Hongkonger denied refund after HK$88,000 hair treatment causes scalp bleeding

A man who paid HK$88,000 (US$11,300) for a hair growth treatment that promised “visible effect after one session” has been denied a refund after experiencing persistent scalp bleeding and no improvement in density, according to Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog.The Consumer Council on Monday warned against exaggerated claims of effectiveness, after continuously receiving complaints about scalp inflammation, artificial hair detachment and unsatisfactory results.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$88,000 to a parlour for Regenera Activa, a procedure that uses regenerative cells and growth factors from healthy scalp tissue to treat hair loss.The complainant, who initially hesitated because of the high cost, was attracted by a promotion claiming “visible effect after one session” and decided to purchase the service.But he experienced persistent bleeding from scalp wounds after the injection and had to seek medical attention. Following two additional treatments, he found that his hair density remained nearly the same.