THE BELGRAVIA CENTRE BLOG

Name: Jay

Question: I am a male aged 26 and losing hair at a fast rate. I was so concerned that I visited a clinic that advertises in the paper (not yours) and was shocked when they told me the cost would be £1200 for six months treatment. When I looked at your site I saw your comparison chart of your costs against some other companies.

As yours look a lot lower does it mean the treatment isn’t as good? To be honest I felt I was being ripped off as the guy was a bit pushy and that also put me off. Can you help as I am nervous and quite sceptical even though it was a friend who mentioned your name?

Answer: When costs are low, the first thing that most people naturally think is that the product purchased won’t be as good as a more expensive option. In the case of Belgravia’s treatment courses this is not the case and I will explain why.

It’s an unfortunate fact that many of the hair loss organisations in the UK aim to make as much money as possible with little effort. Most of the centres do not offer the medically proven treatments for hair loss as they don’t have the medical facilities to do so (pharmacy / medical staff). These facilities take a lot of time, money and effort to set up and in the case of a pharmacy, need to be overlooked by certain regulatory bodies.

The fact is, as well as having all of these facilities, which ensures we are able to provide the optimum level of treatment and service, Belgravia genuinely aims to make the products offered as reasonable as possible to the consumer. We’re not looking to make maximum profits from individual patients, but prefer to help a higher number of people at lower costs; this is why Belgravia has the largest client base of any single medical hair loss centre in Europe.

We guarantee that the Belgravia Centre offers the most effective hair loss treatment courses available whilst ensuring safety. These treatment courses include the medically proven treatments for hair loss specially combined to suit the individual, treatment course boosters, and other services for which you can find more information on the HAIR LOSS TREATMENTS page.

Although it may seem difficult to believe, these treatment courses offer better value than all of the most advertised centres in the UK - you can see details of this on the HAIR CLINIC PRICE COMPARISON PAGE. In most cases not only are the treatments offered by Belgravia more effective, but the price is considerably lower.

This story was originally posted in January 2008

The Belgravia Centre’s Free LaserComb offer has now been extended - permanently!

The Belgravia Centre are offering you a free FDA cleared HairMax LaserComb worth £245 with most of our medicated combination treatment courses.

In March 2007 the HairMax LaserComb was finally cleared by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss after successful clinical trials we carried out. The clearance of the LaserComb has added to the effectiveness of the already incomparable combination treatment courses for hair loss that Belgravia can offer you, creating the most effective solution available for hair loss stabilisation and regrowth of your hair.

To take advantage of this offer, contact us by email (click here) or give the centre a call on 020 7730 6666 to speak to a hair loss expert. If you are unable to visit the London centre it is advised that you complete our on-line diagnostic form (click here) so that we can diagnose your hair loss condition and recommend the most effective treatment course inclusive of a free HairMax LaserComb. Following completion of your diagnostic form you will be contacted by a Belgravia hair specialist who will go through all of your treatment options with you.

The LaserComb is the most recent product to be cleared
by the FDA for hair loss. Minoxidil and Propecia are the
only other two products to be approved by the FDA.

Conditions apply.

IF YOU HAVE HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH GARY HERON OF THE WESTMINSTER PRACTICE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HAIR CENTRE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR COMMENT TO THIS POST IN ORDER TO KEEP THE PUBLIC AWARE OF THE WESTMINSTER PRACTICE AND HELP OTHERS TO AVOID FALLING VICTIM. YOU CAN SEE OTHER PEOPLE’S COMMENTS AND ADD YOUR OWN IN THE COMMENTS SECTION.

The Westminster Practice / The Hair Centre - A Warning

We are receiving an increasingly worrying number of negative reports about Gary Heron and the Westminster Practice (also known as the Hair Centre) from people who have visited the centre for a consultation. Gary Heron is the Westminster Practice’s owner and also works as the consultant, diagnosing hair loss conditions and recommending his own treatments to people who visit the Westminster Practice for a consultation. We have received many complaints about Gary Heron and The Westminster Practice over the years with reports of aggressive selling tactics and schemes to obtain money from people (usually women) without their consent. Gary Heron and the Westminster Practice were featured on BBC 3’s TV programme ‘Conning the Conmen’ in 2007.

Gary Heron of the Westminster Practice has frequently been reported
to use unethical and manipulative tactics to take money from hair loss sufferers.

The Westminster Practice formulate their own non-medically-proven natural lotions for hair loss (Vitastim, Biostim and Follicle Builder II) that have minimal clinical efficacy and are inexpensive to produce, even though reported charges have been between £1,800 and £3,000 for 12 month’s worth of the products. Gary Heron has had no medical or trichological training and has no medical or trichological certifications or qualifications but we have numerous reports that he passes himself as a trichologist to people who visit The Westminster Practice for consultation. There is also evidence of this contained in various articles posted by Heron on the internet where he claims to be ‘one of Europe’s leading trichologists’. Gary Heron is a highly experienced and manipulative sales person and will make the customer feel comfortable during the consultation at the Westminster Practice, usually bringing his family into the conversation to build trust and give the impression of sincerity.

We advise anybody to be highly cautious of Gary Heron and the Westminster Practice in order to avoid having vast amounts of money taken from you.

We would appreciate your comments on this post if you have had any experiences with Gary Heron and the Westminster Practice so that we can pull together to wipe out his bad practice and help to prevent people falling victim to his actions in the future. You can also contact us by email (info@belgraviacentre.com) or telephone (020 7730 6666) if you need any help or advice.

This story was originally posted in May 2007. If you click into the story you can see comments from members of the public at the bottom of the page:

I bet you didn’t realise that like with men, many women will experience hair loss at some point in their lives.  But female hair loss can be helped!  There are a few treatments out there that can really help to prevent women’s hair loss and grow back hair that has been lost.

The causes of women’s hair loss are more diverse than those of men’s; with men it’s generally a genetic condition, yet with women, hair loss is usually caused by one or more of the following three conditions:

Female Pattern Hair Loss

The first is genetic hair loss, otherwise known as female pattern hair loss which is hair loss confined to the top area of the head.  Many people do not realise that women produce the hormone ‘testosterone’ just like men, only in smaller amounts.  For women who suffer from female pattern hair loss it doesn’t mean that they have more testosterone in their body than other women, but that the balance between testosterone and an enzyme called ‘5-alpha reductase’ is not evenly weighted – when this is the case a hormone derivative called ‘dihydrotestosterone’ is produced which is what attaches itself to the follicles and causes hair to be shed.

Our treatments for female pattern hair loss are very successful and will stabilise the hair loss in most cases and will also promote regrowth much of the time. More information on Female Pattern Hair Loss can be found here – Female Pattern Hair Loss.

Telogen Effluvium

The second hair loss condition that is commonly found in women is Telogen Effluvium.  This is a condition that is caused by a sudden event such as stress, shock, illness or an operation and the hair loss is usually spread over the whole scalp – you can find more information on the causes of Telogen Effluvium here - Telogen Effluvium.

Telogen Effluvium causes the hair to be shed 3 months after the event, so much of the time it can be shocking for the person experiencing the condition and hard to pin-point the cause.  The reason that the hair loss is experienced 3 months later with Telogen Effluvium is because when the event takes place, the hair is passed into the ‘telogen’ phase, which is the resting phase of a hair’s life.  The telogen stage lasts for 3 months before the hair is shed.

With Telogen Effluvium treatment is not always required as the hair will usually grow back on its own.  We do however always advise treatment as a precaution for a couple of reasons – first of all, if the cause of the hair loss is on-going (on-going stress / illness etc.) then the hair will carry on shedding without treatment.  Secondly, much of the time Telogen Effluvium can trigger female pattern hair loss in those women (or men) who are prone to it.  Once the hair has been restored we advise ceasing usage of treatment to see if the hair carries on shedding.  If it does treatment can be continued, otherwise treatment can be stopped permanently as it means female pattern hair loss was not triggered and the telogen effluvium is not ongoing.

Diffuse Hair Loss

The final condition that is frequently experienced by women is diffuse hair loss.  The condition involves an increased rate of hair fall and subsequent thinning from all over the scalp.

For those experiencing Diffuse Hair Loss, diet should be checked for adequate intake of nutrients. Clinical investigations should be made for thyroid, haemoglobin and hormonal problems. Stress may also be a contributing factor in Diffuse Hair Loss.

Women with this condition will usually be advised to visit their doctor in order to discover the underlying cause but treatment can be an effective solution for this form of female hair loss whilst the underlying cause is being researched.

The hair loss treatments that we usually recommend as part of a full female hair loss treatment course (depending on the person’s personal and medical details) are Minoxidil + MPG, Hair Vitalics and LaserComb.  These are effective treatments for all of the above conditions.  Belgravia’s hair loss treatment courses will also usually include trichological check-ups at the centre, specially formulated shampoo and conditioner to last throughout your treatment course and clinical treatments which include scalp treatment to maintain and improve the condition of the scalp, laser, infra red, ultra-violet light therapy and scalp massage.  You will also receive photo-scans before and during your treatment so that we can monitor your progress visually.

We understand that hair loss in women can be emotionally difficult and many women have trouble confronting the situation and may find it hard to talk about.  Our receptionists, trichologists and treatment advisors are very understanding and please remember we see 20-40 women also suffering from hair loss each day so it is something we are very used to.

In order to obtain a diagnosis and treatment recommendations from a Belgravia qualified trichologist you can call or email the centre on 020 7730 6666 or info@belgraviacentre.com in order to arrange a free hair loss consultation.  If you are unable to visit the London centre you can complete our on-line diagnostic form (found here – diagnostic form) which will be submitted instantly to the centre after which you will be contacted by a Belgravia treatment advisor within a couple of days.

Name: Rima

Question:  I have a feeling I’m anemic as I get dizzy quite a lot and seem to have some of the other symptoms.  I have also recently started losing my hair - it’s going thin around the top but not the sides and back.  This is confusing me because I have read on your website that hair loss from another medical condition is spread around the whole head, not just the top - do you think this hair loss could be caused by Anemia or just genetic?

Answer:  The first thing I would say is go and see your doctor about your symptoms - Anemia can be treated quite easily and it should be dealt with as soon as possible.

Anemia can be the sole cause of hair loss (diffusely over the scalp) but can also trigger Female Pattern Hair Loss.  If the hair loss you are experiencing is only around the top of your head then it sounds like this may be the case.  My first advice would be to get to the bottom of your medical problem by visiting your doctor; this will probably help with the hair loss as well as the other symptoms.  If genetic hair loss has been triggered you will still require treatment for the hair loss, and there are effective treatments that could help to stop further hair loss and regrow hair - HAIR LOSS TREATMENTS FOR WOMEN.

Question:  I’m 27 years old and have been losing my hair for about a year now.  I’ve tried Nourkrin but it hasn’t really done much to help.  The thinning seems to be confined to the top of my head as my hairline seems to be further apart than it used to be but round the back and sides my hair looks thick.  I also see a lot of hair on my pillow and the back of my clothes which I find quite embarrassing.  I really want to do something about it but the things I’ve tried have sort of dashed my hopes.  Can anything else be done?

Answer:  It sounds like you’re experiencing genetic hair loss (or ‘female pattern hair loss‘).  The treatments that are proven to be most effective in treating women’s hair loss are minoxidil and the LaserComb so one, or both of these should be more effective than anything you have currently tried.  As part of a treatment course they will ensure a high chance of hair loss stabilisation or regrowth.

Belgravia are currently offering a free LaserComb (worth £250) with treatment courses consisting primarily of minoxidil 5% + MPG.  Please get in touch with us if you would like more information on our treatment courses by calling 020 7730 6666 or by email.

Female Pattern Hair Loss Photo Scans

On Thursday of last week I was interviewed about the hype that had been circulating regarding discoveries in America of a gene that could possibly help to replace lost hair in bald men. Scientists have proven for the first time when testing on mice that it is possible to create entirely new follicles from which hairs can be grown, meaning it may be possible to replace hair follicles that have become dysfunctional in humans.

I talked to Sky News and Channel 5 about impact a future
cure for baldness would have, but also discussed the effective
treatments that are already available for hair loss.

Reports claim it will be 10 years before we can even begin to consider this ‘baldness cure’ becoming available, but what kind of a difference will it really make if and when it does come about?

As you will see in David Teather’s Guardian newspaper article; he explained how I was flinching with annoyance when I looked at a statement in an article I had ripped out of a newspaper. The statement read, ‘finally, a baldness cure that actually works’ - I have to say, statements like this do tend to get me hot under the collar. This statement is highly misleading to the general hair loss sufferer as it gives the impression that there is currently no hope - something that couldn’t be further from the truth!

Click here to see the Guardian Newspaper Article about a possible hair loss cure

As I pointed out to Teather, there are a number of cures for ‘hair loss’ available already, although the only thing that could be disguised as a cure to ‘baldness’ at present is non-surgical hair replacement, better known as a toupee. So you may ask what the difference between hair loss and baldness is: A bald person is somebody who has lost all his or her hair (in the area that is affected by Male Pattern Hair Loss this would be the top of the head). We refer to ‘bald’ as the smooth areas of skin where hair once appeared but now appears shiny and absent of hair. However, a man or woman suffering from ‘hair loss’ can have thick and healthy locks of hair, be it for a limited amount of time! Over time his or her hair will slowly but surely become thinner and the scalp will become increasingly visible through the hair, leading to eventual baldness in the case of many men.

So when I refer to a ‘cure’ for hair loss I’m talking about effective treatments that can prevent most men and women from ever having to reach the stage of ‘baldness’ with the possibility of thickening up the hair if there has already been a degree of thinning. There are three proven hair loss treatments available and The Belgravia Centre fine tunes its hair loss treatment courses for each individual case, deciding on which of these treatments, and at what strength they will be most effective depending on the specific condition and stage of hair loss each person has reached.

We have found about 9 out of 10 men will experience hair loss stabilisation from the use of a Belgravia Centre ‘combination’ treatment course. By ‘combination’ I refer to a combination of the proven hair loss treatments, as well as added ‘boosters’ that increase the effectiveness of the ‘primary’ treatments. Treatment is also very effective for women suffering from various forms of female hair loss.

So in 10 years time, if further research proves that a cure for baldness is possible, would it really make a difference? I don’t think many young men or women would want to wait until they’re bald, or until their hair’s visibly thinner to do something about it so I believe hair loss sufferers will still seek preventative treatments. I do however imagine a cure to be an exciting prospect for those who have already lost their hair - ensuring areas of complete baldness could one day be replaced with thick and healthy hair. However, until a cure for baldness comes about (if ever) it is important that people who are worried about hair loss know that something can be done as long as they act sooner rather than later.

Laser Comb SE £245 or free with most treatment courses, Laser Comb Premium £335:

The Hair Max Laser Comb has finally been cleared by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss. This means that after clinical studies it has been found that the Hair Max Laser Comb safely promotes hair loss stabilisation and hair re-growth for those suffering from male or female hair loss. Combined with a Belgravia treatment course consisting of the primary medications for male or female hair loss, the Hair Max Laser Comb makes Belgravia’s already incomparable combination hair loss treatment courses even more effective!

Belgravia are currently offering a free Laser Comb with most treatment courses purchased - visit the following post for more details - FREE LASERCOMB OFFER

The Hair Max Laser Comb is available in two different devices; the cheaper ‘Laser Comb Compact SE’ device, which is the smaller model and has only 5 beams, or the ‘Laser Comb Premium’ device which is slightly larger and has 9 beams. The Laser Comb Compact SE device involves 15-20 minutes of slow combing of the hair whilst the Laser Comb Premium device involves 10-15 minutes of slow combing, each 3 times per week.

Click here for More information on the Hair Max Laser Comb

This month an independent agent visited two more London hair loss centres to add to the 5 that had already been reported (including ourselves) - the centres are Maximum Hair and the White Cliffs Group.  You will find information on each treatment offered by the centres and the treatment programme prices on our Hair Centre Price and Treatment Comparison page (click here).

This page allows you to judge for yourselves which hair loss centre provides the most extensive treatments and which is the most reasonable for what is being offered without the need for you to visit anywhere.  Please be sure to read through the whole page as there is a lot of important information contained which you should take into consideration when reviewing each of the hair loss centres.

The centres that are listed on the hair loss price and treatment comparison page are The Belgravia Centre, Advanced Hair Studios, Ashley and Martin, The Westminster Practice / The Hair Centre, The London Centre of Trichology, White Cliffs Group and Maximum Hair.

As always, we will keep you up-to-date with any news or future hair centre reports that are carried out.

This month a man lost his court battle against a hair loss organisation after they promised him his hair would be completely restored and charged him £4,000 over 18 months for laser treatment and minoxidil 5%.  According to the un-named victim, although they promised him his hair would be restored and maintained permanently, a contract was signed which included small print stating that the hair loss treatment could not be guaranteed.  Unfortunately as well as being highly overpriced, the treatment was ineffective but the court ruled that the money should not be reimbursed due to the signed contract.

We hear of many hair loss centres making promises to hair loss sufferers but the fact is when it comes to hair loss there is no treatment that can be 100% guaranteed.  Unfortunately in this case the client did not read the small print which contradicted the promises of the consultant he saw.

You should always look out for the following signs when purchasing hair loss treatment - these are some of the things that are carried out by sales organisations in order to ensure you buy their treatment and cannot claim any compensation should it not work.

1. HAVING TO SIGN A CONTRACT
Only a sales organisation will want you to sign up so that you are committed and they are protected

2. PAYING FOR TREATMENT UP-FRONT
Many companies will require payment up-front.  If this is the case most will refuse to reimburse you for the treatment you have not used should you wish to pull out during the treatment programme if you are unhappy with results.

3. NATURAL PRODUCTS AS A PRIMARY TREATMENT
Our research over many years has shown that herbal products to stop hair loss or re-grow hair have little or no benefit if used as a primary treatment. Many companies who sell these types of products as their treatment basis pay little for them and yet charge extremely high prices.  We only advise the proven prescription treatments as a basis for hair loss as these are the only ones which are medically proven to work.

4. CLAIMS THAT HAIR LOSS TREATMENT IS ONLY NEEDED FOR A LIMITED TIME
There is no cure for male or female hair loss which means that treatment is always on-going should you wish to maintain your hair.  We hear of hair loss organisations telling people that treatment is only required for a limited period of time, usually 6-12 months, only to find out that they must carry on at the end of this time period.  If a hair loss centre that you visit makes claims like these we advise you not to purchase treatment as if they are making claims such as these then this gives a clear indication of the kind of company you are dealing with.

For more information visit Belgravia’s Awareness Site.  It’s sole purpose is to prevent you from purchasing hair loss treatments that are overpriced, ineffective or could be dangerous.