Wayne Rooney's hair transplant: the tweets that started a conversation

What did Wayne Rooney say about his hair transplant?

His first message, quoted by the Manchester Evening News, was direct: “Just to confirm to all my followers I have had a hair transplant. I was going bald at 25 why not. I'm delighted with the result.” He added that his scalp was “still a bit bruised and swollen” and promised his followers they would be the first to see it once it settled.

He kept that promise. As The Guardian reported, he then posted a picture of his head with the words “Hi all there's my head. It will take a few months to grow. Still a bit bloody to. But that's all normal.”

Those tweets are all we rely on. Rooney did not describe the technique, the number of grafts or how many sessions he had, so we do not guess. Everything below about methods and recovery describes hair transplantation in general, not his treatment.

Why a footballer's tweet mattered

Rooney was one of the most famous sportsmen in Britain, and he chose to talk about his hair on his own terms. His reason fitted into one line — he was losing his hair in his mid-twenties — and he treated the decision as nobody's scandal. For many young men who notice thinning early, that tone was useful: it framed hair loss as a common problem with a medical answer, not something to hide.

His second tweet was just as telling. By saying the scalp was still a bit bloody and that it would take a few months to grow, he described the ordinary early stage of recovery that surprises many patients. Hair loss in men is mostly genetic (androgenetic alopecia) and can start in the early twenties; a transplant does not stop it, it redistributes resistant hair from the back of the head.

How the operation is done today

Modern hair transplantation is an outpatient procedure under local anaesthesia. Follicles are taken from the donor area — usually the back of the head and the temples — and implanted where the hair has thinned. At City Medical Centre three approaches are used:

• FUE — grafts are removed one by one and placed into small channels. No incisions and no stitches.
• DHI — grafts are implanted with a Choi implanter pen without pre-made channels, which gives close control over angle and direction.
• Combined DHI+FUE — FUE extraction followed by DHI implantation.

Who can have it, and how to prepare

Rooney's age is a reminder that hair loss can start early. For a transplant to make sense, though, the pattern of loss and the donor area both matter. Typical reasons to consider it are a receding hairline or temples, a high hairline, low density, and diffuse, focal or genetic hair loss. It can also help after trauma, burns, illness or hormonal disorders.

It is not for everyone. Contraindications include age under 18, trichotillomania, body dysmorphic disorder, cancer, severe heart disease, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a pacemaker, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B/C, a history of pulmonary embolism and intolerance to anaesthetics. Before surgery the clinic sends a list of tests and instructions, and the number of grafts is estimated free of charge at the consultation.

The first weeks and months

“Bruised and swollen” and “a bit bloody” are words many patients would recognise from the first days. The scalp heals over roughly ten days. Between weeks two and four the transplanted hairs usually shed — this is expected, the follicles stay under the skin. New growth begins around months three to four, density becomes noticeable at six to nine months, and the final result is assessed at 12–18 months.

1. Day of surgeryLocal anaesthesia, grafts are harvested and implanted; you go home the same day.
2. Days 1–10Redness, small crusts and some swelling settle as the scalp heals.
3. Weeks 2–4Transplanted hairs shed; the follicles remain in place.
4. Months 3–4New hair starts to grow, often thin at first.
5. Months 6–9Density becomes clearly noticeable.
6. Months 12–18The final result can be judged.

A hair transplant at City Medical Centre

City Medical Centre performs FUE, DHI and combined hair transplants for patients from abroad, including the UK. The first consultation is free and can be held online from photos. The price is quoted at the consultation and fixed in the contract, with no extra charges on the day of surgery: FUE $2,200, DHI $2,500, combined $2,700. It includes dressings, check-ups, a care plan, a personal coordinator and follow-up appointments at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, and the clinic gives a lifetime guarantee of hair growth. Details are on the hair transplant page.

City Medical Centre has no connection with Wayne Rooney or his treatment. His tweets are simply one of the best-known examples of a man speaking openly about the procedure.

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 Wayne Rooney have his hair transplant?

He announced it on Twitter in June 2011, when he was 25 and playing for Manchester United, and said he was delighted with the result.

Which method did Wayne Rooney have?

He did not describe the technique in his own words, so we do not speculate. Today most transplants are done by FUE, DHI or a combination of the two.

Is it normal for the scalp to bleed or swell after a transplant?

Some redness, small crusts and swelling in the first days are common, as Rooney himself described. The doctor gives washing and sleeping instructions and checks the healing.

Can a man in his twenties have a hair transplant?

Yes, if he is over 18 and the doctor confirms a suitable donor area and pattern of loss. Because hair loss may continue, the plan should take future thinning into account.

How much does a hair transplant cost at City Medical Centre?

FUE costs $2,200, DHI $2,500 and the combined method $2,700. The final price is given after the free consultation and fixed in the contract.