Hair transplantCroatia5 min read
Did Tony Cetinski have a hair transplant? Yes, and he announced it himself
At the end of November 2021 Tony Cetinski, one of Croatia’s best-known singers, told his followers that he had finally taken a step he had wanted for a long time: a hair transplant. Below is exactly what he said, where it was 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
- At the end of November 2021 Tony Cetinski announced his hair transplant on Instagram, as Večernji list reported.
- He said he had long wanted it and that it is not as frightening as it looks; the anaesthetic hurts, but later you don't feel much.
- A modern hair transplant is an outpatient operation under local anaesthesia, and the patient goes home the same day.
- New hair begins to grow after 3–4 months, density is clearly visible at 6–9 months, and the final result is assessed at 12–18 months.
- At City Medical Centre prices start 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
I had long wanted to have a hair transplant, and I'm happy I didn't have to travel outside Croatia for it, because the doctor and hair specialist is by far the best in the field. I'm honestly looking forward to the results.
What did Tony Cetinski say about his hair transplant?
The Croatian singer announced it himself on Instagram at the end of November 2021 and shared a few photos from the day of the procedure. The Croatian daily Večernji list quoted his post: “I had long wanted to go for a hair transplant (…) I am honestly looking forward to the results!” According to the paper, he also told his followers that it is not as frightening as it looks.
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WhatsAppAlmost a year later, in October 2022, he spoke about it again. Večernji list reported what he told the programme InMagazin: “It hurts every time with the anaesthetic, later on you don’t feel much.” He joked that his hair now curls straight away and that he is not sure yet what hairstyle to choose.
That is everything this article relies on. Cetinski did not describe the technique or the number of grafts in these statements, so we do 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
Many men still prefer to keep a hair transplant to themselves. Cetinski chose the opposite: he told his audience about a decision he had been thinking about for a long time, showed photos from the day itself and later answered questions about how it felt. Croatian media noted exactly that — that he decided to talk about it openly instead of hiding it.
More on this topic: Hair Transplant, Beard Transplant, Eyebrow Transplant, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Singapore, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Málaga.
That kind of honesty is useful for anyone considering the procedure. It turns a private worry into an ordinary medical decision that can be discussed calmly with a doctor. 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.
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, and the patient goes home the same day. 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 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.
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 and how to prepare
A transplant works best when the donor area at the back of the head is dense enough 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, burns, illness or hormonal disorders.
Before the operation the clinic gives a list of tests and instructions. 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 recovery and results look like
Cetinski’s own summary — the anaesthetic is the unpleasant part, afterwards you don’t feel much — matches what patients generally describe: the injections of the local anaesthetic are the most noticeable moment, followed by some tightness for a few days. The final result takes time.
Transplanted hairs usually shed in the first weeks — 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. 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. Current 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, and the clinic gives a lifetime guarantee of hair growth. More details are on the hair transplant page.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Tony Cetinski 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 Tony Cetinski have his hair transplant?
He announced it on Instagram at the end of November 2021, sharing photos from the day of the procedure. Croatian media reported the post on 29 November 2021.
Which method did Tony Cetinski use?
He did not say publicly 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 individual hair loss and donor area.
Did the hair transplant hurt, according to Cetinski?
He said the anaesthetic hurts every time, but that afterwards you don’t feel much. Patients generally describe the local anaesthetic injections as the most noticeable part.
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.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- Večernji list, 29 November 2021
- Večernji list, 3 October 2022
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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