Business Eye Feature: The Risks of Going Abroad for Hair Restoration

Hair transplants have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more men—and now more women—seeking long-term solutions to hair loss. While there’s no shortage of overseas clinics promising fast, affordable procedures, the risks associated with medical tourism for hair restoration are becoming harder to ignore.

Why Cheaper Isn’t Always Better

A recent article in Business Eye explored this growing issue in depth. In “Home or Away? The Risk of Travelling for Hair Restoration,” the publication spoke with our lead surgeon at Paradigm Clinic Belfast, Consultant Plastic Surgeon Brendan Fogarty FRCS(Plast), about the potential downsides of opting for surgery abroad. Here you can read the full BusinessEye article.

Brendan shared insights into the emotional and physical toll that poor-quality transplants can take—particularly those carried out in unregulated clinics or by inexperienced practitioners. From unnatural hairlines to serious infections, many of these complications result in patients seeking corrective treatment after the damage is already done.

While clinics overseas—particularly in countries like Turkey—may offer low prices, there’s often a trade-off in safety, follow-up care, and surgical standards. In fact, many patients return with visible scarring, poor hair density, or even scalp necrosis caused by over-aggressive procedures.

These issues aren’t just cosmetic. Poor outcomes can lead to long-term dissatisfaction, emotional distress, and further procedures to repair the damage—if repair is even possible.

Why Paradigm Offers a Safer Path to Hair Restoration 

At Paradigm Clinic, we take a completely different approach. We’ve developed a refined technique called Growth Optimised Follicular Unit Extraction (GOFUE), offering discreet, natural-looking results without shaving the head. We treat both male hair loss and female hair loss, and tailor every plan to the individual.

Brendan Fogarty is the only Consultant Plastic Surgeon in Ireland and the UK to lead a dedicated hair restoration clinic while actively serving as an NHS Consultant. With decades of surgical experience and a track record of treating even complex reconstructive cases, Paradigm Clinic offers a level of care, discretion, and trust that short-term overseas clinics can’t replicate.

Choosing a hair transplant clinic means more than convenience—it means ongoing support and genuine continuity of care. At Paradigm, we don’t rush decisions or use high-pressure tactics. We give honest, informed advice and only recommend surgery when we believe it’s truly in the patient’s best interest.

Whether you’re considering hair replacement, looking to correct a previous transplant, or starting your hair loss treatment for the first time, we’re here to support you every step of the way. If you’d like to speak to our team or arrange a confidential consultation, you can contact us here.