Receding hairlines be gone! The ‘lunch hour hair transplant’ promises to restore thinning locks – but would YOU try it?

Men suffering from hair loss and receding hairlines are now opting for a treatment that they could get on their lunch break. 

Decades ago, those who were insecure about their hair fading tresses have covered up their scalp with a hat or accepted their fate. 

But now there is a new convenient surgery that some are opting for in a bid to get their locks back – and it costs a fraction of the price of some hair transplants. 

Micrografting uses the person’s own skin tissue to prevent further loss and stimulate existing follicles to grow longer and thicker – with minimal scarring reported by patients.

Ouronyx, based near Green Park in London, offers the treatment and says it is ‘virtually pain free and leaves no scarring,’ whereas some people may have to take up to two weeks off work after having a hair transplant. 

The procedure costs £2,950. According to the NHS, a hair transplant – for comparison – can cost anywhere from £1,000 to £30,000. 

The company initially first tried out the micrografting Jean-Marc Choblet, who is originally from France. Pictured L-R: Before treatment and six months after 

Small skin grafts are taken from the back of the hairline and near the neck, where the strongest follicles are found. 

These are then processed in a specialised device to extract progenitor cells and growth factors and they are then mixed together and injected back into the areas where hair is sparse. 

This treatment only takes one hour, is performed under local anaesthetic – with, typically, only one session needed.

The company initially first tried out the micrografting on patient Jean-Marc Choblet, who is originally from France.

He said he had wanted to do something about his hair loss for ‘a long time’ but was never happy with the treatments on offer for his condition – androgenic alopecia.

‘The injections were carried out while using a vibrating device to distract me from the needle which meant I could relax and didn’t feel any pain or stress,’ Jean-Marc recounted.

‘The whole treatment took a total of one hour and I left with no scarring, able to go straight back into my office. 

‘The very small biopsy points healed within a week and were practically invisible. Three months later I went to see my hairdresser for my regular hair trim, and he immediately noticed a difference in my hair. 

A 32-year-old client said he didn’t want to spend too much money on a hair loss solution and decided to try micrografting. Pictured L-R: Before treatment and six months after

‘I started to see a new thickness in the crown area of my hair and the quality of the follicle of my hair has improved.’

The micrografting technology costs £2,950 per treatment, whereas hair transplants can cost between £1,000 to £30,000 depending on the extent of the hair loss and the quality of clinic you choose, according to the NHS. 

Similarly, a 51-year-old male, who is a CEO and board member of several charitable organisations, who opted for the procedure said he needed a quick and easy solution to his thinning hair. 

He considered having a hair transplant but decided against it due to his busy schedule. 

He booked into the clinic, where he was told he was in the early to middle stages of male pattern baldness.

A 3D hair scan after having the short treatment revealed a 25 per cent increase in hair thickness in at the front and back of the scalp. 

He said: ‘I no longer worry about how my hair looks. The results speak for themselves. I feel more youthful and more confident with the image I want to project in my career and personal life. 

‘Losing my hair had started to affect my self-confidence, especially in professional settings. 

‘But now, after this treatment, I feel revitalised, and it shows in the way I carry myself. This treatment didn’t just change my hair; it changed how I see myself. I’m more self-assured. 

‘The fact that the procedure took less than an hour with no downtime was a huge plus, given my busy schedule. Considering the minimal time commitment and no recovery period, this treatment was a game-changer for me.’

Micrografting also helped a 29-year-old man with his hair loss, which had begun at a relatively young age. Pictured top to bottom: Before the treatment and six months after

Dr Marco Nicoloso at Ouronyx said: ‘Micrografting is an incredibly effective treatment and far less invasive than a hair transplant. 

‘It uses the same components found naturally in the skin, which the body recognises when they are injected back into the scalp. 

‘Unlike other treatments like PRP, it includes progenitor cells, which are key for stimulating hair growth.’

Micrografting does not create new hair on the scalp, but the clinic claims it will encourage existing follicles to grow and become thicker and fuller. 

Another 32-year-old client, who works in finance, noticed he was losing hair in his late twenties. 

He was concerned that it was making him look older than he was and he was later diagnosed with male pattern hair loss.

The client didn’t want to splash out on a hair transplant and decided to look into micrografting and his hair grew thicker after treatment.

Male-pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss, affecting 6.5 million men in the UK and it can cause a lack of low self-esteem and in some cases, depression, according to the NHS.

He said: ‘I used to feel years older than I actually am, and it really affected how I saw myself, especially in my career. 

‘I had been looking into different hair loss treatments for a while now and I didn’t feel like any of the treatments out there addressed all of my concerns. I didn’t have the time to go for the 10-12 treatments needed for PRP treatment. 

A 51-year-old male, who is a CEO considered having a hair transplant but decided against it due to his busy schedule and instead tried micrografting. Pictured top to bottom: Before the treatment and six months after

‘But Micrografting was a great one treatment solution which actually worked. 

‘Seeing my hair grow back has given me a new sense of confidence. I have had comments from so many of my friends and family on how different I look. I feel like I look my age again, and it’s made a big difference both personally and professionally. 

‘I didn’t realise how much my hair loss was affecting my self-esteem until I started seeing results. Now, I walk into meetings without that nagging feeling that people are noticing my thinning hair.’

Micrografting also helped a 29-year-old man with his hair loss, which had begun at a relatively young age. 

He said that he feels a more confident going out to social events no longer feels self-conscious about his hair. 

The man – who works in the mobility sector – was concerned about his appearance for future events and wanted a quick solution. 

He had the treatment done and was able to return to work immediately after having the treatment. Within six months, he was able to notice an increase in the thickness of his hair. 

He said: ‘I wasn’t sure how effective the results would be. But it was clear after four months, I started seeing the results. 

‘All over the front of my crown new hairs started to grow and by six months there was a clear difference to the thickness of my hair. I no longer worry about my thinning hair, and it feels amazing.

‘Knowing my hair is thicker and healthier has completely changed how I feel about myself – I’m no longer self-conscious about my appearance.’

‘I walked out of the clinic in under an hour and was back at work.’