NBA Hair Awards - GQ.com

Who has the best hair in the NBA? Who has the worst? Do ponytails belong on the court? To find out, check out GQ.com's NBA Hair Awards, see the slideshow here. 

I write a lot about celebrities, but a growing number of high profile athletes are taking advantage of the new technologies available to treat hair loss. In the past few years, Broncos' wide receiver Wes Welker, LeBron James, and Tom Brady have all reportedly undergone hair transplants to help restore their hairlines. English footballer Wayne Rooney even documented his transplant experience for the media and his fans. 

No doubt these athletes are drawn to new transplant techniques that require little downtime and discreet healing. The FDA-approved NeoGraft FUE device is used to extract individual hair follicles from the donor area at the back of the patient's scalp which are then implanted into the bald areas of the scalp. This method replaces the prior technique of cutting a large strip from the back of the patient's scalp and eliminates the use of sutures or staples. FUE procedures leave no linear scar and patients can return to moderate athletic activity in just days instead of weeks making it perfect for athletes.

Broncos' Wes Welker Discusses Hair Transplant

Photo by PR Photos

Denver Broncos' wide receiver Wes Welker is proud of his new head of hair - and he wants to tell you about it! The athlete has given a number of media interviews lately to discuss his recent hair transplant procedure and how happy he is with the results. 

Welker joins athletes like Wayne Rooney who have decided to publicly address their decision to undergo a hair transplant, he was quoted in a recent interview saying, “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. If you want to have hair, have hair. I don’t like to sit there and say ‘What are you talking about? I never got my hair done. People can notice it without wondering.”

Welker's transplant procedure was performed last year, and from the before-and-after photos, you can see how successful the procedure was. 

His openness to discuss his own procedure has prompted some reporters from asking him about the rumored transplant undergone by his former teammate Tom Brady - Welker politely declined to comment. To read more about how Tom Brady could have had a "secret" hair transplant, click here. 

Wayne Rooney's Hair Transplant - Is Getting Two Normal?

 

Photo by PR Photos

English footballer Wayne Rooney, 27, underwent a second hair transplant procedure recently, according to The Daily Mail. Many are wondering why he had to get another transplant, after the first procedure in 2011. Did something go wrong?

It's actually not uncommon to need more than one hair transplan in order to achieve the patient's coverage goals. In fact, you have a higher likelihood for needing additional transplants if you're ...

• Under the age of 40
• Wear a short haircut
• Have dark hair and light skin
• Have straight hair
• Recipient scalp is completely bare 
• Not compliant with preventative treatments (resulting in progressive loss of non-transplanted hair)

Celebrities and politicians are also more likely to undergo multiple transplants due to higher expectations and more youthful-looking goals.

It can take a full year to see the final results from a hair transplant. Patients often wait until the full results are in before deciding whether or not to undergo a secondary procedure - as in the case of Rooney. However, some patients get started earlier - such as at six months out when 50 percent of the results are visible. Technically, you could harvest the donor follicles as early as six weeks post-op, but that's rare unless the doctor is transplanting to a new recipient area of the scalp.

 

Celebrity Hair Transplant Poll

According to a recent U.K. poll, England football star Wayne Rooney tops the list of best celebrity hair transplants, the Daily Mail reports. Coming in at a close second was actor James Nesbitt. 

"Photo by PR Photos"

Participants were also asked to name five celebrities who would most benefit from a hair transplant – and unsurprisingly, Prince William took top honors. The prince's hair woes have often garnered attention from the media and the public. Actor Jude Law came in second on the list as another celebrity who would benefit from a little "follicle intervention."

"Photo by PR Photos"

To read more about the poll, check out the article in the Daily Mail.

Coleen Rooney Displaying Signs of Traction Alopecia

England football star Wayne Rooney publicly shared his hair transplant last year by tweeting photos of his new hairline after the procedure. Now, new pictures indicate that his wife, Coleen Rooney, might also be struggling with hair loss. 

From the photos, you can see the 25-year old is sporting what appears to be a bald spot, a telling sign that she is likely suffering from a condition called traction alopecia. Coleen, who is said to be a frequent user of hair extensions, now appears to be dealing with the consequences of the pulling, styling and abuse her follicles have suffered over the years.

Traction Alopecia is common among people who wear tight braids, those who use hair extensions over a long period of time, attach wigs or weaves with glue/clips/tape, or those who suffer from trichotillomania (hair-pulling disease), traction alopecia is a result of the chronic tension or pulling on the follicles causing irreparable damage.

The definitive cure is hair transplantation which permanently replaces the follicles into the bald skin. However, without a change in hair-care habits, the transplanted hair is also at risk.

Wayne Rooney opts for FUE hair transplant, tweets photos

Footballer Wayne Rooney experienced hair loss in his 20s, which is common for about 20% of men.  At 17 years of age (below), he was sporting a pretty good head of hair...

As he aged, he his hairline and temples receded as male pattern hair loss caused miniaturization of the hair follicles as seen in the photo below.  Early treatment with medical therapy could have prevented this (or at least slowed it down considerably).  At age 25, he looked much older than his his age as the 'frame' of the face changed.

Shortly after his transplant, he tweeted:

"I was going bald at 25 - why not. I'm delighted with the result," Rooney posted over the weekend, adding: "It's still a bit bruised and swollen."

For about a week after his FUE hair transplant procedure, his scabs will remain, then begin to flake off.

 The designed hairline, see here in this photo with scabs (above), looks especially straight and round. It is not clear at this point whether this was Rooney's choice or that of his hair transplant surgeon.

FUE-style transplants require no scalpel or stitches for harvesting of hair follicles, so there is no activity restriction after three days.  A variety of devices, like NeoGraft, can assist with this type of procedure. New robotic methods are also being researched.

For more information on FUE hair transplants using NeoGraft, do a search on YouTube or visit http://www.neograft.info.

Wayne Rooney Gets Hair Transplant

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's rapidly receding hairline has been a sensitive subject for him in recent years. So it didn't come as much of a surprise when he decided to take action, in the form of a hair transplant. 

Transplants like Rooney's, performed with NeoGraft FUE allows coverage of the scalp and the creation of a natural, living and growing hairline for every single patient.

NeoGraft FUE has made hair transplantation easier than ever and a viable option for many men and women. 

The procedure is ideal for athletes as it avoids having stitches in their donor area and calls for minimal recovery, usually three days, so it wouldn't disrupt his golf game. 

Today's technology means that hair loss is no longer inevitable...it's optional! 

The 25-year-old footballer treated his followers to the first look at his new 'do. He tweeted: 'Just to confirm to all my followers I have had a hair transplant. I was going bald at 25 why not. I'm delighted with the result.'