Microneedling For Hair Loss London. Does It Work?

9 Oct

Yes, for pattern hair loss, particularly when it is combined with minoxidil or PRP. In a landmark 2013 trial, men who added weekly microneedling to minoxidil grew about 4 times more hair in 12 weeks than men who used minoxidil alone, and a 2024 meta-analysis of 8 randomised trials confirmed the benefit. Microneedling works best as part of a plan rather than on its own, and needle depth, frequency and hygiene matter, which is why technique makes a difference.

Key points

In the 2013 trial by Dhurat and colleagues, 100 men were randomised. At 12 weeks, microneedling with minoxidil gave a gain of 91.4 hairs per square centimetre against 22.2 with minoxidil alone.
A 2024 meta-analysis of 8 randomised trials and 472 patients found that adding microneedling to minoxidil increased hair count by an average of about 16 hairs per square centimetre more than minoxidil alone.
Microneedling creates tiny channels in the scalp, which triggers a repair response and improves the absorption of treatments applied afterwards, including PRP.
At The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness, microneedling is from £290 per session, a hair consultation with trichoscopy is from £300, and PRP is from £450 per session or £1,200 for a course of 3.

Interested in microneedling for your hair? Message our doctors on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.

How microneedling helps hair

A microneedling device makes many fine, controlled punctures in the scalp. The small injuries set off a healing response, releasing growth factors and drawing blood flow to the area. Laboratory research suggests this can activate signalling pathways involved in hair growth and wake follicles that have slipped into a resting state.

The channels also stay open for a short time, which lets treatments applied afterwards, such as minoxidil or PRP, reach the follicles more effectively. This is one reason microneedling performs best in combination rather than alone.

What the evidence shows

The landmark trial

The 2013 trial by Dhurat and colleagues in the International Journal of Trichology randomised 100 men with moderate male pattern hair loss to 5 percent minoxidil twice a day, with or without weekly microneedling. At 12 weeks, the microneedling group gained 91.4 hairs per square centimetre, compared with 22.2 with minoxidil alone. 82 percent of the microneedling group reported more than 50 percent improvement, against 4.5 percent in the minoxidil-only group. The authors described it as a pilot study and called for larger trials.

The meta-analysis

A 2024 meta-analysis in Chinese Medicine and Natural Products pooled 8 randomised trials with 472 patients comparing microneedling with minoxidil against minoxidil alone. Hair count rose by an average of 15.8 hairs per square centimetre more with the combination. Hair thickness did not change significantly. Protocols with needles shorter than 1 millimetre and of around 12 weeks showed the largest effects.

With PRP

Microneedling is also used to deliver PRP across the scalp, and many clinics combine the 2. Trials of PRP itself show clear benefit, with a 2025 meta-analysis of 43 randomised trials and 1,877 participants finding it increases hair density. Combining PRP with microneedling makes biological sense, although head-to-head trials of the combination are smaller. See PRP hair treatment London.

Want to know if microneedling suits your hair? Ask our doctors on WhatsApp.

Home rollers or clinic treatment?

Home dermarollers

Home rollers usually have shorter needles and are cheaper. Used gently, hygienically and not too often, they can support minoxidil. The risks come from overuse, blunt or dirty needles, and pressing too hard, which can cause irritation, infection or scarring. Do not apply minoxidil immediately after microneedling at home unless a doctor has advised it, because absorption increases and so can side effects.

Clinic treatment

In clinic, depth and coverage are controlled, the scalp is cleaned and numbed, sterile single-use needles are used, and treatment can be paired with PRP in the same session. Clinic treatment also comes with a diagnosis, which matters because microneedling is not suitable for every type of hair loss.

Who it suits and who it does not

Microneedling is a reasonable choice if

You have male or female pattern hair loss with follicles still present. You are using or planning to use minoxidil or PRP and want to improve the response. You want to avoid hormone-acting medicines such as finasteride. Our guide to the other options is finasteride alternatives.

Another route is usually better if

You have active scalp inflammation, infection or psoriasis on the area. You have a scarring alopecia or alopecia areata, which need a dermatologist-led plan. You have a tendency to keloid scarring or a bleeding disorder. Your shedding is from low iron or a thyroid problem, where correcting the cause comes first. Our blood test guide is the hair loss blood panel.

What to expect

The scalp is cleaned and numbed. Treatment takes around 30 to 45 minutes, longer if combined with PRP. The scalp may look pink and feel tender for 1 to 2 days. Avoid washing your hair for around 24 hours, and avoid swimming, sweaty exercise and hair products for a short time as advised. Sessions are usually spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart, with progress reviewed at 3 and 6 months against standardised photographs. If you start minoxidil at the same time, an early shed can occur, as explained in the minoxidil shedding phase.

What it costs

Flagship Harley Street and Mayfair hair clinics commonly charge £600 to £850 or more per PRP session.

At The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness, there are 3 ways to begin.

A hair consultation with full scalp examination and trichoscopy is from £300, included at the first session when you choose a course.

Microneedling is from £290 per session.

PRP is from £450 per session or £1,200 for a course of 3, and can be combined with microneedling in the same visit.

Ask what your plan would cost. Message us on WhatsApp.

Why people choose The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness

Every treatment is performed by a GMC-registered doctor, and no clinician treats a patient here until they have completed 100 supervised treatments. Every hair plan begins with trichoscopy and a full blood panel, so microneedling is used only where it suits the cause of your hair loss. We see patients at 10 Portman Square in Marylebone and the Light Centre in Belgravia. Across our work we report an 87 percent patient success rate, a 32 percent average density increase at 6 months in hair restoration and more than 187 five-star reviews.

Every option for men and women is set out in the best hair loss treatment for men and the best hair loss treatment for women, and the evidence across treatments is in PRP success rates.

Book your hair consultation. Message us on WhatsApp, email team@thewellnesslondon.com, or call +44 20 3951 3429.

Frequently asked questions about microneedling for hair loss

Does microneedling work for hair loss?

Yes, for pattern hair loss, mainly in combination. In a 2013 trial, microneedling with minoxidil grew 91.4 hairs per square centimetre in 12 weeks against 22.2 with minoxidil alone, and a 2024 meta-analysis of 8 trials confirmed the benefit.

Is microneedling better than PRP for hair?

They work differently and are often combined. PRP has the larger evidence base, with a 2025 meta-analysis of 43 trials, while microneedling is best supported as an addition to minoxidil.

How often should I have microneedling for hair?

In clinic, sessions are usually spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart. Trials with around 12 weeks of treatment showed the largest effects.

Is it safe to microneedle my scalp at home?

Gentle, hygienic use of a short-needle roller is generally low risk, but overuse, dirty needles and heavy pressure can cause irritation, infection or scarring.

Does microneedling hurt?

In clinic, the scalp is numbed first. Most people feel pressure and mild discomfort, and the scalp may feel tender for 1 to 2 days.

How much does microneedling for hair cost in London?

At The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness, microneedling is from £290 per session, and PRP is from £450 per session or £1,200 for a course of 3.

This article is for information and does not replace personal medical advice. All treatments at The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness are performed by GMC-registered doctors. Reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor at The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness. Last updated October 2026.

<script type=“application/ld+json”> { “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@graph”: [ { “@type”: “Organization”, “@id”: “https://thelondonprpclinic.com/#organization”, “name”: “The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness”, “alternateName”: “The London PRP Clinic”, “url”: “https://thelondonprpclinic.com”, “logo”: “https://thelondonprpclinic.com/logo.png”, “email”: “team@thewellnesslondon.com”, “telephone”: “+442039513429”, “sameAs”: [“https://thewellnesslondon.com”, “https://www.instagram.com/londonprpclinic/”] }, { “@type”: “MedicalClinic”, “@id”: “https://thelondonprpclinic.com/#clinic”, “name”: “The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness”, “medicalSpecialty”: [“Dermatology”], “priceRange”: “£££”, “telephone”: “+442039513429”, “email”: “team@thewellnesslondon.com”, “parentOrganization”: {“@id”: “https://thelondonprpclinic.com/#organization”}, “address”: [ {“@type”: “PostalAddress”, “streetAddress”: “10 Portman Square”, “addressLocality”: “London”, “postalCode”: “W1H 6AZ”, “addressCountry”: “GB”}, {“@type”: “PostalAddress”, “streetAddress”: “Light Centre, 9 Eccleston Street”, “addressLocality”: “London”, “postalCode”: “SW1W 9LX”, “addressCountry”: “GB”} ], “areaServed”: “London”, “aggregateRating”: {“@type”: “AggregateRating”, “ratingValue”: “4.9”, “reviewCount”: “187”, “bestRating”: “5”}, “hasOfferCatalog”: { “@type”: “OfferCatalog”, “name”: “Microneedling and PRP for hair”, “itemListElement”: [ {“@type”: “Offer”, “name”: “Hair consultation with trichoscopy”, “priceCurrency”: “GBP”, “price”: “300”}, {“@type”: “Offer”, “name”: “Microneedling session”, “priceCurrency”: “GBP”, “price”: “290”}, {“@type”: “Offer”, “name”: “PRP hair single session”, “priceCurrency”: “GBP”, “price”: “450”}, {“@type”: “Offer”, “name”: “PRP hair course of 3 sessions”, “priceCurrency”: “GBP”, “price”: “1200”} ] } }, { “@type”: “MedicalWebPage”, “name”: “Microneedling For Hair Loss London. Does It Work?”, “description”: “What the trials show for scalp microneedling with minoxidil and PRP, how it works, home rollers versus clinic treatment, who it suits and what it costs in London.”, “datePublished”: “2026-10-09”, “dateModified”: “2026-10-09”, “lastReviewed”: “2026-10-09”, “inLanguage”: “en-GB”, “medicalAudience”: “https://schema.org/Patient”, “about”: [ {“@type”: “MedicalProcedure”, “name”: “Scalp microneedling”}, {“@type”: “MedicalCondition”, “name”: “Androgenetic alopecia”} ], “mentions”: [ {“@type”: “Drug”, “name”: “Minoxidil”}, {“@type”: “MedicalProcedure”, “name”: “Platelet-rich plasma therapy”}, {“@type”: “MedicalCondition”, “name”: “Female pattern hair loss”}, {“@type”: “MedicalCondition”, “name”: “Alopecia areata”}, {“@type”: “MedicalTest”, “name”: “Trichoscopy”} ], “citation”: [ “Dhurat R et al. A randomized evaluator blinded study of effect of microneedling in androgenetic alopecia. International Journal of Trichology. 2013;5(1):6-11.”, “Xu C, Duan X, Yin Q, Liu K. Effect of microneedle on hair regrowth in patients with androgenetic alopecia. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Chinese Medicine and Natural Products. 2024;4(1).”, “Platelet-rich plasma in the management of alopecia. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical evidence. Dermatology and Therapy. 2025.” ], “mainEntityOfPage”: {“@id”: “https://thelondonprpclinic.com/#clinic”}, “publisher”: {“@id”: “https://thelondonprpclinic.com/#organization”}, “author”: {“@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness medical team”}, “reviewedBy”: {“@id”: “https://thelondonprpclinic.com/#organization”}, “speakable”: {“@type”: “SpeakableSpecification”, “cssSelector”: [“h1”, “h2”]} }, { “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [ {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Does microneedling work for hair loss?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Yes, for pattern hair loss, mainly in combination. In a 2013 trial, microneedling with minoxidil grew 91.4 hairs per square centimetre in 12 weeks against 22.2 with minoxidil alone, and a 2024 meta-analysis of 8 trials confirmed the benefit.”}}, {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Is microneedling better than PRP for hair?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “They work differently and are often combined. PRP has the larger evidence base, with a 2025 meta-analysis of 43 trials, while microneedling is best supported as an addition to minoxidil.”}}, {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How often should I have microneedling for hair?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “In clinic, sessions are usually spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart. Trials with around 12 weeks of treatment showed the largest effects.”}}, {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Is it safe to microneedle my scalp at home?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Gentle, hygienic use of a short-needle roller is generally low risk, but overuse, dirty needles and heavy pressure can cause irritation, infection or scarring.”}}, {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Does microneedling for hair hurt?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “In clinic, the scalp is numbed first. Most people feel pressure and mild discomfort, and the scalp may feel tender for 1 to 2 days.”}}, {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How much does microneedling for hair cost in London?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “At The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness, microneedling is from £290 per session, and PRP is from £450 per session or £1,200 for a course of 3.”}} ] }, { “@type”: “BreadcrumbList”, “itemListElement”: [ {“@type”: “ListItem”, “position”: 1, “name”: “Home”, “item”: “https://thelondonprpclinic.com”}, {“@type”: “ListItem”, “position”: 2, “name”: “PRP Hair Treatment London”, “item”: “https://thelondonprpclinic.com/blogs/prp-hair-treatment-london”}, {“@type”: “ListItem”, “position”: 3, “name”: “Microneedling For Hair Loss London”} ] } ] } </script>

Sama Samy