With 30-50% of men experiencing male pattern baldness by age 50 and celebrities such as Ben Affleck, Wayne Rooney and Elton John all opening up about their hair loss issues, hair transplants are becoming increasingly popular and normalised.*
In 2019 alone, approximately 248,000 UK residents travelled abroad for hair transplants, marking a 106% increase from 2015**.
Amid the football frenzy, renowned hair transplant surgeon Dr Balwi from Elithair, the largest hair loss clinic in the world, has taken a deep dive into the most-searched-for baller inspirations for male hair transplants.
Rob Holding
Every month, on average, there are 3.8K global searches for professional footballer Rob Holding’s hair suggesting that the centre-back is an inspiration for those considering a hair transplant.
In October 2021, Holding revealed he had an FUE hair transplant due to his struggle with hair loss which had impacted his self-confidence. Overall, 2,600 grafts were used to perform Holding’s hair transplant to create a natural, full-looking head of hair.
Rio Ferdinand
Retired professional footballer, Rio Ferdinand is not only known for his top defensive skills and leadership on the field, but also for his new exceptional hairline. Searches for his hair have reached over 750 per month.
Ferdinand revealed he underwent a hair and beard transplant in Istanbul late last year. He shared his experience on social media stating that hair loss had a negative impact on his confidence stating that: “everyone should get one” to solve the issue.
Danny Ings
English striker Danny Ings, known for his resilience on the pitch is also an inspiration for hair transplants.
The West Ham player flaunted his new hair back in the summer of last year.
It’s been suggested it may not be the first time Ings has had a transplant with fans previously speculating that he had one during his Burnley days.
Danny Ings hairline generates 850 global searches per month and 350 UK searches. It’s clear that curiosity about his hair and potential hair transplant is still strong.
Kyle Walker
Kyle Walker has been the subject of plentiful hair transplant rumours.
In 2019 fans started to notice his hair was thinning in patches. The thinning was particularly noticeable on the crown of his head. Fans speculated that the hair loss seen could be a result of stress.
While the English professional footballer has neither confirmed nor denied having undergone a hair transplant, the signs seem to point toward that possibility with over 500 global searches on the topic per month.
David Beckham
Rumours surrounding David Beckham’s hair have also been frequent. Though he has never commented on this publicly, his before and after pictures suggest that he had undergone a procedure.
Nonetheless, searches surrounding his hair have been high with around 2K global searches per month. It’s clear that he is an inspiration for many considering undergoing a hair transplant.
Dr Balwi, hair transplant surgeon at Elithair says:
“There are many factors that cause male pattern baldness including hormones, genetics and age. This type of hair loss begins at the temples and progresses to the crown and middle of the scalp. It only affects the follicles at the front and top of the scalp, usually leaving hair at the back of the head and sides of the head unaffected.
“A hair transplant is a method used in common types of hair loss, including pattern baldness in males and females. Hair transplants are the most effective way to help with hair loss, with a very high success rate. Hair surgery provides a permanent solution to hair loss that leads to patients feeling highly satisfied by the final results and with a newfound confidence to boot.”
