Hannan Medispa Brand Research (2026): How a Kelantan Doctor Built Malaysia’s Biggest Medispa Network and the Dr Hannan and NIA Brands

A village boy from Pasir Puteh studied medicine in Moscow, served four years as a government doctor, then opened a small clinic in Kota Bharu in 2012. Today Hannan Medispa counts more than 100 outlets and more than three million customers, and sells its own skincare, haircare, make-up and a youth brand, NIA. The founder’s story, the products and the strategy — built from the founder’s public biography, a university case study, the NPRA cosmetic registry and 36,000 Google reviews.

Brand research · Written by Aiman Zafran · Data captured 3–25 September 2026 · Last reviewed 6 October 2026

Quick answer

Hannan Medispa is a Malaysian medispa chain founded in 2012 in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, by Dr Mohd Hannan Mohd Yusof, a former government hospital doctor. By 2023 it had more than 100 branches and more than three million customers (Malay-language Wikipedia); we captured 140 Google Maps listings with 36,375 reviews on 24–25 September 2026 — the largest medispa network in our 15,507-listing dataset. Its brand family — Dr Hannan Skincare, Hannan Cosmetics, Hannan Haircare, NIA by Dr Hannan and Acne-T — totals 65 active NPRA notifications, 43 of them filed in 2026 alone (NPRA extract, 3–5 September 2026). Revenue is not published.

Key takeaways

• A true Kelantan success story. From one clinic in Kota Bharu in 2012 to a nationwide network — built first in Kelantan for seven years, then taken national from 2019.
• The biggest medispa footprint we mapped. 140 Google Maps listings, including dedicated Hannan Medispa Muslimah and Hannan Hairspa outlets (captured 24–25 September 2026).
• A full beauty house. Skincare, haircare, make-up, teeth-whitening, supplements — and NIA, a lower-priced line for younger customers.
• University partners. NIA was co-developed with a Universiti Malaysia Kelantan academic, and Acne-T comes from a Universiti Sains Malaysia spin-off.
• Fast product development. 43 of its 65 active notifications were filed in 2026 alone (NPRA).

Hannan Medispa at a glance

Who is behind Hannan Medispa, and where did it come from?

Hannan Medispa was founded by Dr Mohd Hannan Mohd Yusof (“Dr Hannan”), its CEO, a medical doctor whose clinical interests include cosmetic dermatology and anti-ageing medicine (ms.wikipedia.org, Hannan Medispa). The main products are notified by Hannan Medispa Sdn Bhd of Kota Bharu, and the haircare by Dr. Hannan Haircare Sdn Bhd.

From Pasir Puteh to Moscow

Born on 28 June 1984 in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, the third of five sons of a hospital assistant and a teacher, Dr Hannan scored straight As in his UPSR and SPM examinations, attended a residential science school and won a Public Service Department (JPA) scholarship to study medicine at Moscow State Medical University — where he met his wife, now an ophthalmologist (ms.wikipedia.org, Hannan Mohd Yusof). It is the kind of story many Malaysian families know and admire: a small-town boy who went far through hard work and came home to build something.

2012: leaving the hospital for a clinic in Kota Bharu

After serving as a government hospital doctor from 2008 to 2012, he left to pursue aesthetic medicine and opened his first clinic, Klinik Primer, in Kota Bharu in 2012. Despite early challenges, the clinic earned nearly RM2 million in its first two years, and he travelled to Korea, the United Kingdom and Taiwan to learn the latest treatments (same source; Universiti Malaysia Kelantan case study, “Beauty, Brains, and Business: The Inspiring Journey of Hannan Medispa”).

Seven years in Kelantan, then the whole country

A second outlet opened in Subang in 2014, but the business stayed centred on Kelantan for seven years before expanding nationally from 2019 (ms.wikipedia.org). By 2023 it had more than 100 branches and more than three million customers, with a target of 150. Along the way it added Hannan Muslimah Salon (2020) and HIPSalons (2022), and won Best Spa & Cosmetics awards in 2017 and 2018 and an Industry Leadership Award (same source). In a 2024 podcast interview, Dr Hannan spoke of 111 outlets (Apa Cerita podcast clip).

What does Hannan Medispa sell, and to whom?

Hannan sells a complete beauty range across seven lines, from its premium Dr Hannan Skincare at RM75–RM246 to the youth-priced NIA at about RM39 (hannanmedispa.my web shop and NIA’s TikTok, September 2026).

Source: NPRA active notifications, extract 3–5 September 2026; prices from hannanmedispa.my and Shopee, September 2026.

NIA: a younger brand for a new generation

NIA was co-developed with a Universiti Malaysia Kelantan academic and markets itself on TikTok as @nia_drhannan (NIA x UMK video). With prices around RM39, it gives students and first-jobbers a way into the Hannan world before they book treatments — a smart two-tier brand strategy.

Science partnerships

Hannan has worked with Malaysian universities and agencies more than most beauty brands: NIA with UMK, Acne-T with Skeen Shine (a USM spin-off), a piper-betel extract collaboration with the International Islamic University Malaysia, and a raw-material agreement with SIRIM in 2023 (ms.wikipedia.org). It is a rare example of Malaysian university research reaching customers through a national beauty chain.

Who the customer is

Hannan’s customer is the Malay woman — and increasingly her family — in every state, from Kelantan towns such as Tumpat, Bachok and Pasir Puteh to Klang Valley, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak. Dedicated Hannan Medispa Muslimah outlets offer women-only spaces, and Hannan Hairspa outlets extend the brand to hair care (Google Maps, September 2026).

Why has Hannan Medispa grown so big?

Hannan grew because it brought doctor-branded beauty treatments to towns and customers the big-city clinics overlooked, at prices they could afford, and then built its own products to sell in every outlet.

Reach

We captured 140 Hannan Medispa, Hannan Medispa Muslimah and Hannan Hairspa listings on Google Maps with 36,375 reviews at a weighted 4.67 stars (24–25 September 2026) — the largest medispa footprint in our dataset.

Where Hannan sells

• Its outlets — more than 100 medispas, Muslimah outlets and hair spas nationwide.
• Online — the web shop at hannanmedispa.my, the official NIA by Dr Hannan store on Shopee and branch Shopee sellers.
• Social — TikTok @drhannan, @hannanmedispaofficial and @_niabydrhannan; Instagram @hannanmedispa and @niabydrhannan.

Six reasons Hannan succeeds (our view)

1. A founder customers relate to. A doctor from a Kelantan village who made it through scholarship and hard work is a story the brand’s customers see themselves in.
2. Home market first. Seven years of building in Kelantan created a profitable, loyal base before national expansion.
3. Community-sized outlets. Branches in small towns bring medispa care within reach of customers who would never travel to Kuala Lumpur.
4. Women-only spaces. Muslimah outlets answer a real need for many Malay customers.
5. A brand ladder. NIA brings in younger customers; Dr Hannan Skincare serves them as they grow.
6. Science partnerships. University collaborations give products a local research story no import can match.

Lessons for your own brand

• Build depth in one region before going national. Hannan’s seven Kelantan years are a model. Our guide to launching a clinic skincare line covers the product side of that journey.
• Add a youth line at a lower price point to feed your main brand.
• Partner with universities for credible, local research stories.
• Design the space for your customer. Women-only Muslimah outlets show how much trust a thoughtful format can win.
• For another Malay founder-led success, see our NFG success story.

Room to grow

• Brand-level halal certification. Hannan’s skincare and cosmetics were not yet listed in JAKIM’s halal directory (snapshot 8 September 2026); its haircare company already holds JAKIM certification for its biotin supplement. For a brand so loved by Malay-Muslim customers, certifying the skincare range would be a natural next milestone.

Beyond Malaysia

Hannan has built one of Malaysia’s largest beauty networks in the Malay-speaking market, and the same formula — doctor founder, community outlets, women-only spaces, university-backed products — fits other Muslim-majority markets such as Brunei and Indonesia. For contrasting models, see NARQES and One Doc x Hair Doc.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Hannan Medispa?

Dr Mohd Hannan Mohd Yusof, a medical doctor from Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, who studied at Moscow State Medical University on a JPA scholarship and served as a government hospital doctor from 2008 to 2012. He opened his first clinic in Kota Bharu in 2012 and is the group’s CEO.

How many Hannan Medispa branches are there?

More than 100 by 2023, according to Malay-language Wikipedia, and 111 by Dr Hannan’s own account in a 2024 podcast. We captured 140 Google Maps listings — including Muslimah and Hairspa outlets and some duplicate pins — on 24–25 September 2026.

Where are Dr Hannan products made?

Almost entirely in Malaysia: 95% of the brand family’s 65 active notified products are made locally, with three NIA items from Thailand (NPRA extract, 3–5 September 2026). Check any NOT number on NPRA Quest3+.

What is NIA by Dr Hannan?

NIA is Hannan’s youth-priced skincare line, co-developed with a Universiti Malaysia Kelantan academic, with 13 notified products including Cica White and Acne Clear routines and sunscreens. Items sell for around RM39 on Shopee and TikTok.

How much do Dr Hannan products cost?

On the hannanmedispa.my web shop in September 2026, Dr Hannan Skincare ranged from RM75 (Dermal Rescue Mask) to RM246 (Retinol Night Repair), with sunscreens at RM100 and serums at RM105–RM155. NIA items cost around RM39.

Where can I buy Hannan Medispa products?

At Hannan Medispa, Muslimah and Hairspa outlets; online at hannanmedispa.my; at the official NIA by Dr Hannan store on Shopee; and through the brand’s TikTok accounts.

Sources and method

• NPRA Quest3+ active cosmetic notifications, extract 3–5 September 2026; filter: holders Hannan Medispa Sdn Bhd and Dr. Hannan Haircare Sdn Bhd, plus Acne-T “by Dr Hannan MD” products held by Skeen Shine (65 products). Verify via Quest3+.
• ms.wikipedia.org — Hannan Medispa and Hannan Mohd Yusof, read 25 September 2026.
• Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, “Beauty, Brains, and Business: The Inspiring Journey of Hannan Medispa” (case study).
• hannanmedispa.my web shop; NIA by Dr Hannan on Shopee and TikTok; Apa Cerita podcast clip (2024).
• JAKIM halal directory (halal.gov.my), snapshot 8 September 2026.
• Google Maps listings containing “Hannan”, captured 24–25 September 2026 (duplicates by name removed).

About this analysis

This article uses only the public, official and company sources listed above; figures we could not find are not quoted. Branch and customer figures are company or encyclopedia figures. Registry counts reflect active notifications on the extract date. We did not capture marketplace sales totals. The assessment of Hannan’s strengths is our editorial view.

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