cherry Tree Farm on the Tatton Estate near Knutsford, Cheshire. The clinic houses the most advanced hair restoration technology and equipment know to the hair restoration industry, as well as its most talented and valued staff.

MHR Clinic will be more than happy to put you in touch with other clients who have had a hair transplant through our service once they have given their consent to be approached.

Modern hair transplant techniques, involving individual follicle extraction and implantation, result in a very natural looking head of hair. Our surgeons are skilled in ensuring the hair follicles they transplant are positioned carefully to match the natural pattern, waves and curls of each client’s hair. It is likely that no one will be able to tell you have had a hair transplant, unless of course they knew you from days when you were experiencing hair loss prior to your procedure.

The price of your hair transplant procedure will be determined by how many follicles you need to have transplanted. We’ll have a clearer idea of the final fee once we have conducted a thorough examination of your hair and assessed the number of follicle required to produce a covering of hair on your crown, hairline and above your temples. However, with prescribed medication and laser therapy we can reduce the number of follicles needed and the cost of hair transplantation. On average MHRs hair transplants cost as little as £1500 through to £6000+. The price is always dependent on the type of procedure, hair type, duration and quantity. For an accurate cost, please attend a consultation with our team.

Your MHR consultants will guide you through steps to take in the lead up to your hair transplant. These will include changes to your medical treatment plan in the two weeks prior to your hair transplant. You will also be advised of the times you are to attend the clinic and guidance around activity and travel in relation to your procedure. We advise you on the best ways to prepare your hair, the best clothing to wear so you’re comfortable throughout the procedure as well as ways in which you may calm any nervousness you have. We also encourage clients to relax and undertake any activities in the days prior to a hair transplant that they will not be able to do in the days after their procedure.

Most clients are required to shave their head to a no. 1 or a no. 2 grade crew cut prior to a hair transplant, whether it be the full head of hair or simply section on the back of the head required for the rebuilding of a hairline. While we advise most clients to shave their head (something we can perform at our clinics if necessary), MHR Clinic is one of a few clinics in the UK capable of performing unshaven hair transplant procedures. An option for a letterbox shaving rather than a full head shave could be a  possibility for you.

The clinic advises clients against driving for 24 hours after their hair transplant procedure. Therefore, clients are advised to take a taxi, public transport, or have a friend bring them, to the clinic for their procedure and, likewise, to follow the same travel advice regarding their movements following their procedure.

You will be asked to arrive 90 minutes before your hair transplant procedure begins, so your consultant and surgeon can talk you through the procedure and the events of the day ahead. This time will also be used to complete a small amount of paperwork around the procedure. It also provides enough time for you to take a light sedative which takes effect to relax you for the procedure and application of an anaesthetic.

A hair transplant procedure involves the extraction of healthy hair follicles from an area of the scalp called the ‘permanent donor area’ for placement in an area known as the ‘temporary recipient area’, which is experiencing hair loss. It is performed under local anaesthetic and involves a surgeon and typically two technicians responsible for supporting the surgeon’s work. Patients will spend the first period of the day in a face-down position while a surgeon removes hair follicles with a microscopic, electric punch. They then spend the second part of the day in a face-up position while extracted follicles are implanted with cartridge injectors into a considered, natural hair pattern in and around their crown, hairline and temples.

The duration of your hair transplant procedure will depend on the number of grafts required to give you a full head of hair. Minor procedures may be completed in a matter of three to four hours, while larger procedures may last up to six or seven hours. During a procedure clients will have opportunities to watch television, listen to music or read a magazine. Breaks may also be taken throughout a hair transplant.

Hair transplants are performed under local anaesthetic and clients do not feel any pain during or after the procedure. A small amount of discomfort may be felt from the application of the first and second injections of anaesthesia. However, this discomfort soon subsides and clients experience no sensation of discomfort or pain thereafter. Many report their hair transplant procedure to be a relaxing affair.

Transplanted hair continues to grow in the same manner as the hair on the back or side of the head from where it was taken. It is hair from your ‘permanent donor area’ and will continue to behave in the same way as other hairs in that ‘permanent donor area’. The only hair loss you will experience in the ‘temporary recipient area’ after a hair transplant are hairs which have always grown naturally in that area and are following the typical stages of male pattern baldness in your ‘temporary recipient area’. MHR Clinic preserves the longevity of those existing natural hairs around your crown, hairline and temples with a bespoke medical programme.

MHR Clinic only works with leading hair transplant surgeons who have natural talent, top level qualifications, extensive experience and a good client manner. At present, Dr. Vikas Kunnure is the clinic’s director of surgery. He is an internationally recognised hair transplant surgeon who has performed more than a thousand hair transplant procedures. He is a member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery (BAHRS) and the General Medical Council (GMC). He previously had an extensive medical career as a GP, Medical Registrar and Senior House Officer. Dr. Kunnure is kind and considerate in his approach to clients. He prides himself on the excellent results he achieves for them.  

All of MHR Clinic’s surgeons are highly skilled and qualified. They are registered members of the General Medical Council and the Royal College of Surgeons England. MHR Clinic’s director of surgery, Dr. Vikas Kunnure ISHRS BAHRS GMC GP is one of the UK’s leading Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) surgeons and is affiliated with both the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery

(ISHRS) and British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery (BAHRS).

Dr.Vikas Kunnure will be assisted by two highly qualified hair transplant technicians who aid him in his surgical procedure through the organisation of the clinic surgery, the separation of hair follicles into their correct groupings for implantation, the preparation of follicles for implantation in cartridge injectors so they can be placed studiously into the hairline, crown and recessions of the scalp.

The only risks associated with FUE hair transplant procedures are those commonly associated with other types of surgery. While extremely rare, excessive bleeding, nerve damage and infection are all possible as a result of surgery. However, our surgeon is so well skilled in hair transplantation that these problems are highly unlikely and we have never seen them as a result of one of his procedures.

There are no serious effects to be expected in the short or long term after a hair transplant procedure. After the procedure is complete, you should feel no pain or discomfort. In a very small number of cases, a slight sensitivity or feeling of tingling may occur in the weeks after a hair transplant. This occurs as transplanted follicles attach themselves to nerves in their new environment. This sensation typically lasts for no more than a two week period. In rare cases, a small amount existing hair in the ‘temporary recipient area’ suffers a syndrome known as shock loss. This happens in reaction to follicles being planted in the scalp near to them. We prescribe medicines to stabilise your recipient area before and after your hair transplant and our surgeons use techniques to minimise shock loss. If shock loss occurs these hairs can still return during the regrowth period.

A small amount of minor scabbing can occur around each individual transplanted follicle. This appears as a lightly swollen redness at first, which lasts for a small number of days, before they turn into a series of small dotted scabs. These pinpoint scabs dry quickly and will brush off easily after approximately seven days. Once these tiny scabs have fallen away the hairs in your transplanted follicles will be noticeable for a number of weeks before the will most likely be shed for the growth of new hair shafts coming through behind them.

MHR Clinic advises clients to shampoo the donor area of their hair from 48 hours after their hair transplant while we recommend a mild shampoo applied in small amounts to a soft, wet facecloth is used to shampoo the recipient area from five days after a hair transplant.

You will be asked to see your MHR consultant approximately two weeks after your hair transplant so the results and progress of the procedure can be inspected. At this point, you will be advised to recommence your medical treatment programme. A member of MHR staff will book your next appointment with MHR Clinic on the day of your hair transplant, or in the days following it.

Hair begins to regrow after a hair transplant at different stages for different clients. Many will experience a short period of dormancy during which the hair follicles rest after their transplantation and find their source of nutrition from the scalp by attaching to the scalps blood and nerve supply. It is likely that hair follicles will shed their hair during this time before new hair regrows from the follicle bulb. This shedding process is nothing that should cause alarm.

You will be advised to sleep in a more upright position for the first week after your transplant. This is to ensure minimal abrasion and pressure is experienced by your newly transplanted follicles. Increased care of your hair is needed for two weeks following your hair transplant, until you have had your first post-procedure consultation. It is important, in that period, that you do not undertake any strenuous activities that result in sweating or impact to your head. Swimming should also be avoided.

It is advised for you to not wear a hat or cap post-procedure as the treated area will still be delicate.  Thereafter, care should be taken in regard of chosen headwear to avoid unnecessary abrasion and pressure on newly transplanted follicles.

Many patients feel ready to return to work on the day following their procedure. However, we strongly recommend that clients take at least two days to rest and help stabilize their scalp after a procedure, so follicles have the better chance of securing blood supply and hair growth. For this reason, we advise clients to book up to three days off work to cover the time needed for a hair transplant and immediate recovery.

Air travel is possible from the moment you have left our clinic after a procedure but, as MHR Clinic advises clients neither to swim or sweat in the days after a procedure we advise against travel to hot countries, where you may also risk sunburn. Additionally, sun creams should not be applied to scalp areas which have undergone a hair transplant. Long haul travel or difficulties associated with travel must be avoided to ensure each follicle is stable and has the chance to find its blood supply as soon as possible after a procedure.

Clients are advised to refrain from alcohol intake for seven days after their procedure. It is important to avoid alcohol consumption for up to a week after your hair transplant as this time is vital for the body to supply the new follicles with their initial blood supply. We recommend the supply is as clean and healthy as possible.

The full results of the hair transplant are experienced from between 10 months and 14 months after your hair transplant procedure has been completed. However, many clients, feel happy with the results of their hair transplant after six months, not realising there is still a significant amount of hair regrowth to occur.

FUE hair transplant procedures result in little, if no, scarring. At worst, they leave a series of tiny dots that stand up to close scrutiny and are disguised naturally by the shortest of haircuts, including a no.1 crewcut. MHR also provides excellent advice in how to minimise this minor marking so it becomes undetectable within days.

Some clients only need one hair transplant in a lifetime, especially if they are meticulous in following the medical hair restoration programme we put in place around their hair transplant. Occasionally, clients may feel a top up procedure is needed years later, if further hair loss has been experienced due to increased androgenetic alopecia. MHR Clinic endeavours at every point of the hair transplant to leave as many donor follicles as possible on the back and sides of your head so there is scope to perform further hair transplants later in life. It does this by advising clients to undertake a bespoke medical programme in addition to their hair transplant. In rare cases more than two hair transplants are required in a lifetime.

The majority of our clients experience an increased sense of emotional and psychological wellbeing as a result of reversing their hair loss. Increased confidence, happiness and an overall zest for life can occur as a result of recovering a full head of hair.

FUT procedures are really only applicable to persons with advanced hair loss. For all other circumstances we advise FUE procedures. We advise against a hair transplant if we believe you are too young or if your donor area is too sparse. We will not perform FUT surgery on haemophiliacs or those suffering from Alopecia Areata.

The only risks associated with FUT procedures are those commonly associated with other types of surgery. Excessive bleeding, nerve damage and infection are all possible as a result of surgery but our surgeon is so well skilled in hair transplantation that these problems are highly unlikely and we have never seen them as a result of her FUT work.

In rare cases, some existing hair in the recipient area suffers a syndrome known as shock loss. This happens in reaction to follicles being planted in the scalp. We prescribe medicine to stabilise your recipient area and our surgeons use techniques to minimise shock loss. If shock loss occurs these hairs can still return during the regrowth period.

The price of your FUT procedure will be determined by how many grafts you need to have implanted. We’ll have a clearer idea of the final fee once we have conducted a thorough examination of your hair. However, through prescribed medication and laser therapy we can reduce the cost of FUT. This means that MHR’s prices begin from as little as £2000.

FUT procedures produce greater scarring than other types of hair transplant surgery, such as FUE. FUT hair transplants leave a fine linear scar across the rear of your head. It can be disguised by hair.

Very rarely Dutasteride can result in a slight loss of libido. The likelihood of this happening is extremely low. In such instances you should consult with our GP and can discontinue Dutasteride treatment if you wish. Libido often returns quickly while in a few cases it takes longer. An allergic reaction to Dutasteride has also been found to occur in the form of a rash and swelling. Discontinuing the treatment resolves this issue.

Finasteride and Dutasteride only work for men due to their effect on dyhdrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone created in men when testosterone changes form. Some men benefit more than others from use. There are no differences across ethnic groups. Neither Finasteride nor Dutasteride are suitable for women or children. Pregnant women must not take Finasteride or Dutasteride under any circumstances.

Neither Finasteride nor Dutasteride affect a man’s ability to have a child. Extensive research studies have proven Finasteride and Dutasteride do not affect sperm count, quality or mobility. They have no effect on semen production in men.

There are no known side effects of using Minoxidil. On extremely rare occasions a minor scalp irritation may occur, due to the oils suspended in Minoxidil lotions or the high percentage of Minoxidil contained in a formula. We can change the oil, or its strength, to compensate for any reaction that occurs. Simply advise our staff if you experience this from taking Minoxidil and they’ll take care of the issue for you.

Yes. There have been numerous clinical studies showing Minoxidil causes significant hair growth in both men and women. MHR Clinic frequently prescribes men and women our exclusive high percentage Minoxidil formulas. Used in conjunction with low level laser therapy and herbal medicines they are capable of generating impressive hair restoration results.

Unlike a hair transplant, Minoxidil is not a cure for hair loss. It is a hair loss treatment. You will benefit from Minoxidil for as long as you continue to apply a lotion or shampoo which contains the medication. If you stop taking Minoxidil, within several months of stopping the treatment, you will begin to lose the hair you have gained from its regular application.

Midoxidil is used by men and women of all ages to achieve impressive hair regrowth results. Whether part of a full medical programme or used as a standalone treatment, it promotes greater hair growth. It is a suitable treatment for alopecia areata. The ideal candidate for Minoxidil is a young male who is just starting to bald on the crown area of his scalp.

Low level laser therapy for hair loss was discovered accidentally in 1967. Hungarian physician Endre Mester recorded hair growing back much more quickly on a group of mice receiving LLLT to reduce skin cancers. Since then it has been used widely on people to promote healthy hair growth while other medical applications have also been uncovered, including the acceleration of healing in sports injuries.

A narrow band (600 to 1,060 nanometers) is called the ‘therapeutic window’, within which cold lasers achieve their deepest penetration. The depth of light penetration on the scalp is based on the optical characteristics of the low level laser therapy machine being used. MHR Clinic uses the world’s highest class of laser therapy machines. They have a reach of up to six inches and incorporate technical design to maximise the scalp’s exposure to their light.

No. Cold lasers use average power levels and produce a light spectrum that does not allow heat-damage or carcinogenic (cancer-causing) effects. Due to increased blood circulation and the creation of ATP (which triggers cell regeneration), it is perhaps not recommended to use a cold laser on an area that is suspected to have cancer. However, there is no evidence that this could be a problem.

The only negative consequence of undertaking too much low level laser therapy is the potential stalling of the benefits you seek to achieve. Too much LLLT can have a bio-suppressive effect. However, our clinic staff are experts in ensuring you receive the correct amount of laser therapy for you. They will never allow you to undertake too much low level laser therapy.

In the majority of cases there is absolutely no reaction at all to undertaking PRP injections. In a few instances some mild swelling and redness on the scalp may occur within 36 hours of your procedure. Minimal bruising may occur around the needle sites where PRP injections were administered. If this occurs, it will fade within three days.

Platelet-rich plasma treatments use fluids obtained from a patient’s own body. Therefore, there is no risk of an allergic reaction, the transmission of any disease or the rejection of the plasma injected. All needles used are sterile, new and unpackaged in front of the patient. Furthermore, there is no risk of infection as the nature of PRP treatment is antimicrobial and healing. 

MHR Clinic administers PRP treatments on a monthly basis. We recommend patients with moderate to severe hair loss undertake a six month course of PRP injections. Patients with mild to moderate hair loss are advised to undertake a three or four month course of PRP injections. Most patients will begin to notice the benefits of their PRP injections within six weeks of their first treatment.

Platelet-rich plasma injections have a positive effect on hair growth in the majority of men and women who undertake them. However, responses to the treatment vary from person to person. In a few cases PRP does not work at all. Our practitioners will be quick to spot if you are one of these cases and they will advise at the right moment for you to discontinue your PRP treatments for this reason. PRP is unlikely to have any effect in areas of the scalp where follicles have completely died.

The duration of your SMP procedure is directly related to the amount of scalp it needs to cover. Scalp micropigmentation can be completed in a single sitting of less than three hours for covering smaller areas of skin. Where a full scalp must be covered, your SMP procedure may be undertaken in up to three separate sessions of three hours each.

No. All needles are single use and all equipment is sterilised, in line with the UK’s most rigorous medical and surgical practices. Practitioners wear medical gloves. Your scalp is cleaned with anti-bacterial cleansers throughout your procedure. You may also be prescribed an antibiotic to eliminate any chance of infection. These things ensure there is no risk of infection from your SMP treatment.

Following a SMP procedure, strenuous activity and high intensity exercise should be avoided to prevent sweating for one week. You should not wash or shave your scalp for one week after your treatment. Swimming in a chlorinated pool and the use of sunscreen should be avoided for one month after a SMP procedure.