David Silva’s Hair Transplant: Expert Review of His Hair Loss and Recovery

Key Takeaways

• Has David Silva had a hair transplant? David Silva has never publicly confirmed having a hair transplant done. However, evidence suggests he likely had one around 2017.
  
• What does available evidence suggest? He previously had recession along his temples during his time at Manchester City. He now sports fuller hair and a lower hairline. This degree of restoration is unlikely to occur naturally or through medications alone; our surgeons believe the changes seen are more consistent towards a hair transplant.
  
• What was the extent of hair loss? Dr Dilan Fernando estimates his hair loss at around Norwood stage 3. He had an m-shaped hairline with progressive recession along the temple area.
  
• Which technique was likely used? If he had a hair transplant, he would have likely had an FUE (Follicular Unit Excision) procedure. There is no sign of a linear scar on his scalp when he shaved his head back in 2017, which would have suggested a FUT hair transplant.

Born in Arguineguín on Spain’s Canary Islands in 1986, he made his name with Valencia before arriving at Manchester City in 2010. Over the next decade, he became a City legend and a key part of their winning four Premier League titles.

He earned the nickname El Mago (the magician) for his vision and control. Silva was also integral to Spain’s 2010 World Cup victory and consecutive European Championships.

During his career, he mostly wore his hair long, which became his signature style. During this time, while wearing his long hair, he began to have hair loss at his temples and frontal hairline, which is usually how male pattern hair loss presents in some people.

David Silva’s Hair Over the Years

Hair loss happens over an extended period of time, with the affected parts of the hair changing as the hair loss progresses. We will now review David Silva’s hair loss from around 2007 in his twenties to when we estimate he had his hair restoration.

Around 2007

He began to present early signs of hair loss in his 20s while playing at Valencia. The earliest signs were mild recession along both sides of the temple area, forming an m-shape hairline.

Male pattern hair loss is driven by genetic sensitivity to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which gradually causes susceptible follicles to shrink, producing finer and shorter hairs; particularly susceptible are the follicles at the front and top of the scalp as well as the crown. The hairs at the sides and back of the scalp are DHT resistant.

His hair loss was generally subtle at this time.

2010 to 2016

His hairline recession deepened around this time while playing for Manchester City as a key player helping the club win four Premier League titles.

The recession along the temples further pulled back, making them more apparent, with the frontal hairline now forming a deeper m-shape. He was able to disguise much of the hair loss by wearing his hair long and shaggy throughout this period.

At this time, our surgeons assessed his hair loss based on photographic evidence at around Norwood stage 3.

2017

In the summer of 2017, Silva was seen to have shaved his hair, which is quite uncharacteristic of him. He usually wears his hair long, which effectively concealed hair loss.

Shaving the hair is more commonly performed as part of a hair transplant procedure, although patients can opt for a minimal shave or even an unshaven procedure.

We estimate he may have had his hair transplant at this time.

2018

At this time, his hairline appeared to be noticeably different. He now has fuller hair at the temples and a more youthful hairline. The change observed between 2017 and 2018 is consistent with a hair transplant timeline, with shedding usually taking place early after the procedure, followed by hair regrowth taking place over the next few months.

What Type of Hair Transplant Did David Silva Likely Have?

If Silva had a transplant, our surgeons consider FUE (Follicular Unit Excision) as the most likely method.

FUE techniques involve moving individual follicles from the donor area, usually at the back and sides of the scalp, and implanting them into the areas with hair loss.

The FUE method is a modern technique that is preferred over the FUT technique, which usually leaves a linear scar on the scalp. His 2017 low buzz cut did not reveal any such linear scar, further making the FUE method the most likely procedure used.

David Silva’s wavy hair also adds another layer to the procedure, as wavy hair can create more density with fewer grafts when compared to straight hair for the same space.

However, wavy or curly hair requires more technical expertise and relatively more time for the procedure.

Wavy hair also has the same shape beneath the skin, making it more delicate and requiring a surgeon experienced and knowledgeable in handling wavy hair.

How to Choose a Hair Transplant Clinic

If you are inspired by David Silva’s hair transformation and you are considering having a hair transplant, you should be aware that the clinic or surgeon you choose matters,

While hair transplant is now more popular than ever, it is a permanent procedure which, if not done by a skilled surgeon, can lead to poor outcomes, scars, and loss of valuable donor hair for future procedures.

We recommend choosing a surgeon-led hair transplant clinic. Check past reviews about your clinic of choice and ask if the procedure will be led by a surgeon or a technician.

A genuine and reputable clinic will also be concerned about addressing your concerns and determining your suitability rather than simply selling hair transplants to you.  A good clinic will give you honest expert advice based on your hair assessment during your consultation.

At The Treatment Rooms London, we operate a surgeon-led system where all our patients receive expert medical advice during consultation, and their procedure is led by the same surgeon

Visit our extensive successful hair transplant gallery, which is one of the UK’s largest.

Click here to book a consultation with one of our surgeons.