Some people might be surprised at how many celebrities have undergone hair transplants. The truth is that hair transplants are extremely popular cosmetic procedures that have helped many famous people (men especially) regrow their hair after experiencing androgenetic alopecia.
So, what about George Groves? Did George Groves’ hair grow back on its own, or was it the work of a top hair transplantation surgeon? Keep reading to find out more about his hair transplant journey.
Who is George Groves?
We are not talking about George Grove, the English pioneer who lived during the 19th century! This is George Groves, born on March 26 1988, the English boxer who stayed in the ring from 2008 until 2018. During this ten-year career, Groves won the ABA super middleweight title twice, and then later went on to win the WBA super-middleweight title. He retired from British boxing pretty early on – he announced his retirement in 2019 when he was only thirty years old. [1]
Despite spending only ten years in the ring, he made a name for himself during that time, becoming known as “The Saint”. He even won an Olympic gold medal!
While it may have been disappointing to some that such a talented boxer said goodbye to professional boxing so soon, he still coaches other boxers. He commentates some matches, so clearly, the love of the sport has not left him.
Did George Groves Get a Hair Transplant?
While George Groves is best known for his incredible talent inside the ring, he also gained some attention because of his shifting hairline over the years.
The truth is that George Groves got a hair transplant in 2019, which he has been completely transparent about. He spoke with Farjo Hair Transplant about his experience in a YouTube video, stating: [2]
“So far I’ve had two surgeries as such. I was losing hair from the front, each side, and I was losing it at the crown as well.”
He later stated that it was as comfortable as a surgery could be, “You feel confident in the setup.”
George Groves’ hair transplant was clearly a great success – he had three in total, and it gave him a full head of hair once more.
A Timeline of George Groves’ Hair
Here, you can see the journey the boxing champion went on to restore his hair and fix his receding hairline.
George Groves Hair: 2010
In 2010, George Groves was early into his boxing career – at this stage, there was no sign of hair thinning. Instead, he had a healthy scalp of light ginger hair that was kept reasonably short.
George Groves Hair: 2014
The first sign of hair loss occurred in around 2014. During this time, Groves can be seen with a slightly receding hairline. It looks as though he was at stage 2 or 3 on the Norwood Scale.
George Groves Hair: 2016
In 2016, George Groves shaved his head completely. This was likely due to worsening hair loss – it is common for men to embrace the bald look when they realise their hair loss is progressing.
George Groves Hair: 2019
George Groves decided to get his first hair transplant in 2016. He had experienced extensive hair loss before this time, so it made sense that he opted for the surgical route.
George Groves Hair: 2020 and Beyond
George Groves’ hair transplant was a complete success. Following his three hair transplantation surgeries, George Groves was able to grow a full head of hair once more.
What Type of Hair Transplant Did George Groves Get?
George Groves got a FUE hair transplant, which stands for follicular unit extraction. This is a modern type of hair transplant that produces natural results. It involves a surgeon extracting individual healthy hair follicles from the back or sides of the scalp and then transplanting them into the area that’s experiencing hair loss (usually the temples and crown).
His first hair transplant involved 3300 grafts, and then he got around the same for the next one. He had three hair transplants in total to achieve his desired look. Not everyone needs three surgeries to experience hair regrowth, but George Groves underwent the third to ensure he had full hair density around his crown area.
Other Athletes Who Have Gotten Hair Transplants
George Groves is far from the only athlete to have made the decision to undergo a hair transplant – many other sports champions have opted for this hair loss treatment. Here are some of them:
Wayne Rooney: Perhaps one of the most well-known cases of hair restoration surgery on an athlete is Wayne Rooney’s story. Wayne Rooney experienced male pattern baldness quite young, so he opted for hair restoration surgery to fix his hairline. It worked very well, and he spoke openly about it on his Twitter account (now X), as he wanted to be transparent with his fans.
Rob Holding: Another footballer to have gotten a hair transplant is Rob Holding. The Arsenal player was experiencing extreme hair loss at the temples, and the follicular unit extraction fue hair transplant gave him the chance to enjoy a full head of hair once more.
Harry Kane: While Harry Kane hasn’t openly confirmed that he has had a hair transplant, the chances are high that he had one done. He was experiencing hair loss earlier in his career and was suddenly able to regrow a full head of hair. He likely only needed a low-graft procedure.
Why Are Hair Transplants So Popular in the Sports World?
It makes sense that hair transplants are popular with athletes for several reasons. First, hair loss is extremely common in men. In fact, up to 53% of men experience androgenetic alopecia by the time they are 49. [3]
Then, there is the fact that athletes are in the public eye. It’s easy to become self-conscious about small changes to your appearance when you are playing a sport in front of thousands of people.
Lastly, there’s the money factor – hair transplants are not exactly cheap, which means not everyone can afford the surgery. That typically is not a problem for the world’s biggest athletes, especially considering many of them are millionaires.
The Process of Getting a Hair Transplant
Despite being a surgery, the process of getting a hair transplant is relatively simple. Here’s what to expect.
Initial Consultation
The first step is always the initial consultation, where you (the patient) will speak with a professional hair transplant surgeon to decide whether the surgery is right for you. During this consultation, the doctor will ask you several questions about your hair loss and medical history.
If you want to book a consultation with one of the top hair transplant doctors in the UK, download our hair track app.
A Personalised Plan
Assuming the hair transplant surgery is to go ahead, the surgeon will then draw up a special personalised hair restoration journey for you. This will be tailored to you specifically, taking into account the extent of your hair loss and your current hair density and the best hair restoration techniques that are suited for you.
The Surgery
Hair transplants are a minimally invasive surgery. There will be some prep you need to do, such as not drinking alcohol for a week before the surgery and wearing comfortable clothing. On the day of the surgery, you will receive local anaesthesia, so you won’t feel a thing but won’t be put to sleep either. The surgeon will use specialised tools to extract individual hair follicles before transplanting them into the affected recipient area.
Most patients can leave the same day, and the surgery itself doesn’t usually last more than a few hours – although this depends on how many grafts you need.
Recovery
You need to recover following any surgery. Following a hair transplant, expect some swelling, redness, and discomfort. You can usually go back to living your life normally within a few weeks. You will have some post-surgery appointments with the surgeon, too, so they can check on how you are doing.
Hair Growth
You should notice new hair growth within a matter of months. Full results can take up to a year (or a little more) – at which point you should be able to enjoy a full head of hair.
Should You Get a Hair Transplant?
Wondering if you should join the likes of George Groves and get a hair transplant? There’s a lot to think about before making this decision, including:
The Cause of Your Hair Loss: Hair transplants work well for androgenetic alopecia but may not be a good solution for someone with alopecia universalis.
Your Age: Most hair transplant surgeries have a minimum age limit. It’s best to be at least 25 before getting a hair transplant.
Known Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as scalp psoriasis or another autoimmune disorder, may prevent you from getting a hair transplant.
George Groves Hair Transplant: The Takeaway
The British former professional boxer was quite young when he experienced hair loss, which is why he opted to get a hair transplant when he was only just reaching thirty. It worked well for him, though, as Groves was able to regrow a full head of hair following three hair transplant procedures.
Do you want to learn more about hair transplant procedures and what they can do for you? If so, head to our patients gallery, where you can see the type of results to expect from our incredible surgeons.
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