Operation Restore: Pro Bono Hair Restoration After Trauma

20th January 2026

The Maitland Clinic is proud to be a registered participant in the ISHRS Operation Restore Programme

At The Maitland Clinic, we know that hair restoration is not simply about appearance; it can play an important role in restoring confidence, dignity, and emotional wellbeing.

For individuals who have experienced traumatic hair loss due to accidents, burns, surgery, or medical conditions, the psychological impact can be profound. Recognising this, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) established a global charitable initiative known as Operation Restore.

We are proud to confirm that The Maitland Clinic is a registered participating clinic in the ISHRS Operation Restore programme.

What is Operation Restore?

Operation Restore is an international pro bono programme run by the ISHRS, the world’s leading professional body for hair restoration surgeons.

The programme connects patients who have suffered permanent hair loss due to trauma, disease or medical treatment with qualified, experienced hair restoration surgeons who are willing to provide treatment at no professional cost.

The aim is simple but powerful: To help restore self-image, self-esteem, and quality of life through ethical, medically appropriate hair restoration surgery.

Who is eligible?

Operation Restore is designed specifically for patients whose hair loss is the result of:

  • Burns
  • Road traffic accidents or physical trauma
  • Surgical scars (including neurosurgery or reconstructive procedures)
  • Congenital conditions affecting hair growth
  • Other medically significant causes of permanent hair loss

Importantly, this programme is not intended for routine male or female pattern hair loss, but rather for cases where hair loss is a direct consequence of trauma or medical intervention.

Each application is reviewed carefully to ensure fairness, medical appropriateness, and realistic expectations.

How the Operation Restore process works

1. Patient application

Patients (or their referring clinician) submit an application through the ISHRS Operation Restore programme, outlining:

  • The cause of hair loss
  • Relevant medical history
  • Photographs of the affected area
  • The personal impact of the condition

2. ISHRS review

Applications are assessed by the ISHRS to confirm that the case meets the programme’s criteria.

3. Matching with a participating clinic

Approved applicants are then matched with an ISHRS member clinic that has volunteered to take part in the programme.

All participating surgeons are fully qualified, experienced hair restoration physicians and members of the ISHRS.

4. Consultation and treatment planning

The selected clinic conducts a full medical consultation to determine:

  • Whether hair restoration is clinically appropriate
  • Which technique is most suitable (FUE, FUT, or scar reconstruction)
  • What outcome can realistically be achieved

5. Pro bono surgical treatment

If appropriate, the surgeon provides the procedure without professional surgical fees.

Please note:

  • Some ancillary costs (such as theatre consumables or medications) may still apply depending on the individual case and clinic policy.
  • Each case is handled sensitively and individually.

The Maitland Clinic and Operation Restore

The Maitland Clinic is honoured to be a registered participant in the ISHRS Operation Restore programme.

Dr Edward Ball is a fellow of the ISHRS and our involvement reflects our commitment to:

  • Ethical hair restoration
  • Patient-first decision making
  • Responsible surgical practice
  • Giving back through professional expertise

We recognise that patients affected by trauma often face long recovery journeys, physically and emotionally. Where hair restoration can form part of that recovery, we believe it should be delivered with care, compassion, and clinical excellence.

A carefully considered, ethical approach

Participation in Operation Restore does not mean that surgery is automatically appropriate.

At The Maitland Clinic, every potential case is assessed with the same rigour as our private patients, including:

  • Thorough medical consultation
  • Donor area assessment
  • Scar physiology evaluation
  • Long-term planning and expectations

Our priority is always patient safety and realistic outcomes.

If surgery is unlikely to provide meaningful benefit, we will advise this honestly, even within a pro bono framework.

How to apply or learn more

Patients interested in Operation Restore should apply directly through the ISHRS:

https://ishrs.org/about/operation-restore

Once approved, the ISHRS will coordinate contact with a participating clinic where appropriate.

Supporting patients beyond hair restoration

Hair restoration following trauma is not about vanity; it is about normality, identity, and recovery.

We are proud to support an initiative that recognises this distinction and brings together surgeons from around the world with a shared commitment to compassionate care.