Why the price of men’s hair transplants could go up with treatments that cost an additional £ 3,000 after a new bomb decision

The price of hair transplants could be put on a lift up to £ 3,000, as the cosmetic process could be taxed by the government.

Following is a legal battle between the revenue and the HM customs and a Harley Street clinic, where the taxpayer came to the top of £ 2.5 million.

The Hair Farjo Institute has argued that its venues for bald pattern should be exempt from VAT because it was considered a medical procedure.

HM’s revenue and customs argued that the procedures were for aesthetic purposes and should be taxed.

A Court ruled that ten of the men treated by the Farjo Institute in 2021 were purely for cosmetic purposes and should not be exempt from the levy, Times reported.

However, he also found that some of the hair transplants had a real medical purpose, such as monitoring cancer treatment and should be examined on a case -by -case basis.

A study found that androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is “extremely common” in the population, affecting 96 % of Caucasian men at some point in their lives.

Thirty percent of men have a degree of hair loss at the age of 30 and a half of all men until the age of 50, the court was heard.

A clinic argued that hair transplants were medical procedure and should be exempt from VAT

The Hair Farjo Institute offered Hair Transplants to Celebrities, including star Emmerdale Chris Bisson, depicted with director Dr Bessam Farjo

Doctors who attended the court said the condition is so common, “almost all males in the courtroom” show signs of androgenetic alopecia – including lawyers, witnesses and the judge.

The Hair Farjo Institute faces the condition with hair transplants. Prices at the London Clinic are currently between £ 3,000 and £ 15,000 without VAT.

The decision means that treatment can now cost between £ 600 and £ 3,000 more for customers.

Institute director Dr. Bessam Farjo said his clinic was medical rather than commercial, arguing that his clients have hormonal and genetic disease.

The records in ten anonymous patients in the clinic were evaluated by the court in March 2021. Everyone was white men who are more likely to suffer from androgenetic alopecia than women or ethnic minorities.

The file in a 35 -year -old man noted that he “felt very conscious”, while a 40 -year -old said that his hair loss bothered him “important as he is a hairdresser”.

Dr. Rowland Payne, a dermatologist adviser who provided evidence to the court, said the case studies have shown that transplants helped to restore patient health and these patients had improved their well -being.

Dr. Payne claimed that bald men had fewer sexual partners and received fewer interviews than men who were not bald, according to a survey.

Doctors argued that bald men have fewer sexual partners and received fewer work interviews than men who had hair

Actor Colson Smith with Dr. Bessam Farjo before his hair transplant at Hair Farjo Institute

The court disagreed with the Institute and the judges decided that the proceedings were not medical and should not qualify for VAT exemption.

They ruled on the basis of the priority of the European Union Court, which found that there must be an official diagnosis of a specialist or psychologist for the treatment.

The court also ruled that some hair transplants may qualify for VAT exemption and should be considered on a case -by -case basis.

The judges said: “In particular, we believe that the patient whose hair loss has resulted as a result of radiotherapy trauma will fall under the exception, as treatment is part of a continuous treatment of cancer and the repair of normal appearance after trauma caused by cancer.”

The revenue and customs of HM (HMRC) has previously ordered the company to pay unproved tax of £ 2.5 million and a penalty of £ 374,734.

Following the decision, the case was referred to HMRC to agree on the amount of VAT responsibility.