Not so long ago, hair loss was something many men dreaded but weren’t able to do much about. Whether it was a receding hairline, a shiny patch at the crown or general thinning all over, the only way to deal with baldness used to be a razor and a hat. However, today more and more male celebrities are turning to surgeons to help them restore their hair to its full glory. A host of high-profile stars including Wayne Rooney and Louis Walsh have admitted to undergoing hair transplants – and are looking much younger and fresher for it. The procedure involves either transplanting individual hairs into parts of the head that are experiencing thinning, or grafting strips of skin with hairs growing in them using tiny incisions. Here are eight celebrities who have admitted to undergoing hair transplants.
Wayne Rooney
Manchester United star Wayne Rooney underwent a transplant in 2011. He shared the news on Twitter by posting a picture of his scalp, which he captioned: "Just to confirm to all my followers I have had a hair transplant. I was going bald at 25 why not. I’m delighted with the result. It’s still a bit bruised and swollen when it dies down u will be first to see it. Anyone recommend any good hair gel. Haha."
Jake Quickenden
Back in 2017, former X Factor contestant Jake Quickenden uploaded a painful-looking selfie on Instagram, showing his bloodied hairline but assuring his followers that the "swelling and redness" will go down in one week. Jake wrote: "So just in case anyone sees me and thinks it's Frankenstein, I've sorted my hairline out after years of insecurities."
Speaking candidly he said:
"People might say your hair was fine and didn't need it, but after years of being really worried about losing my hair, I took the dive and did something about it! I am delighted with how it has turned out! Swelling and redness will go down after a week and then just get on with day to day life and wait for the results!! My old man was bald and it suited him, I shaved my head and I looked like a peanut M&M, so, unfortunately, I don't suit a skinhead.... anyone got any questions just drop me an inbox... I will take any stick anyone wants to give me as well because honestly I'm buzzing and couldn't care less about negative comments!! Peace."
After receiving a flurry of support from his fans, Jake later wrote:
"Just would like to say thanks to everyone for positive comments... I wouldn't hide something like this, and unless you have these horrible insecurities yourself you will never understand, when you have it in your head, there is no getting rid!! I'm trying to answer all questions but there have been 1000's."
Louis Walsh
The X Factor judge spent £30,000 on a hair transplant to correct thinning on top. He was fully open with his colleagues about the procedure, jokingly saying: "I keep telling Gary he needs it next. I always clock him glancing at my hair on the show. I’m giving Gary the number so hopefully he can get that bald patch at the back of his head sorted out."
Joe Swash
The former Eastenders actor has admitted to undergoing a hair transplant early in his career after feeling the pressure to look good on screen. "It was for myself and something that I wanted to do, to make me feel better. I was on TV so that might have had something to do with it," he said. "With the job I am doing, being on TV, I wanted to look my best, which is probably not the best way of thinking about it. It's how you feel personally."
Calum Best
The reality star underwent a hair transplant before appearing in Celebrity Big Brother in 2015. "There is no doubt the three procedures have changed my life. No man wants to be bald when he is older,” he said. "I have been losing my hair since my early 20s. Nature's plan was for me to have thin and patchy hair across the top of my scalp."
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James Nesbitt
The Cold Feet actor underwent two hair transplants at Dublin's HRBR clinic and was so happy with the results he even appeared in a video testimonial. The 47-year-old said: "Several years ago, I began losing my hair and like a lot of men it was a major concern to me, in fact it was practically an obsession. Since then I have had two hair transplants and I am very pleased with the results. In fact, I’d go as far as to say they’ve changed my life."
Gordon Ramsay
The TV chef was spotted leaving the Alvi Armani centre in Beverly Hills wearing a black surgical cap around his head. He was later spotted in LA with a swollen face. It is thought that Gordon was given the same follicular unit extraction treatment as Wayne Rooney, but suffered an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic.
Jason Gardiner
The Dancing on Ice judge spent years hiding under hats before spending £30,000 on a hair transplant in 2016. He was so happy with the result that he decided to help raise awareness of hair transplants by having his second procedure broadcast live on the internet as part of Spencer Kobren's hair loss show The Bald Truth.
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