John Cleese Hair Transplant: A Look at John’s Hairline Transformation

Hair loss is unfortunately common, affecting both men and women. Androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern baldness) is the most common reason behind hair loss, affecting around 50% of males and females within their lifetime [1]. However, it is more common in men.

Of course, hair loss does not discriminate – it affects even the most famous celebrities, including John Cleese.

In this article, learn all you need to know about John Cleese’s hair transplant, including why he got one, the type of hair transplant, and whether it was successful.

Who is John Cleese?

Before we dive into John Cleese’s hair, let’s first get to know who he is! Anyone familiar with British comedy will surely know this star.

John Cleese is a popular actor and comedian who starred in Fawlty Towers, various Monty Python films, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. He has had a long and successful career in his eighty-five years!

As well as his many accolades, John Cleese is also known for being quite outspoken. You can often find John Cleese talking on various digital entertainment channel watching shows. He’s spoken critically of the BBC and “Cancel Culture”, and has participated in many debates on free speech. [2] He’s also often quite open about his personal life, such as sharing about his two hip operations. [3]

Did John Cleese Get a Hair Transplant?

Yes – John Cleese has had a hair transplant.

John Cleese has been refreshingly open about his hair transplant results. The Monty Python star revealed that he’d had one when starring as a guest on Richard & Judy New Position, where he said: [4]

“As we’re talking operations, since I saw you last, I’ve had a hair transplant.”

Explaining why he got the transplant, he stated:

“Because I have got a very strange shaped skull, very pointy… and I don’t like wearing wigs!”

Of course, the comedian and actor captivated the audience with more than just tales about his hairline; he also opened up about his relationships. Speaking about his relationships, particularly with his ex-wife Alyce Faye Eichelberger, he said: [4]

“I think it should be like dog licences. I think you should have to renew marriage licences every five years unless you have children.”

Was that the First John Cleese Hair Transplant?

No – John Cleese has had a total of four hair transplants! As he said in another interview, [5]

“When you get to my age, you do running repairs. I had my fourth hair transplant, as it means I don’t have to wear wigs in a movie – I hate wigs”

What Type of Hair Transplant Did John Cleese Get?

John Cleese opted for the FUT hair transplant (follicular unit transplantation). This hair transplantation works by harvesting a strip of skin from a donor area (often the back and sides of the scalp) and then transplanting the strip of hair follicles into the balding section.

FUT is a popular method because it is minimally invasive. However, many people prefer to get FUE (follicular unit extraction) as this method involves extracting individual hair follicles, leading to more natural results and less scarring.

John Cleese Hair Transplant Results: A Look at His Hairline Through the Years

So, was John Cleese’s hair transplant successful? Let’s look at his hairline throughout the years to find out.

John Cleese Hair: 1970s

Going back to the 1970s, John Cleese was busy in his role as Basil Fawlty. Even then, it looks as though John Cleese is already experiencing symptoms of male pattern baldness. While he has visible dark hair on his head, he also shows a receding hairline.

John Cleese Hair: 1990s

Fast forward a couple of decades to the 1990s, and you can see that John Cleese has continued to experience hair loss – he has a receded hairline and thinner hair on the top of his head.

John Cleese Hair: 2000s

Like many people, John Cleese started experiencing greying hair by the time the 2000s came around. His hair became thinner, too, and his hairline reached further back.

John Cleese Hair: Today

Today, John Cleese still has hair. After his hair transplants, he grew more hair on the top – while it isn’t as thick and full as his hair in the 1970s, it’s still quite a lot for a man in his 80s! Clearly, his hair transplants were a success.

How Much Did John Cleese’s Hair Transplant Cost?

The cost of a single hair transplant for John Cleese is estimated to be around £4,000. However, he had four of them, so he has likely spent around £16,000 on hair transplants over the years.

Keep in mind that several factors influence hair transplant costs, including:

• The Clinic
• The Location of the Clinic
• The Extent of Hair Loss
• The Chosen Hair Transplant Method
• The Surgeon’s Amount of Experience

Why Did John Cleese Need a Hair Transplant?

This hair loss treatment is entirely cosmetic – nobody needs a hair transplant for their physical health. However, male pattern baldness can have a serious effect on a person’s mental health. Many people feel tied to their hair and see it as part of their identity; their self-esteem and confidence suffer without it.

Plus, there’s the fact that John Cleese is a movie and TV star. There is even more pressure on celebrities to look good for the cameras. John Cleese stated that he hated wearing wigs, so it made sense that he opted instead for a surgery that allowed him to grow his own hair out.

Should You Follow in John Cleese’s Footsteps? What to Consider

Has John Cleese’s new hair growth inspired you to look into a hair transplant? If you have experienced hair loss, it makes sense to look into solutions. So, here’s what to consider first.

• Your Age: John Cleese is in his 80s at this point. Most surgeons prefer to operate on adults over the age of 25, as it’s usually only at this point that the hair loss has stabilised.
• The Cause of Your Hair Loss: Hair transplants are best for male or female pattern baldness. If your hair loss is caused by something else, such as stress, a nutritional deficiency, or medication, you may find the hair loss is reversible, and you do not need to undergo hair transplant surgery.
• Your Budget: Good hair transplants are not cheap. While some individuals are tempted to travel overseas for a more affordable procedure, that is not recommended, as it’s safer to get the procedure done in your own country, as you’ll have easier access to aftercare. It is best to pay more for a successful and safe surgery – after all, the results are permanent!
• Your Medical History: Your medical history plays a role in whether a hair transplant is a good idea for you. For example, those with body dysmorphia may not be good candidates; therapy may be a better option. Someone with scalp psoriasis may also find they cannot get the procedure.
• Your Expectations: It’s important to manage your expectations before getting a hair transplant. It’s not an overnight solution; not everyone experiences a full head of hair following the surgery.

Have Other Celebrities Had Hair Transplants?

Yes – hair transplants are very common in celebrities, which makes sense, considering they are frequently in the public eye. Some other confirmed celebrity hair transplants include:

• Robbie Williams
• Elton John
• Wayne Rooney
• Boy George
• Joe Swash
• Anton Du Beke
• Louis Walsh

What to Expect from a Hair Transplant Procedure

If you have decided to get a hair transplant for yourself, you may wonder, what comes next? Typically, these are the steps you’ll go through.

Initial Consultation: First, there’s an initial consultation, where you can ask the surgeon everything you need to know about the surgery to decide whether it is right for you. The surgeon will also take your medical history to determine the best type of procedure. If you want to book a hair consultation, download our hair track app.

Day of the Procedure: The day of the procedure involves receiving local anaesthetic on the scalp so that you don’t feel any pain. It is a minimally invasive surgery in which the follicles are grafted from one area of the scalp and transplanted into the balding area. It usually takes a few hours, and most patients do not need to stay overnight.

Recovery: The first few weeks typically involve symptoms such as redness, swelling, and itching. Most surgeons recommend taking one to two weeks off work during this time. You will also be given detailed post-op care instructions to follow.

Signs of Growth: The first signs of hair regrowth occur a few months after the surgery, which is always an exciting moment.

Full Hair Regrowth: Full results and regrowth can be seen about a year after the surgery. It is quite a long process, but the permanent results make it worth it for many people.

In Summary

John Cleese is one of the many celebrities who have undergone a hair transplant. He had four in total and got them because he did not want to wear wigs on camera.

Are you interested in getting a hair transplant? If so, take a look at the results our surgeons provide by heading to our patients gallery.

Sources:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430924/
2. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/graham-norton-schools-john-cleese-101635198.html#:~:text=Earlier%20this%20week%2C%20the%20Monty%20Python%20star%2C,which%20he%20insisted%20would%20encourage%20%E2%80%9Cproper%20argument%E2%80%9D.&text=In%20the%20same%20year%2C%20he%20labelled%20the,Towers%20from%20one%20of%20its%20streaming%20services.
3. https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/770146/John-Cleese-SECOND-hip-replacement-bionic
4. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1085244/Hair-today–John-Cleese-reveals-shows-new-transplant.html
5. https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a145474/cleese-had-hair-transplants-for-roles/#:~:text=Cleese%20said%3A%20%22When%20you%20get,mouth%20about%20two%20years%20ago.%22