Healthcare Professionals,
Roches are Here to Help

Roches are delighted to be able to keep you informed of any changes or developments that happen in our world that affect yours and that of your patients.

We want to make it as easy as possible for you to access relevant and accurate information, in a format that you can read and where necessary share with your patients through print or email.

If you are a medical staff member and would like access to the most up to date HSE Medical allowances, PRSI allowances, financial entitlements & prescription templates please email info@roches.ie for access to our shared folder.

If there are any areas you would like more information on or you have suggestions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact info@roches.ie or call 01 492 6829.

If you would like us to contact one of your patients to arrange a hospital visit please complete the form below.

Hospital or Home Appointment Request Form

Frequently Asked Questions

We don’t ever let a person go without a wig or prosthesis due to finance or HSE delays. There is always a way. Below are a few of our options.

  • We give out hair loss and mastectomy products once patients have a valid medical card. We do not require patients to wait the 2-9 months untill the HSE pay us.
  • Payment plans: we are happy to offer payment plans over a 6 month period to private patients or those medical card holders paying a balance.
  • We offer discounts for those struggling financially and do our best to source less expensive options for them.
    We link in with the Marie Keating Comfort Fund, Various Hospital Social Work Departments, Irish Cancer Society, local Cancer Support Groups and The Little Princess Trust for children. We also have our very own Hardship Fund at Roches to support those struggling financially.

We regularly advocate to the HSE offices on behalf of individual patients and in general

When clients cannot come to Kimmage, we can fit them in hospital or at home, where possible.

In order to do a good fitting off site, we require photos of the clients hair and a good detailed description of their hair.

Once we recieve these photographs and hair description details we will arrange a suitable time to visit.

Here at Roches we don’t want location to be an obsticle coming between you and your essential hair loss & breast care products. That is why we offer online video appointments. 

You can avail of a free 15 minute consultation to ask any brief quesions related to your concerns, or you can book a full consultation which allows us to virtually bring you through your wig or breast care appointment, showing some possible options to suit your needs.

After having a virtual Roches appointment we will post your products directly to you and can have a follow up appointment if necessary. 

Our wig & breast care store in Dublin is located at 153 Kimmage Road Lower, Dublin 6W.  This is where we hold all our stock and product ranges and hold appointments. We have private fitting rooms and consultation rooms where you will try your mastectomy wear and your wigs & headwear, 2-3 advisers available so it’s definitely worth the trip.

We are more than happy to email detailed directions and parking options if needed.

We operate by appointment only.

Call 01 492 6829 or email info@roches.ie to book your appointment.

Hair Loss Questions

Although we have over a 1000 wigs in stock at all times, sometimes we may need to order a special or custom made piece. To minimise stress, earlier is always better.

We can also advise on some eyebrow options which can only be done prior to treatment starting.

Be mindful about who you select and how many people you choose to bring. We recommend bringing no more than 2 people with you as sometimes too many opinions can become overwhelming and complicated. Bring someone who is honest, supportive and is interested in the your appearance.

It is important to feel comfortable and confident when wearing a wig or mastectomy wear. While we help with this, you can’t beat a friend or spouse commenting and comparing their choices to their natural style.

We recommend that all clients who may experience hair loss or thinning come for a free consultation, preferably before their hair begins to fall. The consultation allays patients fears about hair loss and they feel secure and relieved knowing that there are many great options available for them should their hair fall.

Hair Pieces can be attached over very fine or thinning hair with a hair band or gate clips (or double sided tape depending on extent of hair loss). The piece sits on the head and is not tight or warm, but does conceal limp hair or roots showing through coloured hair. It gives the person a perfect outer cover of hair while allowing them to use the ends of their existing hair

For diffuse thinning hair, a sprinkle of hair fibers or camouflage cream colours the scalp to conceal the thinning from a distance. This not only camouflages the colour of the scalp showing through but also creates the illusion of thicker hair.

We have over 1000 wigs and hairpieces along with lots of hats for hair loss and under-hat-hair,

We start by bringing our client and their friends/family to our private consultation rooms where we welcome and settle them in. First thing is to find out is when their treatment is/has started and what they are looking for. Most clients want to look like themselves so while they are describing what they would like and how they wear and care for their hair, we are assessing the hair density, style & colour. We very often match the persons hair with the first wig they try on but we always insist on trying a few more.

While we have wigs on display, we find that most people are quite overwhelmed with the thoughts of losing their hair and have no clue how to select a wig. It is very difficult to choose a wig from a picture or a mannequin, you should try it on your own head before making a final decision.

We select wigs based on what they’ve told us during the consultation. We talk them through the pros and cons of each wig in terms of hair type and cap construction, the wig they feel and look most comfortable in usually presents itself during this time. We narrow down options and spend as much time as needed until the client is sure. Sometimes a wig needs to be ordered and sometimes the client wants to bring other family members in for a second appointment before making their final decision.

When the wig is selected, we cut and style it if necessary, and explain both how put the wig on correctly and how to care for the wig. We discuss what they will do when the hair starts falling and offer to cut or shave their hair free of charge.

We also discuss hat options for bed and during the day as an alternative to wearing their wig. Whatsmore we will discuss how to care for the scalp and skin during and after treatment, we stock organic, chemical free cosmetics and skincare that gently care for the skin.

It is a very interactive session and we try to answer any questions and allay their fears. Conversation will often veer to the hair regrowth phase, how long it takes and when can hair be coloured. We discuss allowances and advise if clients are entitled to any funding.

No, some people choose not to wear wigs and that is great once it’s based on their own experience rather than another persons experience. We recommend that all clients have a free wig consultation so that they can assess all wig options for themselves. There is no obligation to purchase.

At least then the client sees their options, knows what’s on offer and can make the best decision for them. At the very least, clients will learn about what to expect during hair loss and hair regrowth, as we will cover scalp care during treatment, safe timing, and products to use for colouring hair after treatment.

Most clients feel relief after visiting us and get a sense that they can get through their hair loss with their dignity and confidence intact.

Numerous times we have had clients coming in for hat & headwear appointments only as they do not like the wig they have purchased online or in another salon. They can often describe these wigs as hot, itchy and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, these people may not have been fitted with the right size wig or the correct type of wig and wig cap. Whatsmore they may not have received advice on how to reduce scalp heat or irritation. There are solutions to all these problems and we’ve seen them all after 30+ years in this industry. More often than not, clients who come to us convinced that wigs look awful or feel uncomfortable are pleasantly surprised with how good they look and feel.

Under €300: Our affordable range are made from quality synthetic hair fibre with machine wefted bases.

€300-€500: High quality  fibre wigs on a range of bases from machine wefted to hand tied, lace and monofilament. The base construction of the wig and the fibre quality is what determines price difference along with length of hair.

€650-€1000: Heat Resistant Fibre, our favourites. The best of fibre hair and human hair rolled into one beautiful low maintenance wig that behaves and looks like human hair but has a style memory so will bounce back into place when washed. Price includes cutting.

€800-€2000: Human hair with different bases and lengths. Prices include cutting and styling. These wigs look great but do require maintenance.

HSE Financial allowances for wigs and hair pieces vary across Ireland from €440-€767. We advise clients on their exact allowances based on the address their medical card is registered to. Everybody with a valid medical card is entitled to their particular allowance every 12 months.

What is needed to claim for a Wig or Hair Piece from the HSE Medical Card Scheme? 

  1. A valid medical card number and expiry date.
  2. A letter from your doctor or a prescription stating your requirements for a wig or hair piece, noting the medical cause of hair loss i.e. chemotherapy, radiation, alopecia, etc. This letter must be written on a prescription pad or headed paper and signed by a medical professional. Click here to access prescription template.

The patient needs to bring the above items to their wig or hair piece consultation. We then apply to the correct HSE area on their behalf and they leave our Dublin store with their selected wig or hairpiece. 

Any balance above the HSE Medical Card allowance must be paid for before taking your products home. However, if a client cannot afford the balance, we are happy to offer payment plans over a 6 month period.

If a client is waiting on their medical card, we can hold the wig or hair piece until their medical card is approved. However, if as often happens, a client needs their wig before their medical card is approved, then we accept payment for the wig and refund the amount paid once HSE approval is received.

Further information is available here on our Financial Allowance Page

NOTE: We don’t ever let a person go without a wig due to finance or HSE delays. We have our own fund here at Roches for those struggling financially so we always find a way to get the patient their wig when they need it.

As of May 2022 the Irish Government launched a new grant for wigs based on the clients PRSI contributions.

The PRSI grant covers up to €500 every year for wigs & hair pieces. It is available to those experiencing hair loss due to medical treatment such as chemotherapy, and alopecia with some exceptions.

To avail of the PRSI Wig Grant you will need to get a prescription from your doctor stating your requirement for a wig/hair in addition to the reason/cause of your hair loss. We can then check your eligibility in store and make the claim on your behalf after you select your wig. 

For more informtion click here for our financial allowances section. 

Breast Care Questions

Mastectomy wear HSE Financial allowances vary across Ireland from €86-€410. We advise clients on their exact allowances based on the address their medical card is registered to. Everybody with a valid medical card is entitled to their particular allowance every 12 months.

What is needed to claim for mastectomy wear from the HSE Medical Card Scheme? 

  1. A valid medical card number and expiry date.
  2. A letter from your doctor or a prescription stating your requirements for the specific mastectomy wear items, due to X reason. This letter must be written on a prescription pad or headed paper and signed by a medical professional. Click here to access prescription template.

The client needs to bring the above items to their breast care fitting. We then apply to the correct HSE area on their behalf and they leave with their selected items.

Any balance above the HSE Medical Card allowance must be paid for before taking your products. However, if a client cannot afford the balance, we are happy to offer payment plans over a 6 month period.

If a client is waiting on their medical card, we can hold the wig until their medical card is approved. However, if as often happens, a client needs their wig before their medical card is approved, then we accept payment for the wig and refund the amount paid once HSE approval is received.

Further information is available here on our Financial Allowance Page

NOTE: We don’t ever let a person go without a wig due to finance or HSE delays. We have our own fund here at Roches for those struggling financially so we always find a way to get the patient their wig when they need it.

The cost of mastectomywear can vary depending on the type of sugery you have had and the type of products you require, all proces are approximate:

  • Mastectomy bras can range from €30 – €85
  • Breast prostheses can range from €50 – €230
  • Mastectomy swimwear can range from €80 – €150

Medical card holders and private health insurance holders might receive a contribution towards the cost of their mastectomy bras, breast prosthesis and mastectomy swimwear. Read further information on allowances here.

Income tax relief is also available through the Online Revenue System.

A Mastectomy Bra has a specially designed pocket in the cup to hold the breast form. We stock a large variety of styles of mastectomy bras in all shapes and sizes. Our Breast Care team source our bras from a variety of the best international lingerie specialists to include seam free, front opening, cotton, bamboo, feminine, sexy, comfortable, low line, t-shirt, sports, multi-way, under-wired and non-under-wired.

Some of our suppliers include Amoena, Anita, Susa, Nicola Jane, American Breast Care, Royce and many more.

Approximately 6-8 weeks after your surgery, you are ready to move from the soft prosthesis you received following surgery, to a more long term breast form that matches your natural breast perfectly.

We can fit you in our private consultation rooms in Kimmage. Our fully trained expert fitters will measure and assist you in choosing breast forms, bras, lingerie and swimwear from our collections. You are welcome to bring a friend or family member along for support.

After surgery we understand that you may feel tender, sensitive or self-conscious. The right bra, fitted by our trained team, will help you feel like yourself again, restoring your femininity and confidence.

Buying a bra that fits well and makes you feel good is an important part of being a woman. A well fitted bra can make all the difference to your appearance, your posture and your clothes.

This is especially true after breast surgery. A bra that fits close to your chest wall between the cups with enough depth of material between the cups to cover the breast form will allow you the confidence to move as much as you want and dress as you did before. Sounds very technical and it is, but that doesn’t mean it needs to look technical. Post Surgery Bras are an engineering feat but thankfully finished by dress designers.

A person who is supportive of the patient and who is interested in the patient’s appearance.

It is important to feel comfortable and confident when wearing a wig or mastectomy wear. While we help with this, you can’t beat a friend or spouse commenting that the patient looks exactly like themselves.