9 of the Best Celebrity Hair Transplants

You might be surprised how many celebrities have undergone hair transplantation surgery. As technology has improved, more and more public figures have chosen to have the treatment. An increasing number of celebs are open and honest about it, shaking off stigmas that surrounded this cosmetic procedure.

But, who are some notable celebrity hair transplant examples and why is this treatment becoming increasingly popular among the Hollywood elite? We’ve picked out our top ten examples and examined this growing trend that’s taken off over the last few years, along with some celebrity hair transplant before and after pictures to highlight the results of the treatment.

1. Elon Musk

Our first hair transplant celebrity case is tech tycoon Elon Musk. Whilst typically known for his charm and charisma, looking back at old photos clearly shows that Musk was suffering from rapid hair loss on the top of his head, as well as a receding hairline. The transformation since then is incredible, with restored growth and density on the top and frontal portions of his head.

2. Wayne Rooney

Arguably the most well-known of the celebrity hair transplants is the former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney. England's all-time leading goal scorer was open and honest about undergoing a hair transplant back in 2011 as he’d been going bald since his early 20s. The treatment worked well in restoring the thickness of the hair on the top of his head and two years later he underwent a second transplant to further increase the density. Rooney was open about the insecurities that his thinning hair was giving him and was extremely pleased with the results of his treatments.

3. Elton John

Similarly to Wayne Rooney, Elton John has spoken honestly about his experiences with hair transplantation surgery. Already losing hair back in the early 70s, the singer-songwriter has been open about how self-conscious his thinning hair made him feel. His vulnerability around his experiences of losing hair and undergoing treatment kickstarted the celebrity hair transplant movement. Two transplantations later and Elton John now boasts a full head of hair despite being well into his 70s.

4. Boy George

As revealed during his time as a contestant on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, singer Boy George is also on the list of famous hair transplants. Apart from citing fellow patient Wayne Rooney as his inspiration, the singer didn't divulge any details surrounding his own procedure, quipping that he had it done in a 'hair transplant shop'. Blasé as that sounds, the fact that he was running his fingers through a full head of hair as he spoke means, like thousands of others who've eliminated their baldness, Boy George went to a professional clinic and never looked back.

5. Calum Best

Celebrity Big Brother star Calum Best revealed that he decided to undergo a hair transplantation surgery to boost his self-esteem. Best explained that he had been losing hair since his early 20s, with his hairline slowing receding. He decided to tackle this by undergoing an FUE hair transplant in the UK. Follicular units were extracted from the donor area on the back of his head and transplanted to the front to create a new hairline. Best’s hair restoration surgery was successful in bringing his hairline forward and helping to ease his anxiety about going bald.

6. Jimmy Carr

Our fifth celebrity hair transplant case is notorious comedian Jimmy Carr. Similarly to Wayne Rooney, Carr didn’t attempt to hide the fact that he’d chosen to have the treatment, happily discussing it live on air. Known for his standup comedy and controversial comments, Carr explained that he decided to have a hair transplant to tackle his receding hairline. The procedure worked well, with Carr now sporting a lower hairline to go along with his usual thick head of hair.

7. Joe Swash

Former EastEnders star Joe Swash brought the ongoing ‘Joe Swash hair transplant saga’ to an end when he revealed that he secretly underwent the procedure early on in his career. He explained that he was initially worried about being open about his decision to have the treatment because of the stigma that was associated with it. However, as more and more celebrities began to open up about their hair transplantation experiences, Swash discussed his transplant publicly and explained that it had been something personal to him that he chose to do to make himself feel better.

8. James Nesbitt

Cold Feet actor James Nesbitt has been one of the most prominent voices among the celebrity hair transplant cases. He explained the way in which he became obsessed with his increasingly rapid hair loss. Two transplants later, and Nesbitt says the treatment has changed his life for the better. He underwent the procedure in Ireland, restoring lost hair in the balding area on the top of his head.

9. Stephanie Davis

Famous hair transplant cases don’t just apply to men. Hollyoaks star Stephanie Davis revealed that she underwent a hair restoration surgery to lower her hairline. After suffering from years of bullying at school because of the size of her forehead — and noticing that her hair was becoming increasingly thin — Davis decided that it was time to undergo a transplant. Speaking to The Sun she is one of the celebrities with hair transplants that has been very open about it, encouraging more women to take the step, explaining that 'hair transplant surgery isn’t just for men, women can also have it and it can make a huge difference if done by a good surgeon.' Six months after her treatment, Davis revealed that she was extremely pleased with the early results.

10. John Travolta

Hollywood icon John Travolta underwent a noticeable transformation when he decided to have a hair transplant to regain his lost hair. After suffering from thinning hair for years, it was reported that he’d tried a number of different hair loss treatments, finally settling on a transplant as a more permanent solution. The treatment completely transformed his looks, restoring the almost completely bald area on the top of his head with a batch of newly transplanted follicles.

The Increasing Popularity of Celebrity Hair Transplants

The number of celebrities with hair transplants has been rapidly increasing over recent years. While once something that was always to be kept secret, undergoing a hair transplant doesn’t carry the same stigma as it once did. Celebrities have contributed to this, through their openness and honesty about their own experiences with the treatment. In many ways, the popularity of this treatment among the rich and famous is unsurprising. As such a prominent part of our appearance, it’s hard to hide balding spots and receding hairlines, and even harder to hide the sudden reappearance of newly transplanted hair. However, the increase in celebrity transparency around this procedure has given many others the confidence to undergo the treatment themselves, and successfully rediscover their own body confidence.

Hair Transplantation Surgery: What Is It and What Does It Involve?

Simply put, a hair transplant is a minimally-invasive procedure for men or women who are losing hair. The treatment aims to permanently restore lost hair by transplanting hair follicles from one area of the body — usually the back or sides of the head — to the balding part.

There are a few different techniques used to carry out a hair transplant. The most common method is known as follicular unit extraction (FUE), which involves harvesting and transplanting the hair follicles individually. Other common techniques include sapphire FUE, and direct hair implantation (DHI).

Following a hair transplant, it usually takes one year for the final results to show, although in some cases it may take up to 18 months. If performed correctly, a hair transplant should last a lifetime, although the procedure cannot stop the loss of natural hair.