Is PRP Hair Treatment Expensive?

I often hear people say “PRP works … but it’s expensive.”

And let’s be real—it’s not a cheap treatment. A course of PRP at Growth Factor Hair Clinic costs on average between £900 and £1250, and yearly maintenance is around £600. That’s not pocket change. But does that automatically make it expensive?

It’s totally fair to say PRP can feel like a big spend. But what really matters is value—and value is about what something gives back in return. For many people, PRP turns out to be one of the best investments they’ve ever made in themselves.

Let’s Put the Cost Into Context

PRP for hair loss is a regenerative treatment that uses your body’s own healing potential to keep your hair, stimulate regrowth, and (if you’ve had a transplant) make sure you get the best possible result.

A typical course includes 3-4 sessions, spaced a month apart. After that, the majority of people just need 2 maintenance treatments per year.

• £900–£1200 for the initial course

• ~£600 per year for maintenance

Now compare that to some everyday things we often don’t think twice about:

Most of us already invest in how we look and feel—whether that’s in our haircuts, phones, entertainment, or fitness. PRP sits comfortably alongside these choices. It’s not a quick fix—it’s a long-term investment in confidence and hair health that pays off every day you look in the mirror.

PRP Is Like a Gym Membership—for Your Hair Follicles

Think of PRP as a gym membership for your scalp.

The initial course is like your gym induction and personal training block—it gets everything firing. We’re waking up growth, improving blood flow, and stimulating your follicles in a way no shampoo or supplement can.

After that, maintenance is like your regular gym sessions. You keep going to preserve what you’ve gained and continue improving.

At Growth Factor Hair Clinic, we offer a monthly maintenance plan for £48 per month, which includes:

• Two PRP Hair Growth Treatments per year

• Two free Professional Microneedling Treatments per year

• Access to discounted Well Man Blood Tests

• Reduced pricing on our Growth Factor DNA Hair Test

• Discounts on other hair growth products

That’s less than many gym memberships—and instead of building your body, you’re supporting your scalp, your hairline, and your confidence.

Compared to a Hair Transplant? PRP Is a Bargain: PRP vs Hair Transplant Cost

If you don’t use PRP early and your hair continues to thin, a transplant might be your next option.

Here’s a quick comparison of immediate costs:

Hair transplant surgery is a serious investment. In the UK, it can cost £4000–£9000. In Turkey, even with cheaper packages, once you factor in flights, airport parking, and extras, the real cost is usually £2500–£3500.

PRP, by comparison, is significantly lower in cost—and for many people, it helps delay or avoid the need for transplant altogether.

Or, if you’ve already had a hair transplant, it protects the result and supports the rest of your native (non-transplanted) hair to stay strong.

The Hidden Cost of Not Doing PRP

What happens if you don’t do PRP?

• Your hair may continue thinning unchecked

• You may need a transplant earlier

• You’re more likely to need more than one hair transplant

• Your native hair might not survive around transplanted grafts

• You may never quite feel happy with your hair, even post-surgery

• You lose the chance to preserve what you had

PRP is most effective when started early. If you wait until your hair is already gone, that window of opportunity to preserve passes.

PRP vs Hair System Cost

Another common comparison is with non-surgical options like hair systems (wigs - glued hair systems, taped hair systems, mesh integration hair systems). These can cost upwards of £1500 per year, every year, for fittings, maintenance, and replacements. Hair systems also need maintenance every 2-3 weeks, taking a lot of time out of your schedule.

PRP maintenance costs far less in the long run:

Note:

A well-performed hair transplant doesn’t usually require ongoing costs—but PRP is one of the best ways to protect and optimise your results. It improves graft survival, enhances density, and preserves native hair that’s still vulnerable to thinning.

PRP isn’t a replacement for a hair transplant—it’s often the ideal companion before, during, and after surgery.

Why Do the NHS and Alopecia UK Call PRP Expensive?

Because it’s not free.

The NHS and charities like Alopecia UK use the term “expensive” to describe any treatment not available on the NHS. Other valuable life changing treatments that are not available on the NHS include:

• Laser eye surgery

• Fertility treatment

• Private therapy

• Cosmetic dentistry, invisalign, teeth whitening

These aren’t free, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t valuable or effective. It just means they fall outside what’s covered by public funding.

Likewise PRP isn’t less valid because it isn’t funded. You just have to choose for yourself if it’s the right investment for you.

Time Commitment: A Hidden Cost Worth Considering

There’s a big difference between the ongoing time commitment of different hair loss treatments. Time off work might mean loss of earnings, so it’s worth factoring in to costs.

In the initial stage:

• Hair Transplant in UK - 1 day plus recovery time

• Hair Transplant in Turkey - 3-5 days plus recovery

• Hair system - 2 appointments

• PRP - 3-4 appointments

Maintenance time commitment is really worth thinking about because this is ongoing and the higher maintenance option like hair systems can really eat into your precious time.

• Hair Transplant maintenance - eg PRP for native hair maintenance - 2 per year

  
  

• Hair system - around 22 appointments per year (1 appointment every 2-3 weeks)

  
  

• PRP - 2 per year

The Emotional Weight of Hair Systems

Wearing a hair system can quickly give you a massive confidence boost and if you have no hair or very little hair on top, they can change your appearance drastically. But every 2-3 weeks, you have to go through the painful process of removal and replacement. Some people find this quite emotionally distressing, especially as their hair growth under the system usually gets worse. There’s also the constant fear of being found out—or of the system coming loose at the worst moment.

These factors can make wearers feel vulnerable and like they’ve swapped one problem - hair loss - for the fear of being exposed as a wig wearer.

Hair transplant and PRP don’t carry that burden, there is no hiding, no worry about discovery.

Hygiene and Scalp Health: A Hidden Biological Cost

Glued and taped hair systems often create poor hygiene conditions underneath, as the scalp can’t be properly cleaned for weeks.

Smells and infections can result, which can be a problem for wearers, causing insecurity.

PRP on the other hand improves scalp health.

Final Thoughts

PRP isn’t free. But it’s not outrageously expensive either—not compared to the things many of us already spend money on every year.

If your hair matters to you, PRP might be one of the best decisions you make—especially if you start early.

Book a consultation if you’re curious. There’s no pressure—just facts, expert advice, and an honest conversation about what’s right for you.

Don’t let the word expensive stop you from discovering what’s possible.

Thanks for reading,

Gwen

Dr Gwen Adey BDS MFDS RCS

About Dr Gwen Adey