Hongkonger denied refund despite HK$170,000 hair transplant ‘falling out’ in a year
Consumer Council warns against exaggerated claims of effectiveness after surge in complaints over scalp inflammation, artificial hair detachment
A man who paid HK$170,000 (US$22,000) for a hair transplant has complained that “nearly all” of the initial 1,000 artificial strands fell out within a year – far earlier than the company’s claim that the results would last more than six years, Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has revealed.
Complaints related to hair transplant, hair growth, and hair and scalp care services reached 33, 19 and 13, respectively, between 2023 and 2025.
In one case, a man paid HK$170,000 to a company for a treatment involving the implantation of 2,000 artificial hair strands, with the parlour claiming the results could last around six to eight years.
However, after the second treatment session, the complainant developed inflammation, and the area turned red and sore. He later found that nearly all of the 1,000 artificial hair strands implanted in the initial stages of the procedure had fallen out within a year.
Although staff confirmed the inflammation, the parlour only offered scalp care services eight months later and rejected the man’s refund request. It argued that he had been instructed to properly cleanse the implanted hair and had failed to use the free scalp care services, which worsened his condition.