Wayne Rooney Reveals Hair Loss Despite Hair Transplant

New father Wayne Rooney has revealed his drastically thinning hair just two years after a £15,000 hair transplant procedure was carried out in an attempt to replace the thinning hair along the top of his head.

However, whilst the transplanted hair still remains, Rooney is experiencing hair loss behind the transplant area in the middle of his head.

Two noticeable bald patches have now appeared, although because the areas are not completely bald and shiny, Rooney could potentially prevent further hair loss and regrow his thinning patches by beginning a hair loss treatment plan.

In order to be effective, and to regrow hair as opposed to just improving the condition of existing hair, a treatment programme would ideally contain either or both of the only two medications proven for genetic hair loss which have been licensed by the MHRA and approved by the FDA - the UK and US medical regulatory bodies, whose recognition means that stringent testing has been carried out to ensure that the medications are safe and do what they claim they can.

Avoiding A Hair Transplant

In order to halt the progression of male pattern hair loss and actively promote hair growth so as to potentially avoid a hair transplant being the only option for hair restoration, there are two clinically-proven products - one topical and one oral - currently available.

The tablet, finasteride 1mg, inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which joins with testosterone to form dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. This powerful androgen hormone attacks hair follicles in the susceptible areas of the scalp - those located along the top of the scalp from crown to hairline and temples, inclusive - causing them to gradually shrink and produce increasingly wispy, thinning hair.

Various solutions of high strength minoxidil are available, all of which are applied directly to the scalp where needed, and have a vasodilating action which increases localised blood flow to help nourish the hair follicles and promote hair growth.

These key treatments can be used alone or in combination, with additional supplementary non-pharmaceutical supporting products also being added in in many cases, as part of a fully-rounded approach to tackling hair loss and improving hair and scalp health.

Click to View Belgravia Male Pattern Hair Loss Treatment Success Stories (Results May Vary and Are Not Guaranteed)

When recommended treatments are used consistently, as directed, as long as the follicles are still capable of producing hair, significant results - from stabilisation of shedding to regrowth - can often be seen, starting from around three to four months after starting the course. This timeline does, of course, depend on the level of hairloss when treatment was first started as the more advanced the balding, the longer it can take to see any changes.

Maintaining hair transplant results

Should a man undergo surgery, it is important he is advised about how best to maintain the results of a hair transplant which should become settled by the 12 to 18 month mark.

Many reputable hair restoration surgeons recommend following a non-invasive treatment approach for at least six months prior to their operation, to help reduce shedding and maximise hair growth. Once the transplant has been completed and the initial healing period ended, this treatment course can then be resumed.

This is not only to preserve the hair transplant results, but also to prevent baldness developing around the grafts as it is only the new grafts which will be immune to the effects of DHT - the hairs in the areas affected by male pattern baldness will continue to be subject to the same on-going hair thinning which, if left unchecked, can result in unnatural looking hair patterns.

Men wanting to explore options for keeping or regrowing their hair are advised to do as much research as possible, and from only the most credible sources, so they are prepared for every eventuality before deciding on the best hair loss solution for them.