Hair transplantUnited Kingdom5 min read
Did James Nesbitt have a hair transplant? Yes, and he has talked about it for years
The Cold Feet actor James Nesbitt has spoken repeatedly, and without embarrassment, about having had hair transplants to deal with hair loss that began years into his acting career. Here is what he said, as reported by The Sun, and what a hair transplant involves for anyone considering one today.
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Medically reviewed by Ellina V. Goncharova, dermatovenereologist, trichologist, surgeon. Review date: .
The main points in 30 seconds
- James Nesbitt has spoken repeatedly about hair transplants for hair loss from his acting career.
- Per The Sun in February 2019, he said losing hair years ago felt like it could affect his career.
- He joked repeat procedures weren't cheap, probably 20 grand, calling the surgeon who does it a genius.
- Transplanted hairs usually shed in the first weeks, which is normal; final result judged at 12-18 months.
- 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
What did James Nesbitt say about his hair transplants?
As The Sun reported in February 2019, Nesbitt explained why he first decided to act: “I began losing hair several years ago. I felt it could affect my career.” Looking back at the parts he had taken on since, he said: “In terms of the range of leading roles I've had since then it's probably helped.”
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WhatsAppHe also spoke candidly about the cost of repeat procedures over the years, joking that “the guy who does it is a genius. It's not cheap, probably 20 grand.”
That is what this article relies on. Nesbitt has talked about having several transplants over the years without giving a single date or technique for each one, and we do not guess at details he has not given. Everything below describes hair transplants in general, not his specific treatment.
Why his openness matters
Nesbitt's account is useful because he connects hair loss directly to his working life as an actor, rather than treating it as a vanity issue to be hidden. He has said plainly that losing his hair worried him professionally, and that dealing with it, in his view, gave him more range of roles to choose from.
More on this topic: Hair Transplant, Hair Transplant for Women, FUE Hair Transplant, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Singapore, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Málaga.
His willingness to put a rough price on repeat procedures over the years is also a reminder that a transplant is not always a single event. For some patients with an ongoing genetic pattern of hair loss, a second or third session years later is part of a long-term plan agreed with a surgeon.
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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.
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 James Nesbitt 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 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
Why did James Nesbitt get a hair transplant?
He said he began losing his hair several years into his acting career and felt it could affect the roles he was offered.
How many hair transplants has James Nesbitt had?
He has referred to having had several procedures over the years without giving an exact figure or a single date for each one, so this article does not guess at specifics he has not given.
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, 24 February 2019
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
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