Hair transplantUnited Kingdom5 min read
Did Calum Best have a hair transplant? Yes, and he said so himself
In April 2023 the TV personality and model Calum Best showed off the results of what he called his sixth hair transplant, this time using grafts taken from his beard. Here is what he said, where it was reported, and what a hair transplant involves for anyone considering one today.
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The main points in 30 seconds
- In April 2023 Calum Best revealed results of his sixth hair transplant, using grafts from his beard.
- He said it's due to an aggressive hair loss gene, and feels ten years younger with his hair preserved.
- The Sun said the surgeon used beard patches as donor area, after years of transplants from his head.
- Hair transplants mainly use FUE, tiny punctures with no stitches, or DHI with a special implanter pen.
- At City Medical Centre, FUE starts at $2,200, DHI at $2,500, combined method at $2,700.
Key facts about the procedure
- Stay in clinicSame day
- Final result12–18 months
- AnaesthesiaLocal
- Price
$2,700from $2,200
Profile
Calum Best
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Who
- TV personality and model
- Year of operation
- 2023
- Quote source
- The Sun, 19 April 2023
What did Calum Best say about his hair transplant?
Best, known from Celebrity Big Brother and SAS: Who Dares Wins, has been open about his hair loss for years. In April 2023, as reported by The Sun, he explained why he keeps going back for more: “I had my sixth hair transplant because I have a very aggressive hair loss gene.”
He also described how it has affected him, saying: “I feel and look ten years younger with my hair preserved, thanks to the wonders of science and the skill of my surgeon,” and added that, more importantly, he feels so much better about himself. The Sun reported that for this round the surgeon used patches of his beard as a donor area, after years of transplants from the back of his head.
This is what we rely on here. Best did not name the clinic, the exact number of grafts or the technique beyond the beard-as-donor detail, and we do not guess at the rest. Where the text below explains hair transplants in general, it does not describe his specific treatment.
Why his approach matters
Best's case points to a problem that comes up after several transplants: the usual donor area at the back of the head can run short of grafts. His solution, as reported, was to use beard hair instead — a technique surgeons increasingly rely on for patients who have already used up much of their scalp donor supply.
His own framing was practical rather than vain: an “aggressive” genetic pattern of hair loss that needed ongoing management, not a one-off fix.
That is a useful way to think about hair loss in general. Androgenetic alopecia is progressive, so some patients return for a further session years later as the pattern continues — the plan is decided with a surgeon, not guessed from a celebrity's story.
Hair transplant abroad: choose a city and clinic
Prices, the clinic and a free online consultation for each city:
How a hair transplant works today
A modern hair transplant is an outpatient operation under local anaesthesia. Hair follicles are taken one by one from the donor area, usually the back of the head and the temples, and implanted where hair is missing. The two main techniques are:
- FUE — grafts are extracted individually through tiny punctures, then placed into channels made by the surgeon. No linear scar and no stitches.
- DHI — grafts are implanted with a special pen (Choi implanter) without pre-made channels, which gives fine control over angle and direction.
How grafts are placed
- FUE
- Into channels prepared in advance
- DHI
- Directly with an implanter pen
Anaesthesia
- FUE
- Local
- DHI
- Local
Stitches
- FUE
- None
- DHI
- None
Typical use
- FUE
- Larger areas, more grafts
- DHI
- Hairline and dense packing of smaller areas
Price at City Medical Centre
- FUE
- $2,200
- DHI
- $2,500
A combined approach (FUE extraction with DHI implantation) is also used. Which option fits depends on the extent of hair loss and the donor area, which is why the choice is made at a consultation, not from a celebrity story.
Who is a good candidate
A transplant works best when the donor area at the back of the head is dense enough to give grafts and the hair loss has a clear pattern. Typical reasons people consider it:
- a receding hairline or thinning temples;
- thinning at the crown or overall low density;
- hair loss after trauma or burns.
There are also contraindications, including patchy (focal) alopecia, age under 18, trichotillomania, body dysmorphic disorder, severe heart disease, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy and intolerance to anaesthetics. The surgeon checks these before any date is booked.
What results look like over time
Transplanted hairs usually shed in the first weeks after surgery — that is normal, the follicles stay in place — and new growth starts after a few months. The final result is judged at 12–18 months.
How hair transplant results usually develop
- Day of surgeryLocal anaesthesia, grafts are taken and implanted; you go home the same day.
- Days 1–10The scalp heals and small crusts fall off; you follow the washing and sleeping instructions.
- Weeks 2–4Transplanted hairs shed. This is expected: the follicles remain under the skin.
- Months 3–4New hair begins to grow, often fine at first.
- Months 6–9Density becomes clearly visible.
- Months 12–18The final result can be assessed.
A hair transplant at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs FUE, DHI and combined hair transplants for international patients, including patients from London. The first consultation is free and can be held online: the doctor assesses photos of the hair and the donor area, estimates the number of grafts and names the price, which is then fixed in the contract. Current prices start at $2,200 for FUE and $2,500 for DHI.
Planning the procedure from your city? Read more: Hair Transplant Clinic in Fort Worth, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Seattle and Hair Transplant in Albuquerque.
The price includes follow-up appointments at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, and the clinic gives a lifetime guarantee of hair growth. More details are on the hair transplant page and the page for patients from London.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Calum Best or his treatment. We quote him only because he spoke about the procedure openly.
Hair transplant prices in this article are the current offer, valid until 31 October 2026. Regular prices: FUE $2,700, DHI $2,900, combined method $2,900. The price that applies to you is confirmed at the consultation.
Frequently asked questions
How many hair transplants has Calum Best had?
He said in April 2023 that this was his sixth hair transplant, and that for this round the surgeon used grafts taken from his beard.
Why did Calum Best need a beard hair transplant?
He did not give the clinical reason himself; using beard hair as a donor area is a technique surgeons use when the usual area at the back of the head has already been used for earlier transplants.
Which hair transplant method is usually used?
Most transplants today are done by FUE, DHI or a combination; the choice depends on the individual hair loss pattern and the donor area, and is made at a consultation.
Is a hair transplant permanent?
Transplanted follicles come from the back of the head, where hair is resistant to genetic hair loss, so they usually keep growing for life. Native hair around them can still thin over the years, which the doctor takes into account when planning.
How much does a hair transplant cost at City Medical Centre?
Prices start at $2,200 for FUE, $2,500 for DHI and $2,700 for the combined method. The final price is given after the free consultation and fixed in the contract.
Does a hair transplant hurt?
The operation is done under local anaesthesia. The injections of the anaesthetic are the most noticeable part; afterwards patients usually describe tightness and mild discomfort for a few days.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- The Sun, 19 April 2023
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