Hair transplantUnited Kingdom5 min read
Did Jake Quickenden have a hair transplant? Yes, and he said so himself
In August 2017 the singer and TV personality Jake Quickenden revealed he had just had a hair transplant, explaining it was about dealing with an insecurity he had carried for years, not about anyone else's opinion. Here is what he said, and what the procedure involves for anyone considering it today.
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The main points in 30 seconds
- In August 2017 singer Jake Quickenden revealed a hair transplant, done about two weeks earlier.
- It was to fix a long-standing insecurity, so he'd feel confident walking his partner down the aisle.
- He was glad he'd spoken about it, after hearing from other men thankful he'd been so open.
- Hair transplants mainly use FUE, tiny punctures, or DHI with a special implanter pen.
- At City Medical Centre, prices for a hair transplant start at $2,200 for FUE and $2,500 for DHI.
Key facts about the procedure
- Stay in clinicSame day
- Final result12–18 months
- AnaesthesiaLocal
- Price
$2,700from $2,200
Profile
Jake Quickenden
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Who
- Singer and TV personality
- Year of operation
- 2017
- Quote source
- The Sun, 17 August 2017
What did Jake Quickenden say about his hair transplant?
As reported by The Sun in August 2017, Quickenden explained his decision, taken about two weeks earlier: “I have just done something for myself to sort an insecurity out.” He linked it to his then-partner, saying: “I didn't want to walk down the aisle feeling less confident, so one of the main reasons was so I could feel as confident as she can.”
He also said he was glad to have spoken about it publicly: “the amount of comments from guys saying thanks for being so open about it — well, if it's helped in that way it's great.”
That is what this article relies on. Quickenden did not describe the exact technique used, and we do not guess at it. Everything below describes hair transplants in general, not his specific treatment.
Why his openness matters
Quickenden framed the decision around a long-standing insecurity rather than any single event, and said directly that talking about it openly seemed to help other men who had the same worry but felt unable to raise it. That kind of plain, unembarrassed account is part of why hair transplants have become a far less secretive procedure for men over the past decade.
His story also shows that the decision does not have to wait for hair loss to become severe — for some men it is simply about feeling more confident sooner rather than later, which is exactly the kind of goal a surgeon discusses at a consultation.
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: FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Singapore, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Málaga and Hair Transplant in Atlanta.
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 Jake Quickenden 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
Why did Jake Quickenden get a hair transplant?
He said it was to deal with a long-standing insecurity about his hair and to feel more confident, and that it was unrelated to anyone else's opinion of him.
When did Jake Quickenden have his hair transplant?
He spoke about it in August 2017, saying the procedure had been done about two weeks earlier.
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, 17 August 2017
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