What causes male pattern hair loss?

Male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is caused by a genetic sensitivity to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that shrinks hair follicles over time. It affects approximately 50% of men over 50. The two clinically proven treatments are finasteride (a prescription-only medicine that blocks DHT production) and minoxidil (an over-the-counter topical that stimulates regrowth).

How are private hair-loss treatment costs structured in the UK?

UK private hair-loss services typically have several service-level cost components: an initial clinical assessment (often a photo or video consultation), a prescriber review, ongoing review consultations, and the dispensing pharmacy's medicine cost. Finasteride and dutasteride are prescription-only medicines; UK Human Medicines Regulations 2012 restrict advertising prescription medicines to the public, so TreatCompare does not display medicine-brand prices. Minoxidil (OTC) typically costs £10–£30 per month from any UK pharmacy.

Is minoxidil or finasteride better for hair loss?

Finasteride and minoxidil work differently and are often combined for best evidence-based results. Finasteride (oral tablet, prescription-only) blocks DHT production and slows or stops further hair loss in around 90% of men. Minoxidil (topical, over the counter) stimulates hair regrowth at the application site. Many specialists recommend using both together. Suitability is a clinical decision for the prescriber.

UK Hair Loss Treatment — Patient Information & Provider Directory

Patient information on UK hair-loss treatment routes from 8 verified UK providers. Service-level cost components for prescription medicines (the medicine itself is priced by the dispensing pharmacy), OTC minoxidil pricing, and surgical hair-transplant costs (FUE / FUT). UK regulations restrict the advertising of prescription medicines to the public, so medicine-brand prices are not displayed.

Important information for UK consumers

Finasteride and dutasteride are prescription-only medicines (POMs) in the UK. UK Human Medicines Regulations 2012 restrict the advertising of prescription medicines to the public. This page is general patient information about hair-loss treatment routes — not an advertisement, not an offer of sale, and not medical advice. Whether finasteride or dutasteride is clinically appropriate for you is a decision for a UK-registered prescriber following a consultation. The medicine itself is priced by the dispensing pharmacy at the point of dispensing. Minoxidil is over-the-counter and is therefore priced openly; hair-transplant surgery is not a POM and procedure prices are also published.

8 providers comparedVerified 24 May 2026

Finasteride patient info

Service-cost framework

Hair Transplant Cost

FUE & FUT pricing

Manual vs Sons vs Numan

UK service comparison

Dermatology

Scalp & skin conditions

How are UK hair-loss treatment costs structured in 2026?

UK hair-loss treatments fall into three regulatory classes with different cost framing: Prescription-only medicines (POMs) — finasteride and dutasteride — require a UK-registered prescriber consultation; the medicine itself is priced by the dispensing pharmacy at the point of dispensing and is not advertised on consumer pages under UK rules. Over-the-counter minoxidil is freely priced at £10–£30/month from any UK pharmacy. Surgical hair transplant (FUE) from £3,000 in the UK and from £1,500–£3,500 in Turkey. Combined finasteride + minoxidil is the standard evidence-based approach; suitability is a clinical decision for the prescriber.

Read the Manual vs Sons vs Numan service comparison

Market data: minoxidil (monthly, OTC)

5 providers · May 2026

Lowest observed

£10

per month

Typical price

£15

per month

Highest observed

£30

per month

Hair transplant (FUE): £3,000 – £10,000

PRP per session: £200 – £500

Prescription medicine (POM): Service-level cost; medicine priced by dispensing pharmacy

Notable UK hair-loss treatment routes providers

Providers that stand out on specific attributes. Based on verified data — not a recommendation.

OTC minoxidil

from £10/month

Lowest published price

Over-the-counter topical from any UK pharmacy. No prescription required.

NHS GP consultation

Free

Includes most services

Where the GP and local commissioning agree, finasteride can be NHS-prescribed at the standard prescription charge.

The Treatment Rooms

from £2,500

Lowest published price

Lowest-priced FUE hair transplant from a doctor-led London clinic.

Harley Street Hair Clinic

from £3,000

Widest range

Leading FUE specialist. Free consultation. Full aftercare programme.

Treatment routes & cost framework

Finasteride (prescription-only medicine)

Set by dispensing pharmacy

Service-level cost only

Finasteride is a UK prescription-only medicine for male pattern hair loss in adult men. It is supplied only with a valid UK prescription from a registered prescriber after a clinical assessment. The medicine itself is priced by the dispensing pharmacy; UK Human Medicines Regulations 2012 restrict the advertising of prescription medicines to the public, so medicine prices are not displayed on consumer pages.

Takes 3–6 months for visible effect. Suitability is a clinical decision for a UK-registered prescriber.

Learn more →NICE BNF: Finasteride ↗

Dutasteride (off-label POM)

Set by dispensing pharmacy

Service-level cost only

Dutasteride is a prescription-only medicine licensed for prostate conditions and used off-label for male pattern hair loss at the prescriber's discretion. The medicine itself is priced by the dispensing pharmacy; brand prices are not displayed on consumer pages under UK rules.

Stronger DHT-blocker than finasteride; used at the prescriber's discretion.

Learn more →NICE BNF: Dutasteride ↗

Minoxidil (OTC)

£15/month

£10 – £30/month

A topical solution or foam applied directly to the scalp that stimulates hair regrowth by increasing blood flow to hair follicles. Available over the counter without prescription. As an OTC medicine, brand+price information is permitted.

Applied twice daily. Visible effect in 3–6 months. Regrowth stops if you stop using it.

MHRA: Minoxidil ↗

Hair loss consultation (service)

Free online

£0 – £100

An initial assessment with a UK-registered prescriber to diagnose the type of hair loss (androgenetic, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium) and recommend treatment. Many online services include the consultation in their subscription fee.

Photo or video review by a UK-registered prescriber. Required before any prescription is issued.

BHNS: Hair conditions ↗

PRP Hair Treatment (per session)

£350

£200 – £500

Platelet-rich plasma therapy — your own blood is drawn, processed to concentrate growth factors, then injected into the scalp to stimulate hair follicle regeneration. A medical procedure, not a POM.

Typically 3–6 sessions needed, 4–6 weeks apart. Evidence is promising but still emerging.

NHS: PRP for hair loss ↗

Hair Transplant FUE

£5,000

£3,000 – £10,000

Follicular Unit Extraction — individual hair follicles are extracted from the back of the head and transplanted to thinning areas. A surgical procedure, not a POM.

1–2 day procedure under local anaesthetic. Final results visible at 12–18 months.

Learn more →GMC: Cosmetic standards ↗

Hair Transplant FUT

£4,000

£2,500 – £7,000

Follicular Unit Transplantation (strip method) — a strip of scalp is removed from the donor area, dissected into individual grafts, and transplanted. Higher graft yield per session. A surgical procedure, not a POM.

Leaves a linear scar hidden by surrounding hair. Lower cost per graft than FUE.

Learn more →BAAPS: Hair transplants ↗

Low-Level Laser Therapy

£400

NHS route

The NHS generally treats male pattern hair loss as a cosmetic condition, so finasteride is not routinely available on the NHS for this indication. Some GPs will prescribe it where they and local commissioning agree, at the standard prescription charge (£9.90 in England, free in Scotland/Wales/NI). Minoxidil is over-the-counter. Hair transplants are not NHS-funded.

Typical wait: GP appointment (1–3 weeks)

Private route

Same-day or next-day appointments. Choose your provider. No referral needed in most cases.

Typical wait: 24 hours – 1 week

When private hair loss treatment makes sense

→

You want a convenient subscription

Online UK providers deliver clinician-reviewed prescriptions monthly. The medicine is priced by the dispensing pharmacy; the service fee covers consultation and review.

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Your GP won't prescribe finasteride

Some GPs treat male pattern hair loss as cosmetic. Online UK clinics have prescribers experienced in prescribing finasteride following clinical assessment.

→

You want a hair transplant

Hair transplants are not available on the NHS. Private clinics offer FUE and FUT procedures with free consultations to assess suitability.

→

You want a combined treatment plan

Some UK private providers offer finasteride + minoxidil plans bundled around their service-level consultation package.

What to check before booking

✓Ask your GP first — finasteride may be available on NHS prescription in your area
✓Check if the consultation is included in the subscription service fee
✓For transplants, confirm the number of grafts included in the quoted price
✓Ask about the cancellation policy for subscription services
✓Verify the prescriber on the GMC, GPhC, NMC or GDC register

Questions to ask a provider

?What are the potential side effects of finasteride?
?How long before I see results from treatment?
?How many grafts do I need for my hair transplant?
?What is included in the aftercare for a transplant?
?Can I switch between treatments if one doesn't work?

Frequently asked questions

How are private hair-loss costs structured in the UK?

Private services have several service-level cost components: clinical assessment, prescriber review, ongoing reviews and the dispensing pharmacy’s medicine cost. UK regulations restrict displaying prescription-medicine prices on consumer pages, so this page describes the service-cost framework, not specific medicine prices.

Minoxidil vs finasteride — which is better?

They work differently. Finasteride (prescription-only) blocks DHT to prevent loss in around 90% of men. Minoxidil (over-the-counter) stimulates regrowth topically. Many specialists recommend using both together for the best results. Suitability is a clinical decision for the prescriber.

How much does a hair transplant cost?

FUE costs £3,000–10,000 (typical £5,000). FUT costs £2,500–7,000 (typical £4,000). Price depends on graft count, surgeon experience and clinic location. Hair transplants are surgical procedures, not POMs, so procedure prices are published.

Can the NHS prescribe hair loss treatment?

Male pattern hair loss is generally treated by the NHS as a cosmetic condition. Some GPs will prescribe finasteride at the standard NHS charge where they agree. Minoxidil is OTC. Hair transplants are not NHS-funded.

Related comparisons

Sources & further reading

NICE BNF — Finasteride — Prescribing information, dosage, side effects, and clinical evidence for finasteride in androgenetic alopecia
MHRA — Minoxidil product information — Regulatory approval, licensed indications, and safety data for minoxidil topical solutions
MHRA — Advertising of medicines (Blue Guide) — UK regulator guidance on what counts as advertising a prescription-only medicine to the public
NHS — Hair loss — NHS guidance on causes of hair loss, when to see a GP, and treatment options
British Hair and Nail Society — Professional body for dermatologists specialising in hair and nail conditions
GMC — Standards for cosmetic surgery — GMC guidance on standards for doctors performing hair transplants and other cosmetic procedures

How we compare UK hair-loss treatment routes

We list UK-registered prescribing services with their service-level offering, OTC minoxidil pricing from UK pharmacies, and surgical hair-transplant procedure prices. We do not pair a prescription-only medicine brand with a price on consumer pages. We do not accept payment for ranking or inclusion.

Guides & articles

In-depth guides and cost breakdowns from the TreatCompare editorial team.

Finasteride UK 2026: Patient Information & Service-Cost Framework

Patient information on finasteride for male pattern hair loss in the UK — NHS vs private routes, service-cost components and what to discuss with a prescriber. UK regulations restrict advertising prescription medicines to the public, so medicine prices are not displayed.

Hair Transplant Cost UK 2026: FUE & FUT Prices Compared

How much does a hair transplant cost in the UK? FUE from £3,000, FUT from £2,500. Includes clinic comparison, what affects price, Turkey alternatives, and financing options.

Manual vs Sons vs Numan 2026: UK Hair-Loss Service Comparison

Service-level comparison of Manual, Sons, and Numan for UK hair-loss treatment. Consultation model, clinical features, app experience and other men's-health services compared. UK regulations restrict displaying prescription-medicine prices on consumer pages.