Hair transplantChile5 min read
Did Gary Medel have a hair transplant? Yes, and he talked about it himself
When fans noticed that the Chile defender's hairline looked fuller at Vasco da Gama, Gary Medel did not dodge the question. In an interview with Brazil's Globo Esporte he confirmed a hair implant, said why he had it and how it turned out. Below are his words, where they were published, and what the procedure involves for anyone considering it today.
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Medically reviewed by Ellina V. Goncharova, dermatovenereologist, trichologist, surgeon. Review date: .
The main points in 30 seconds
- In an interview with Globo Esporte, published by PrensaFútbol in February 2024, Gary Medel confirmed he had a hair implant.
- He said he had a very receding hairline, had the implant before arriving in Brazil, and that it worked very well.
- A hair transplant is done under local anaesthesia, and you go home the same day.
- Transplanted hairs shed in weeks 2–4, new hair grows from months 3–4, and the final result is assessed at 12–18 months.
- At City Medical Centre a hair transplant starts at $2,200 for FUE, and the first consultation is free.
Key facts about the procedure
- Stay in clinicSame day
- Final result12–18 months
- AnaesthesiaLocal
- Price
$2,700from $2,200
When I arrived in Brazil I had already had a hair implant. I had a very receding hairline. I did it in Spain and it worked very well.
What did Gary Medel say about his hair transplant?
Medel spoke about it in an interview with the Brazilian sports outlet Globo Esporte, and the Chilean site PrensaFútbol published his words in February 2024: “When I arrived in Brazil I had already had a hair implant. I had a very receding hairline. I did it in Spain and it worked very well.” He added that he had asked the Vascomics cartoonists to change his drawn image to match his hair, and that it was fun.
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WhatsAppThat is all we rely on here. Medel did not describe the technique, the number of grafts or any other medical details, 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 openness matters
Professional football is a world of cameras, and a changing hairline is noticed quickly. Medel could have said nothing. Instead he named the reason — a receding hairline — and gave a calm verdict on the result. For many men that is useful: it shows a hair transplant as a normal decision that can be discussed openly, not a secret.
More on this topic: Hair Transplant, FUE Hair Transplant, DHI Hair Transplant, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Singapore, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Málaga.
Male hair loss is common and in most cases genetic (androgenetic alopecia). It typically starts at the temples, exactly the “entradas” Medel mentioned. A transplant does not stop this process; it moves hair that is resistant to it from the back of the head to the areas that have thinned.
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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 sides, and implanted where hair is missing. The main techniques are:
- FUE — grafts are extracted individually through tiny punctures and placed into channels prepared 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 the angle and direction of each hair.
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 temples, 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, so the choice is made at a consultation, not from a footballer's story.
Who is a good candidate and how to prepare
A transplant works best when the donor area 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 injuries or burns.
There are contraindications, including patchy (focal) alopecia, age under 18, trichotillomania, body dysmorphic disorder, severe heart disease, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy and intolerance to anaesthetics. Before booking a date, send clear photos of the front, top, crown and back of the head, and tell the doctor about any medication you take.
Recovery and when results appear
Most patients go home the same day. For the first days the scalp heals and small crusts form and fall off; washing and sleeping follow the doctor's instructions. In the first weeks the transplanted hairs usually shed — this is expected, the follicles stay in place.
New growth starts after a few months, density becomes visible at 6–9 months and the final result is judged at 12–18 months. For athletes and other active people, the surgeon also advises when training and contact sports can be resumed. The timeline below 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 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. 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. Prices start at $2,200 for FUE, $2,500 for DHI and $2,700 for the combined method. The price includes follow-up appointments at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. More details are on the hair transplant page.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Gary Medel 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 Gary Medel have his hair transplant?
He said he had already had the implant when he arrived in Brazil, where he joined Vasco da Gama in 2023. He did not give an exact date.
Which method did Gary Medel use?
He did not say which technique was used, so we do not speculate. Today most transplants are done by FUE, DHI or a combination; the choice depends on the hair loss and the donor area.
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 considers 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.
When can I return to sport after a hair transplant?
It depends on the extent of the operation and on the sport. Light activity usually returns sooner than contact sports and heavy training; the surgeon gives individual timings at the check-ups.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- PrensaFútbol (citing Globo Esporte), 22 February 2024
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
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