Our price guide
| Treatment | Typical cost in Ireland | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Hair loss consultation | €50 to €250 | A trichologist at the lower end, a doctor-led assessment at the top. Some transplant clinics don't charge for the first one |
| Minoxidil 5%, three-month pack | €50 to €85 | Foam or liquid, and which pharmacy. No prescription needed |
| Finasteride 1mg, 12 weeks | €79, or €145 for 24 weeks | Men only, on prescription. Add the doctor's fee: online from €20 |
| PRP, one session | €225 to €400 | The area treated and the system used. A course of four from about €1,200 |
| Low-level laser, clinic course | €200 to €400 | The number of sessions in the course |
| Exosome or polynucleotide session | €275 to €399 | Newer injections with little evidence so far. Ask what's in them |
| Scalp micropigmentation | €500 to €2,500 | A hairline or scar at the lower end, a full scalp at the top |
| Hair transplant | €1,500 to €10,000 | The number of grafts (about €3 to €4 each), FUE or FUT, and who does the work. Most are €3,500 to €9,500 |
| Wig, topper or hair system | €400 to €800 and up | Synthetic or human hair. Up to €500 a year back for hair loss from illness |
What a clinic price should include
- An examination of your scalp and a named diagnosis
- The treatment itself and any numbing
- Aftercare instructions, and review visits where the clinic lists them
What pushes it up or down
- Up: a larger area, more grafts or sessions, a doctor doing all of the work, human-hair pieces
- Down: early thinning that needs medicine alone, buying three-month packs, a course booked together
- Not a factor: the county. Prices outside Dublin sit in the same ranges
Prices in euro, private. Our guide, not a quote: the clinic or pharmacy sets your price, and a clinic should give it to you in writing.
The cost over a year
Medicines are a running cost, because they work only while you use them. Minoxidil is four three-month packs a year. Finasteride is a little over four 12-week packs, plus the prescription. PRP is a course and then top-ups. A transplant is one large bill, usually with a medicine afterwards to protect the rest.
Who pays
You, in most cases. Pattern hair loss is treated as cosmetic, so it's private. Your GP can tell you if a medicine is covered by your medical card or the Drugs Payment Scheme.
Revenue gives no tax relief on cosmetic procedures. Doctors' fees and prescribed medicines for a diagnosed medical condition can qualify for relief at the standard rate of 20%, so keep your receipts and check with Revenue.
Health insurance plans normally exclude cosmetic treatment. Ask your insurer in writing before you assume anything is covered.
If your hair loss comes from an illness or its treatment, such as cancer treatment or certain types of alopecia, the Treatment Benefit Scheme pays up to €500 once a calendar year towards a wig or hairpiece, if you or your partner have enough PRSI contributions. It doesn't cover hair loss from ageing.
Before you pay a clinic
- Get the full price in writing, with what's included.
- Ask what happens, and what you pay, if it doesn't work.
- Don't pay for a year's course up front.
- Hair loss is never an emergency sale. If a clinic pushes you to pay a deposit on the day, walk away and take your time.
Questions people ask
How much is a hair loss consultation?
€50 to €250 in our guide. Some transplant clinics don't charge for the first consultation.
What is the lowest-cost treatment that works?
Minoxidil from a pharmacy, at €50 to €85 for three months, has good evidence for pattern hair loss in men and women.
Why do transplant prices vary so much?
The number of grafts, who does the work, and what's included. A hairline needs far fewer grafts than a hairline and crown together.