Most people go through hair loss at some point in their lives. In fact, androgenetic alopecia affects up to half of all men by the age of 50. [1] While it’s more common for people to experience hair loss as they get older, there are some cases where it can affect people much younger, including those in their 20s. One such case was Gabriel Magalhães, who opted for a hair loss treatment to restore his hairline.
Who is Gabriel Magalhães?
Gabriel Magalhães is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Arsenal and the national team of Brazil. He’s still young and in his prime – at age 27 (born in 1997), he still has several years of football playing ahead of him.
As good as he is on the pitch, there was one thing holding Gabriel Magalhães back. No, it wasn’t his ability to defend the ball; instead, it was his receding hairline.
Did Gabriel Magalhães Get a Hair Transplant?
Yes – Gabriel Magalhães did get a hair transplant to treat his hair loss. He has been pretty open about his hair transplant surgery, and there are even images of his before and after that show just how successful the transplant was. He got the procedure done in Turkey.
What Type of Hair Transplant Did Gabriel Magalhães Get?
Gabriel Magalhães opted for the FUE method. FUE, which stands for follicular unit extraction, is one of the most popular types of hair transplants available today due to its natural results. The process involves extracting individual hair follicles from the patient’s scalp and then transferring them to the area that’s balding – in Gabriel Magalhães’s case, his temples. Once these follicles have been extracted, they can then grow from their new home, leading to a full head of hair once more. The surgery is very successful, with survival rates of the hair follicles being over 90%. [2]
It makes sense that Gabriel Magalhães got a FUE hair transplant (as opposed to FUT), as it meant he didn’t have to deal with a lot of scarring. Plus, it offers fast recovery, so he could get back onto the pitch not too long after the procedure.
Regarding how many grafts he would have needed, he probably required 1,500 to get the full look post-treatment. That’s because
Was the Gabriel Magalhães Hair Transplant Successful?
Yes! Fortunately, Gabriel Magalhães’s hair transplant seemed to go perfectly to plan. This is despite the fact he opted for the surgery in Turkey, which offers cheaper hair transplants compared to the UK. A cheaper hair transplant is not typically recommended, as safety and aftercare may not be so focused on compared to those delivered in the UK.
Gabriel Magalhães Hair Through the Years
Compared to many other celebrities who have opted for hair transplants, Gabriel Magalhães was young, only in his mid-20s when he got the procedure! When you look at his hair through the years, you can see why he went for the surgery so young.
Gabriel Magalhães Hair: 2017
Looking back at Gabriel Magalhães’s early career, he had a cropped hairstyle with receding temples. It’s clear that the premier league footballer was already experiencing some form of hair loss.
Gabriel Magalhães Hair: 2020
Gabriel Magalhães’s hair seemed to recede more over the years. It was likely at this stage that he decided to try some form of hair restoration option.
Gabriel Magalhães Hair: 2022
It was in 2022 when Gabriel Magalhães got his hair transplant in Turkey. You can see that his hairline had receded even further just before the surgery.
Gabriel Magalhães Hair: 2024
Looking at Gabriel Magalhães’s hairline in 2024, it’s clear that the hair transplant surgery was a success, as his hairline is straighter than ever. Now, he can enjoy a full head of hair, focusing on his game rather than his insecurities!
Other Athletes Who’ve Opted for Hair Transplants
The Gabriel Magalhães hair transplant is anything but surprising when you consider how many athletes, including other footballers, have opted for this treatment.
Rob Holding
Gabriel Magalhães isn’t even the only Arsenal player to have gotten a hair transplant! Footballer Rob Holding got a hair transplant in 2021 due to experiencing insecurities after hair loss. It worked well, as his hair looks thicker and denser than ever with no sign of recession.
Wayne Rooney
The previous England captain also got a hair transplant – like Gabriel Magalhães, he experienced significant hair loss quite early in life. He got the procedure in 2023 and was refreshingly open about it, stating on social media:
“Just to confirm to all my followers, I have had a hair transplant. I was going bald at 25, so why not. I’m delighted with the result.” [3]
Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte, the Italian football manager, also opted for several hair transplants through the years, with his first being in 2000. When you look at photos of his hairline before the transplant, you can see why he got it – he was experiencing quite severe hair loss around his crown and temples.
David Beckham
Another previous England captain who likely got a hair transplant is David Beckham. It’s worth noting that Beckham hasn’t openly stated that he’s had the surgery, but looking at his hair through the years, it’s pretty clear he had the surgery in 2011. Before that time, he was seen with significant hair loss – after that, he was able to grow a full head of hair once more.
As you can see, hair transplants are highly common in the world of sports – while all hair transplant journeys are slightly different, you can see the success rate in the athletes listed above.
Interested in Getting a Hair Transplant? What to Consider
Cost
Naturally, one of the biggest concerns most people have is the cost, especially if you’re not a millionaire like many football players. The good news is that hair transplants can be affordable, although you should avoid overly cheap clinics. Choosing a high-quality clinic in the UK is key to ensuring a successful surgery and receiving optimal aftercare. If you’re curious about the cost (which can range from £1,000 all the way up to £30,000), it’s best to book a consultation with a hair transplant clinic. You can do just that by downloading our hair track app!
Age
Most hair transplant surgeons recommend you wait until you’re at least 25 before getting a hair transplant, although 30 is even better. The reason for this is that your hair loss needs to be stabilised for the procedure to be successful. If you get a hair transplant too early, you may find you need more surgeries in the future. So, if you’re under 25, try waiting a couple of years.
Other Hair Loss Treatments
When experiencing hair loss, it’s best to try other hair restoration options first, especially if your hair loss isn’t too severe. Other hair restoration treatments include minoxidil, finasteride, steroid injections, PRP, and treating stress or nutritional deficiencies.
Your Type of Hair Loss
Your type of hair loss plays a significant role in whether a hair transplant is a good idea for you. For example, if your hair loss is caused by metabolic stress, hormonal imbalances, or nutritional deficiencies, you’d be better off treating those problems first to see if that helps regrow the hair. Generally, hair transplants work best for genetic hair loss, specifically androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness).
The Progress of Your Hair Loss
Another thing to consider is the progress of your hair loss. If you have only experienced slight recession at your temples, you may want to try other types of treatments first. At the same time, a hair transplant may not be the best route for you if your hair loss is too far progressed. You need good hair density at your back or sides for the hair transplant to be successful, as you need somewhere to graft the healthy hair follicles from!
Whether You Want People to Know
Some people like to keep their cosmetic surgeries a secret. If you don’t want people to know about your hair transplant surgery, consider whether it’s easy to hide or not. If you have serious hair loss and you get a hair transplant to grow it all back, people will ask questions! However, if your hair loss is only minimal, the chances are most people won’t realise you’ve had one done. Of course, your lifestyle also plays into this – for Gabriel Magalhães, he couldn’t exactly hide it, as he was always in the public eye.
Gabriel Magalhães Hair Transplant: In Summary
The Gabriel Magalhães hair transplant was a success. The Arsenal and Brazilian football player experienced hair loss pretty young, which meant he got his hair transplant at 25. A few years later, it seems as though the hair transplant made a world of difference, as you can still see him with a full head of hair.
Are you interested in getting a hair transplant like Gabriel Magalhães? It’s always best to do your research on the hair clinic first. Check out our patients gallery to see what we can offer here at Harley Street Hair Clinic!
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278957/#:~:text=Male%20androgenetic%20alopecia%20(MAA)%20is,vertex%20and%20mid%20frontal%20scalp.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2956960/
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12045859/The-SIX-greatest-hair-transplants-football-history-Wayne-Rooney-Rob-Holding.html