Has Lewis Hamilton Had a Hair Transplant?

Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton has been pictured sporting a distinctive new style, prompting media speculation that he may have had a hair transplant. Hamilton, who normally sports a close-shaven style, was photographed at an event with a new voluminous hairstyle, a sharp contrast to his usual look.

What are hair transplants?

Surgical hair transplants involve transplanting hair follicles from elsewhere on the scalp into areas where the hair is thinning. It is popular with sports stars and celebrities like Wayne Rooney and Gordon Ramsay, and comes with a substantial price tag of around £30,000 per procedure.

The surgery involves the removal of hair follicles, often from the back of the head, and then the insertion of the hairs into the area of hair loss. There are two different types of hair restoration surgery: Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) where strips of hair are taken from the back of the scalp, leading to a distinctive scar, and a newer procedure called follicular unit extraction (FUE) whereby individual follicles are removed and transplanted. The follicles can even be harvested by a robot in FUE operations.

Has Lewis Hamilton had a hair transplant?

As for Hamilton, it appears that despite the extra volume of hair in the recent picture, his receding hairline is still present. In fact, the 30 year old's hairline seems to have worsened slightly since earlier pictures as it now starts higher up his head, so it is very unlikely that he has undergone any type of restoration.

Instead, the likelihood seems to be that he has grown the hair he does have to get a fashionable 'high top fade' haircut. This distracts from his hairline and covers his general thinning on top, cleverly concealing his hair loss. This isn’t the first time Hamilton has experimented with different hair styles, having previously been pictured at a race with his hair cut into a mohican.

Other ways to boost hair growth

Hair transplants require invasive surgery, and many celebrities, such as James Nesbitt and Calum Best, have had to have several rounds of the high-priced procedure to keep pace with their hair loss. It is likely that Hamilton’s receding hairline is caused by Male Pattern Hair Loss, a common hereditary hair loss condition which can cause hair to thin on the top and sides of the scalp.

It is possible to successfully treat male hair loss without surgery, as we regularly do at the Belgravia Centre. However, as Hamilton has been showing signs of hair loss for quite a long time, he would be well advised to speak to a hair loss specialist urgently to have the best chance of seeing regrowth. If you have concerns over any shedding you may be experiencing, you can seek a consultation for diagnosis and full, expert advice so that a bespoke hair loss treatment plan can be tailored for you.