Jan Thomas and his hair transplant – in his own words

What did Jan Thomas say about his hair transplant?

Jan Thomas first told the story in his podcast with Einar Tørnquist, and then repeated it in an interview with Dagbladet, published in March 2020. He was 53 at the time. He explained that his hair had thinned at the crown over the previous few years and that he had noticed it “when the wind came from behind or when I saw myself on TV. And surely nobody doubts that I'm a vain man.”

According to Dagbladet, the procedure had been done five days before the interview, took about five hours, and hair follicles were harvested from the nape of the neck and moved to the thinning area. In his words: “So now I've covered and repaired the area that made me a little insecure.” He added that he did it for cosmetic reasons, because he wanted a fuller back of the head, and that he did not want to be “an advertising poster for hair transplants”.

That is all we rely on here. He did not name the technique or the number of grafts, so this article does not guess at them. Where methods and timelines are described below, they refer to hair transplantation in general, not to his treatment.

Why his openness matters

Jan Thomas was frank that he had gone back and forth before speaking out. “Now I feel proud that I dare to be vulnerable and say: you know what, I'm like everyone else, I have my insecurities,” he told Dagbladet. He also stressed that there is nothing wrong with losing hair, and that his choice was right for him, not necessarily for others: “I did this for myself. But I think people should talk about it.”

That is a useful way to look at it. Hair loss in men is common and in most cases genetic (androgenetic alopecia). A transplant does not stop that process; it moves hair that is resistant to it from the back of the head to the areas that have thinned. Whether it makes sense is a personal and medical decision, best made calmly with a doctor, not under the influence of anyone else's story.

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 incisions 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.
• Combined DHI+FUE — FUE extraction followed by DHI implantation.

Which option fits depends on the extent of hair loss and on the donor area, which is why the choice 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 to give grafts and the hair loss has a clear pattern. Typical reasons people consider it:

• thinning at the crown, as Jan Thomas described, or overall low density;
• a receding hairline or thinning temples;
• patchy (focal) hair loss, or hair loss after trauma, burns, illness or hormonal disorders.

There are contraindications, including age under 18, trichotillomania, body dysmorphic disorder, cancer, severe heart disease, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a pacemaker and intolerance to anaesthetics. After booking, the patient receives a list of tests and instructions for the days before surgery.

Recovery and results

The patient goes home the same day. For about ten days the scalp heals and small crusts fall off. In weeks two to four the transplanted hairs usually shed — that is expected, the follicles stay in place. New growth starts after three to four months, density becomes noticeable at six to nine months, and the final result is judged at 12–18 months. Dagbladet's report that all the transplanted hair grows out within about a year fits that general picture. The timeline below shows the usual stages.

1. Day of surgeryLocal anaesthesia, grafts are taken and implanted; you go home the same day.
2. Days 1–10The scalp heals and small crusts fall off; you follow the washing and sleeping instructions.
3. Weeks 2–4Transplanted hairs shed. This is expected: the follicles remain under the skin.
4. Months 3–4New hair begins to grow, often fine at first.
5. Months 6–9Density becomes clearly visible.
6. 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 dressings, follow-up appointments at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months and a lifetime guarantee of hair growth. More details are on the hair transplant page.

To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Jan Thomas or his treatment. His words are quoted here because he chose to share his experience publicly.

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

When did Jan Thomas have his hair transplant?

He talked about it in March 2020. Dagbladet reported that the procedure had been done five days before the interview and took about five hours.

Why did Jan Thomas have a hair transplant?

He said his hair had thinned at the crown in recent years, that it made him a little insecure, and that he did it for cosmetic reasons because he wanted a fuller back of the head.

Which method did Jan Thomas use?

He did not name the technique publicly, so we do not speculate. Dagbladet only reported that follicles were taken from the nape of the neck. Today most transplants are done by FUE, DHI or a combination.

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 is the final result visible?

New hair usually starts growing after three to four months, density is clearly visible at six to nine months, and the final result is assessed at 12–18 months.