The hair transplant industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by increasing societal acceptance and high-profile endorsements.
It used to be something people whispered about, but now it’s a booming business.
From TikTok testimonials to Turkish clinics, hair transplants have entered the mainstream and show no signs of slowing down.
According to data from Precedence Research, the global hair transplant market was valued at $7.62billion (£6billion) in 2024 and is projected to reach approximately $49.06billion (£38.6billion) by 2034, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.47%.
Europe, in particular, held a substantial market share of 34% in 2024, indicating a strong regional interest in hair restoration solutions.
Audiences have witnessed high profile celebrities who’ve gone public about undergoing hair restoration at clinics like Wimpole Clinic on Harley Street, London.
One example is England Test cricket captain Ben Stokes, who shared his transformation publicly.
Stokes, among others, is helping shift the discourse from taboo to transparency and many testimonies point to improved mental health following surgery.
In England’s capital, it’s no surprise prices are typically higher than in Turkish clinics.
But for many clients visiting a London surgery like Richard Lobb, 27, from Dulwich, security and aftercare outweigh the cost.
Lobb said: “With being in my 20s and seeing my hair fall out week in, week out, it was really tough to accept.
“So many factors played a part in my decision, but it was mainly about my self-esteem.
“Last year, I finally felt less ashamed to go ahead with the operation, after years of fearing what people would think.”
Lobb began noticing more and more advertisements across the city.
He said: “On the tube, I couldn’t ignore the [Belgravia Centre] poster of a man’s hair transformation.
“And increasingly, my TikTok feed was full of celebrities of before-and-after images.
“I scoured the internet for months to wise up on the topic, and finally booked a consultation at a London clinic.
“I chose a local one out of convenience – I wanted the ability to return if something ever happened.
“The results are amazing and it has given me a confidence I’d forgotten I once had.
“I’m a lot happier.”
Demand is surging among young men
Data from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS, 2022) shows that in 2010, 33,194 surgical restoration procedures were performed in Europe.
In 2021, that number jumped to 112,742, representing a 240% increase.
Social media exposure is a key driver, especially among younger men.
According to recent research, 95% of first-time hair transplant patients in 2024 were aged 25-35, compared with the 2000s, when most were between 30-45.
Today, just 2.8% of first-time patients fall into the 36-45 age group.
Medical expertise and London’s premium clinics
Hair transplant surgeon Dr Mary Lopresti said: “Let’s be clear, the rise in patient numbers isn’t because people are suddenly more vain, it’s because they’re more educated.
“They’re focused on finding qualified surgeons who perform their own surgeries, not handing them off to unlicensed techs at shady clinics overseas.”
The Wimpole Clinic reports success rates between 97% and 100%, scoring above the industry standard.
Such stats help boost public confidence in the procedure.
Influencer visibility and changing perceptions
Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have made hair transplant journeys more visible than ever.
Influencers now document every stage – from pre-op nerves to hairline reveals.
The TikTok below, for instance, has over 26 million views:
Wayne Rooney is widely credited with kickstarting the UK trend back in 2011 when he tweeted openly about getting his transplant.
Since then, influencers, YouTubers and reality TV stars have followed suit, from Love Island’s Jack Fincham to YouTuber Mike Majlak (3M subscribers), whose transplant video has racked up nearly two million views.
Comments under the video show a shift in public curiosity, where questions about cost, pain, and recovery dominate.
This visibility is mirrored in Google Trends data, with the search term ‘hair transplant’ displaying a consistent upward trajectory and a notable spike around 2011, when Rooney went public.
The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS, 2018) report noted social media as a key driver behind people’s decision making.
The report outlined the effects it had on people’s self-perception both on and off camera, with a large impact on surgery and cosmetic practice rates.
AAFPRS president Dr Mary Lynn Moran said: “The technology is improving at an accelerated pace, making less invasive options with little downtime more accessible and enticing.”
Innovation: From hair plugs to high-tech precision
In the past, most transplants were performed using FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation), where a strip of hair is surgically removed.
While groundbreaking at the time, it’s now seen as invasive and dated, and the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) method has since become the standard.
This involves extracting individual follicle units using a specialist tool and re-implanting them to bald areas of the scalp, offering better precision and reduced scarring.
Some London clinics now incorporate robotic assistance to reduce human error and minimise surgeon fatigue.
London: The UK capital of hair transplants
In the UK, 39% of all hair transplant clinics are based in London.
Of these, 26% are on Harley Street, the street famous for its specialist medical care.
Gone are the days of patchy hair plugs from the 1970s, and using large grafts which produced a peculiar looking outcome.
Patients now know they can receive treatment from surgeons with experience in the profesion, to ensure natural-looking results.
London offers what many overseas clinics cannot in continuity of care, proximity and regulation.
Many Brits opt for cheap medical tourism, but this can disappoint with cases of people seeking repair surgery when returning to England’s capital.
In line with this, a recent survey by the Wimpole Clinic found that of 57 clinics listed on Google, only 28 had registered surgeons with the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery, a leading professional body for ethical and qualified practitioners.
Yet with social media visibility, improved techniques, and growing public acceptance, the industry is seeing its most significant expansion to date.
Once a niche or stigmatised procedure, hair transplantation is now a multi-billion pound market and London sits at the heart of it.
Featured image credit: All-Pro Reels via Flickr under CC BY-SA 2.0
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