Hair transplantPortugal5 min read
Did Fernando Alvim have a hair transplant? Yes, and he told his followers himself
In October 2023 the Portuguese radio host, comedian and TV presenter Fernando Alvim told his Instagram followers that he had finally had a hair transplant — a decision he had been postponing for seven or eight years. Below is what he wrote, where it was reported, and what the procedure involves for anyone who, like him, has been putting it off.
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Medically reviewed by Ellina V. Goncharova, dermatovenereologist, trichologist, surgeon. Review date: .
The main points in 30 seconds
- In October 2023 Fernando Alvim told his Instagram followers that he had had a hair transplant, as reported by Notícias ao Minuto.
- He said he had put it off for seven or eight years out of fear of the mirror, the pain and whether the result would suit him.
- A hair transplant is done under local anaesthesia, and you go home the same day.
- Transplanted hairs shed in weeks 2–4, new growth starts at months 3–4, and the final result is assessed at 12–18 months.
- At City Medical Centre an FUE hair transplant costs $2,200, and the consultation is free.
Key facts about the procedure
- Stay in clinicSame day
- Final result12–18 months
- AnaesthesiaLocal
- Price
$2,700from $2,200
Profile
Fernando Alvim
- Country
- Portugal
- Who
- Portuguese radio host, comedian and TV presenter
- Year of operation
- 2023
- Quote source
- Notícias ao Minuto, 11 October 2023
In 2023 I decided to have a hair transplant. The decision had been made some years ago, but I lacked the courage to face the mirror, the pain that many say they feel, and the answer to the eternal question: what if it doesn't look good on me?
What did Fernando Alvim say about his hair transplant?
His Instagram post was reported by Notícias ao Minuto. He began with humour: “I had been putting it off for too many years, maybe seven, maybe eight, I don't know exactly. My hair always gave me a lot of work; let's say it is a colleague that often didn't want to cooperate.”
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WhatsAppThen he explained what had held him back: “In 2023 I decided to have a hair transplant. The decision had been made some years ago, but I lacked the courage to face the mirror, the pain that many say they feel, and the answer to the eternal question: what if it doesn't look good on me?” He added that what really hurts is the anaesthesia.
That is all we rely on here. Fernando Alvim did not describe the technique, the number of grafts or other medical details in the post as reported, so this article does not guess at them. Where the text below explains methods and timelines, it describes hair transplantation in general, not his treatment.
Why his post rings true for many men
Alvim named the three fears that keep many people from booking a consultation for years: facing the mirror, the pain, and the worry that the result will not suit them. Hearing a well-known, self-ironic presenter say it out loud makes it easier to treat hair loss as an ordinary question for a doctor rather than a private embarrassment.
More on this topic: Hair Transplant, Hair Transplant for Women, FUE Hair Transplant, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Singapore, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Denver.
Each of those fears has a practical answer. The mirror question is handled at the consultation, where the doctor assesses the hair loss and donor area and explains what is realistic. The pain is controlled by local anaesthesia; as Alvim noticed, the anaesthetic injections are usually the most noticeable moment. And the worry about the result is addressed by planning a natural hairline that fits the face and age, not an ideal from a photo.
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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. 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 main techniques are:
- FUE — grafts are extracted individually through tiny punctures and 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. The choice depends on the extent of hair loss and the donor area and is made at a consultation.
Who is a good candidate, and how to prepare
A transplant works best when the donor area is dense enough and the hair loss has a clear pattern. Typical reasons are a receding hairline or temples, a high hairline, thinning at the crown, low overall density, or hair loss after trauma or burns. Contraindications include age under 18, trichotillomania, body dysmorphic disorder, cancer, epilepsy, severe heart disease, diabetes mellitus, a pacemaker and intolerance to anaesthetics.
The doctor checks these before a date is booked, and you receive a list of tests and instructions.
Recovery and results over time
You go home the same day. The scalp heals over the first ten days. In weeks 2–4 the transplanted hairs shed, which is normal: the follicles stay in place. New growth begins at months 3–4, density becomes visible at months 6–9 and the final result is assessed at 12–18 months. Patience matters more than anything in the first months. The timeline further down shows the usual stages.
How hair transplant results usually develop
- Day of surgeryLocal anaesthesia, grafts are taken and implanted; you go home the same day.
- Days 0–10The scalp heals, small crusts come off and swelling goes down.
- Weeks 2–4Transplanted hairs shed. This is expected: the follicles stay 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. The first consultation is free and can be held online: the doctor assesses photos, estimates the number of grafts and names the price, which is fixed in the contract. Current prices: FUE $2,200, DHI $2,500, combined method $2,700. Follow-up appointments at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months are included, and the clinic gives a lifetime guarantee of hair growth. More details are on the hair transplant page.
If you have also been putting it off, you can send your photos and questions on Telegram for a free first assessment.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Fernando Alvim or his treatment. His story is simply a well-known example of a man who talked openly about the procedure.
Hair transplant prices in this article are the current offer, valid until 30 November 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
When did Fernando Alvim have his hair transplant?
He wrote that he decided to have it in 2023 and shared the news on Instagram in October 2023, as reported by Notícias ao Minuto.
Why did he wait so long?
He said he had postponed it for seven or eight years because he lacked the courage to face the mirror, feared the pain and worried whether the result would suit him.
Is a hair transplant painful?
It is done under local anaesthesia. As Alvim noted, the anaesthetic injections are the most noticeable part; afterwards patients usually feel tightness and mild discomfort for a few days.
How much does a hair transplant cost at City Medical Centre?
FUE costs $2,200, DHI $2,500 and the combined method $2,700. The final price is given after the free consultation and fixed in the contract.
When will I see the final result?
New hair starts growing at months 3–4, density is visible at months 6–9, and the final result is assessed at 12–18 months.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- Notícias ao Minuto, 11 October 2023
Medical background and further reading
General information about the procedure from health authorities and medical societies. It is not advice for any individual patient.
- PubMed / NCBI — Follicular Unit Extraction for Hair Transplantation: An Update (Actas Dermosifiliogr, 2017)
- PubMed / NCBI — Donor site healing in follicular unit extraction hair transplantation (Cell Mol Biol, 2025)
- International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery — Hair loss treatments and solutions
How we prepare and review medical content · Medical disclaimer
Considering the same operation? Get a free consultation
Message a coordinator on Telegram: we reply right in the chat, and you can send photos and questions there too.
- The first consultation is free, online consultations are available
- The doctor names the cost after the assessment, and it is fixed in the contract
- A personal coordinator guides you from the first message to recovery
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