How to check a hair transplant clinic is safe before you book
3 November 2026
A hair transplant is surgery, even when it is sold like a beauty treatment. In England that means the clinic has to meet the same basic rules as any other independent hospital. You can check most of them yourself in about ten minutes, for free, before you pay a deposit.
1. Find the clinic on the CQC register
In England, independent clinics and hospitals that carry out cosmetic surgery must be registered with the Care Quality Commission, according to the NHS guide to hair transplants. The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners goes further: its hair restoration information sheet says the surgery must take place in a CQC-registered facility and that the registration should be on display for patients.
Search the CQC website for the clinic’s name and, more importantly, its address. A registration belongs to a location. A company with a registered clinic in one city can still operate an unregistered room somewhere else.
If you are in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the regulators are Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.
2. Read the rating and the date on it
Each registered clinic has a rating of Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate, with a date. Look at both.
- The date matters. A Good rating from several years ago tells you how the clinic ran then. Ask whether the team, the owner or the address has changed since.
- Read the report, not just the rating. The full report says what inspectors saw: how consent was taken, who did which parts of the procedure, and how infections and complications were handled.
- An archived record is a warning sign if the clinic is still advertising at that address. It can simply mean the clinic moved or changed owner, so ask which registration covers the room you will be treated in.
Every clinic on our register shows its rating, the date and a link to the full report.
3. Check the doctor, not only the clinic
Hair restoration is invasive surgery that should only be done by a doctor licensed by the General Medical Council, according to the JCCP. The NHS advises checking that the surgeon is on the GMC register with a licence to practise.
The Royal College of Surgeons notes that a GMC licence is the legal minimum for private cosmetic surgeons, and does not by itself show specialist training. The NHS also points to the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery, which lists its members on its website.
4. Ask who does each part of the procedure
Much of a hair transplant is done by assistants. The JCCP says assistants may be nurses or have no medical training, and that they should not make the incisions, including FUE incisions and the cuts where grafts are placed. It also says patients should be clear about who they are consenting to be operated on by.
So ask, in writing, who will make the incisions on the day and whether that person will be in the room for the whole procedure.
Questions to ask at your consultation
| Ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which CQC registration covers the room I’ll be treated in? | Registrations belong to an address, not a brand. |
| What is the surgeon’s name and GMC number? | You can check it on the GMC register in a minute. |
| Who makes the incisions, and what will assistants do? | Assistants shouldn’t carry out surgical steps. |
| How many of these procedures do you do, and how many had complications? | The NHS suggests asking both. |
| What does aftercare include, and who do I call if something goes wrong? | Problems after surgery should go back to the treating clinic first. |
| What is the total price and the refund policy on the deposit? | NHS figures put UK costs anywhere from about £1,000 to £30,000. |
Take your time
The Royal College of Surgeons advises meeting the surgeon who will operate on you and taking at least two weeks after the consultation to decide. Limited-time discounts are not a reason to book, and if you feel pressured, it suggests going elsewhere.
If something goes wrong
Contact the clinic first. If you have concerns about the care you received, you can tell the CQC, and concerns about a doctor’s conduct go to the GMC, as the NHS guide sets out.