Aesthetic dermatology · UK
Exosome therapy for skin and hair, honestly explained.
An investigational treatment used as an adjunct to RF microneedling, laser and PRP. Not MHRA-approved for cosmetic use in the UK. We will only recommend it if the evidence for your specific goal makes sense, and we will offer the established alternative first.
Why patients choose us
- 01
An honest read on an investigational treatment
Exosomes are not MHRA-approved for cosmetic use. We say so upfront, and we only recommend them as an adjunct to treatments that already have evidence.
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Only reputable product families
ExoCoBio ASCE+, Purified Exosome and Exomide, applied by clinicians who source through regulated channels. No grey-market vials.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What exosome therapy costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics (Cadogan Clinic, EF MEDISPA and comparable practices). Firm figures in writing before you book.
In short
A three-session course, face or scalp: £1,400 to £2,400, spread over three months.
| Treatment | Indicative range | Typical duration | Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation and skin or scalp analysis | £120–£220 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Exosome booster after RF microneedling (face) | £380–£750 | 60–75 min | Same visit |
| Exosome booster after fractional laser (post-procedure) | £420–£680 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| Scalp exosome injections (hair loss, per session) | £550–£950 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| Package of 3 (face or scalp) | £1,400–£2,400 | 3 sessions | 3 months |
| Combined face and scalp package | £2,200–£3,600 | 3 sessions | 3 months |
Prices vary by product family, by whether the session pairs with RF microneedling or fractional laser, and by the number of scalp zones treated. Exosomes are not covered by UK private medical insurance.
The journey
From first enquiry to a candid review.
One team from first message to the 12-week review, including the option of no further sessions if the response has not been worth the cost.
- 01 Before
You send us your goals and a few photos
A short, confidential form. Skin concern or hair concern, what you have tried, medications and any allergies.
- 02 Before
We come back with an honest recommendation
Within one working day: whether exosomes fit as an adjunct, or whether RF microneedling, PRP or polynucleotides on their own would serve you better.
- 03 Before
We arrange the consultation
Face-to-face with the clinician. Skin analysis or trichoscopy, a written plan, indicative pricing and a consent form covering investigational status.
- 04 On the day
Preparation of the skin or scalp
Numbing cream for 30 to 45 minutes. RF microneedling or fractional laser first to create controlled micro-channels for the exosome serum.
- 05 On the day
Exosome application
Topical serum massaged into open micro-channels, or targeted scalp injections for hair loss. Session runs 45 to 75 minutes in total.
- 06 On the day
Home the same hour
Mild redness for 24 to 48 hours. Written aftercare, SPF advice, and no active skincare for 5 days.
- 07 After
Review and package planning
Photographic review at 6 and 12 weeks. Most protocols are three sessions, 4 weeks apart, with a maintenance session at 6 to 9 months.
When it helps
When exosomes make sense as an adjunct, and when they do not.
The uses with a plausible clinical rationale, alongside the situations where a different treatment is the honest first step.
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Post-laser or post-microneedling recovery
Applied immediately after ablative laser or RF microneedling as a soothing booster. This is the use with the most clinical logic behind it.
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Atrophic acne scarring
Used alongside subcision, TCA CROSS or RF microneedling on rolling and boxcar scars. Adjunct only, not a stand-alone answer.
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Early androgenetic hair thinning
Scalp injections for early miniaturisation, usually paired with topical minoxidil and, where indicated, oral treatments.
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Fine lines, dull tone and pigmentation
A rejuvenation adjunct where the primary work is done by microneedling or laser. Expect modest, not transformative change.
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Post-hair-transplant recovery
Occasionally used to support graft survival in the first weeks after DHI or FUE. Evidence is preliminary but the rationale is sensible.
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Sensitive or reactive skin between treatments
A gentler booster session when the skin is not ready for another energy device. Chosen for calm, not for volume.
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Not the right first step
If you have never tried RF microneedling, PRP or polynucleotides, start there. Exosomes make more sense once foundations are in place.
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Red flag: unregulated home kits
Injectable exosomes sold direct to consumers or through non-clinical channels carry sterility and contamination risks. Avoid entirely.
Product and protocol options
The product families and how they are delivered.
Ask which product your clinic uses, where it was sourced, and what it is paired with. If the answer is vague, walk away.
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ExoCoBio ASCE+ (rose stem cell)
Plant-derived exosomes from rose stem cells. The most widely used product family in UK clinics, applied topically after microneedling or laser.
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Purified Exosome Product (PEP)
A refined preparation used topically as a post-procedure booster. Marketed for skin recovery and inflammation control after energy devices.
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Exomide and comparable topicals
A newer topical serum used in the same post-procedure window. Ask which product family your clinic uses and where it is sourced.
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Scalp injection for hair loss
Small-volume intradermal injections across the vertex and hairline. Usually three sessions, four weeks apart, with maintenance at 6 to 9 months.
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Combined with RF microneedling
Sylfirm X or Morpheus8 creates micro-channels, then the exosome serum is applied. The device does the work; the serum is the adjunct.
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Combined with fractional laser
Non-ablative or ablative fractional laser followed by topical exosomes to shorten downtime and calm inflammation.
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PRP versus exosomes
PRP has more published RCT evidence, particularly for androgenetic hair loss. Exosomes are newer, cleaner to apply, and more expensive. Both are reasonable; PRP is the safer default.
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Second opinion
A specialist review of a plan already offered elsewhere. Sometimes the answer is fewer sessions, or a different treatment entirely.
Our vetted UK network
Clinicians we would send a family member to.
A small panel of London aesthetic dermatology and trichology clinics. Introductions are private, once we understand your goals.
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Clinicians who source exosome products through regulated distribution, not grey-market suppliers
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A written consent form that names the investigational status of exosomes in the UK
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Established alternatives on the same menu: RF microneedling, PRP, polynucleotides, skinboosters
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Trichoscopy for hair cases and standardised photography for skin cases at every visit
Safety and honesty
What you should know before you consent.
The honest position on evidence, regulation and product sourcing. Read this section carefully.
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Investigational status
No exosome product is MHRA-approved for cosmetic use in the UK. The US FDA has issued warnings against unregulated stem-cell-derived exosome products since 2019. You should be told this before you consent.
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Evidence base is early
Most published work is in vitro or small case series. Randomised controlled trials are limited. Efficacy claims should be modest and specific, not sweeping.
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Sterility and source matter
Compounded or unregulated preparations have been linked to infections and adverse reactions overseas. Ask which product family, which batch, and where it was manufactured.
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Allergic and inflammatory reactions
Rare but reported. A patch test is sensible if you have a history of reactive skin or multiple product allergies.
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Unknown long-term effects
Because the treatments are new, long-term data does not yet exist. This is a genuine unknown, not a marketing detail.
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Downtime
Redness and mild swelling for 24 to 48 hours after a booster session. A little longer if paired with ablative laser. Scalp injections have almost no downtime.
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Aftercare
No actives (retinoids, acids, vitamin C) for 5 days. Broad-spectrum SPF 50 daily. Gentle cleanser and moisturiser only. Avoid saunas and heavy exercise for 48 hours.
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What we will not do
We will not present exosomes as a proven treatment, will not recommend injectable products outside a regulated clinical setting, and will not sell you a package before you have tried the established alternatives.
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When to call the clinic
Spreading redness after 72 hours, blistering, unusual pain, fever or any sign of infection. Same-day contact with the treating clinician.
Your treatment record
A written record in four parts.
What a reputable clinic will give you in writing, at each visit.
- 01 Consent
Investigational status, in writing
A signed acknowledgement that exosomes are not MHRA-approved for cosmetic use, that evidence is early, and that alternatives were offered.
- 02 Product
Which product, which batch
The product family (ExoCoBio ASCE+, PEP, Exomide), the batch number, and the route of application (topical after microneedling, or scalp injection).
- 03 Plan
Sessions, spacing and combinations
How many sessions, at what interval, and what they are paired with (RF microneedling, laser, PRP). Package price and refund terms.
- 04 Review
Photography and honest review
Standardised before-and-after photography at 6 and 12 weeks. A clinician who is willing to say the treatment has not worked, if it has not.
Talk to us first
Before you book a course of exosomes, let us give you a candid second opinion.
We will tell you honestly whether exosomes are the right adjunct for your goal, or whether RF microneedling, PRP or polynucleotides on their own would serve you better. Free, independent, no obligation.
Recognised by major UK insurers (for related dermatology consultations)
Exosome therapy itself is a cosmetic, self-pay treatment and is not covered by UK private medical insurance.
Frequently asked
The questions we get every week.
Straight answers on evidence, safety, hair loss, insurance, alternatives and how exosomes compare with PRP.
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What is the evidence for exosome therapy?
The evidence base is early. Most published work is laboratory research on cell cultures and small clinical case series, with a growing but still limited number of randomised controlled trials in skin rejuvenation and androgenetic hair loss. Interest is real, but strong efficacy claims are not yet justified. A responsible clinician will position exosomes as an adjunct to treatments that already have evidence, not as a stand-alone answer.
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Is exosome therapy safe? What are the risks?
The main concern is not the concept but the product supply. Unregulated or compounded exosome preparations have been linked to infections and adverse reactions overseas, which is why the US FDA has warned against them since 2019. Reputable topical product families (ExoCoBio ASCE+, PEP, Exomide) applied by trained clinicians after microneedling or laser have a good early safety profile, but long-term data does not yet exist.
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Do exosomes work for hair loss?
Small studies of scalp exosome injections in early androgenetic hair loss show promising increases in hair density and thickness, usually over three monthly sessions. That said, PRP has substantially more published evidence for the same indication and costs less. Most reasonable plans start with medical treatment (minoxidil, oral options where indicated) and PRP, and add exosomes only if response is inadequate.
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Will private health insurance cover exosome therapy?
No. Because exosomes are investigational and used for cosmetic and hair-restoration indications, no UK private medical insurer covers them. This is a self-pay treatment, and we quote firm figures in writing before you commit.
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What are the alternatives to exosomes?
For skin: RF microneedling (Sylfirm X, Morpheus8), fractional laser, polynucleotide injections and skinbooster injections all have longer track records. For hair: topical minoxidil, oral treatments where indicated, PRP, low-level laser therapy and, for advanced loss, DHI or FUE hair transplant. Exosomes are best seen as one option within that toolkit, not a replacement for it.
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PRP versus exosomes: which should I choose?
PRP has more published clinical evidence, is regulated because it uses your own blood, and is less expensive per session. Exosomes are newer, cleaner to apply, potentially more potent in the laboratory, but come with a shorter evidence tail and a higher price. For most people the sensible default is PRP first, with exosomes considered as an add-on or if PRP has not delivered enough.
Related treatments
The evidence-backed alternatives we suggest first.
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RF microneedling (Sylfirm X, Secret)
The device that does most of the work on skin.
Learn more -
Morpheus8 RF microneedling
Deeper RF microneedling for skin laxity and scarring.
Learn more -
PRP for hair loss
The best-evidenced injectable for early hair loss.
Learn more -
DHI and FUE hair transplant
For advanced or established hair loss.
Learn more -
Polynucleotide injections
A regenerative alternative with growing evidence.
Learn more -
Skinbooster injections (Vital, Volite)
Hydration and quality boosters for the skin.
Learn more