Before approaching a private clinic, it's important to understand that not everyone is a suitable candidate for hair transplant surgery. Medical conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune disorders, or skin conditions affecting the scalp can reduce graft survival or increase complication risk. For this reason, the first step should always be a visit to your GP.
Your GP can:
Review your medical history
Identify any underlying causes of hair loss
Order relevant blood tests if needed
Advise whether you're medically fit for surgery
This basic health check is crucial, especially if you're considering a procedure involving several thousand grafts, which may require sedation or prolonged anaesthesia. It's not about formality—it's about protecting your long-term health and ensuring any intervention is safe and appropriate.
If you're in Sheffield, consider booking with one of the following GP clinics:
Porter Brook Medical Centre, 9 Sunderland Street, Sheffield, S11 8HN
The Sloan Medical Centre, 2 Little London Road, Sheffield, S8 0YH
Sharrow Lane Medical Centre, 226 Sharrow Lane, Sheffield, S11 8AL
Each of these practices can provide general health assessments, and may also help with early referral to a dermatologist if your hair loss has complex or unclear causes.
Most UK clinics now favour the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) technique. This method removes individual follicular units from the donor area and implants them directly into thinning or bald patches. It causes minimal scarring, has faster recovery times, and suits most hair types.
FUE can be done under local anaesthetic, but the procedure is long—often 6 to 10 hours—and requires you to remain still throughout. That’s another reason why your general health needs assessing before surgery. Recovery typically involves 10–14 days of modified activity, with small scabs forming and falling off naturally. The newly transplanted follicles then shed within weeks before regrowing over 6 to 12 months.
In Sheffield, prices for an FUE hair transplant generally range from £2,500 to £5,000, depending on the number of grafts required. A small 1,000 graft case may cost just under £3,000, whereas a larger 3,000 graft procedure will approach £5,000 or more. Always ask what is included in the quoted price—some clinics charge extra for PRP treatments or aftercare products.
Unlike Turkey or Eastern Europe, UK clinics operate under strict GMC and Care Quality Commission (CQC) oversight. This means more transparent pricing and a safer environment—but the added regulation is reflected in the price. You are also more likely to receive proper follow-up care, which is critical in the first 12 months post-op.
when you are looking to find a local hair transplant clinic it should begin with checking surgeon credentials. Look for GMC registration, with a declared specialty in dermatology or surgery, and experience with FUE procedures specifically. You can verify this using the GMC register (www.gmc-uk.org). For clinic standards, check if the provider is listed by the Care Quality Commission, and look for transparency in advertising, realistic before-and-after images, and a non-pushy consultation process.
No two cases of hair loss are the same. The pattern, rate of progression, donor availability, and scalp condition all vary. That’s why consultation with a qualified practitioner—not a salesperson—is essential. You should leave a consultation understanding your Norwood grade, the number of grafts available and needed, and whether non-surgical treatments could help.
Some patients benefit from a mixed approach. Finasteride and topical minoxidil (both licensed in the UK) can stabilise progression, while PRP therapy can improve post-op recovery and growth. In others, surgery is not advised at all due to unrealistic expectations or ongoing health issues.
If you're unsure where to begin, start with your GP. Let them help assess your health, rule out treatable causes of hair loss, and confirm you're fit to undergo elective surgery. It’s a simple but often overlooked step—and one that could save you significant time, money, and stress later.
A recent review published in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery outlines standard pre-operative assessment for hair transplant candidates and highlights the importance of patient selection for achieving good outcomes. See:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24017976/