Elton John and His Hair Transplant Journey: Expert Analysis and All You Need to Know

Key Takeaways:

• Did Elton John have a hair transplant?  Yes. Sir Elton John has mentioned that he underwent two hair-transplant procedures in Paris during the 1970s, after his 1976 tour. Neither of these transplants delivered the result he was looking for.
   
• What type of hair transplant did he have? Based on the account of the procedure he gives, our surgeons have judged that it is likely he had an early form of transplant using the strip harvesting technique. This is the forerunner of the modern day FUT procedure.
  
• Why did Elton John’s hair transplants fail? The exact reason for the poor growth of his transplants is unknown. Based on what he has said himself, he attributes the failure to disregarding the post operative instructions he was given, particularly when it comes to wearing hats. He also hints at the possibility of recreational drug use having a role to play in the lack of successful graft growth, but this has not been confirmed clinically. 
  
• Does Elton John wear a wig now? Yes. After moving through many different hair coverage options, he decided to use professionally made hairpieces, and he has stuck with them since. He has openly told of how he wears a toupee to get a full hair look.
  
• Could modern hair-restoration surgery have produced a different outcome? It is possible that had he tried a modern procedure, it might have proved successful. However, we judge this based on old photographs. The contemporary FUE and FUT procedures are definitely more refined since, yet the outcome would still depend on a full assessment of his head, careful surgical planning by a competent surgeon, and heeding the aftercare advice.

Sir Elton John has had, quite simply put, a great music career to date. Since becoming famous in the 1970’s, he has remained one of the world’s most recognisable and most adored musicians. 

The voice, the piano, the sequins, feathers and glasses. They are all iconic parts of his musical legend. Threaded through this career has been another topic of discussion: his changing hair over the years. 

Elton John has spoken openly about developing male pattern baldness (known medically as androgenetic alopecia), while he was in his twenties. That fits exactly with the timeline at which genetically predisposed men begin to notice their hair thinning, and the condition tends to continually develop further from there as time goes on.^1,2

Outrageous costumes, architectural sunglasses, and a carousel of wigs became a deeply embedded part of the Rocket Man’s mythology, and drew attention away from his receding hairline.

Interestingly, by the 1980’s, audiences began to notice he had regained a fuller hair look. Interestingly, it appears considerably fuller today than it had looked during his twenties.

What Type of Hair Transplant Did Elton John Have?

2019, however, Elton John talked about his hair loss and recovery in his autobiography entitled Me. In the book, he shares how he had a strip of hair-bearing skin removed from one area of his head by a surgeon and transplanted into the crown of his scalp.

This is a characteristic description of an FUT procedure. When combined with the era in which the surgery took place, this strongly suggests that he underwent an early form of Follicular Unit Transplantation, or FUT.

Hair restoration was largely done differently in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s in comparison to the refined procedure available to patients today. He mentioned having had two hair transplant operations, both of which ultimately proved unsuccessful.

Why were Elton John’s Hair Transplants Unsuccessful?

We do not know the exact clinical reason as to why his hair transplants failed. In his characteristic bluntness in interviews and in Me, Elton John acknowledged that he found it difficult to stick to his post-operative care plan.

He chalks the failure of his hair transplants down to a combination of recreational drug use and ignoring advice to not wear a hat after the procedure. Given his fondness for hats, it may have been a step he was unwilling to take.

“I’m not sure why, but it didn’t take (…) Perhaps it had something to do with the amount of drugs I was taking. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that the one thing they told me I must not do in the weeks after the procedure was wear a hat, advice I chose to completely ignore (…)” – Elton John, from his autobiography Me (2019)³.

That detail is very important. A transplant does not end when the patient leaves the operating room. In fact, the weeks following are when the extra care needs to take place because of how vulnerable the grafts can be at this stage. During the first few days, the newly implanted hair follicles begin to embed into the scalp. Until they have become secure, friction, pressure, sunlight, and physical trauma can jeopardise them.

Headwear is particularly risky in the immediate stages after a hair transplant. We advise our patients on how to carefully wear a cap to avoid damage.

The grafts are delicate at this stage, and the fabric and pressure of the hat can press against and dislodge the grafts, especially if any hairs get snagged while putting on or removing it. As a result, careful instructions are required to ensure that wearing a hat or cap is done safely.

For a detailed guide on what to expect after a transplant and how to care for your new hair, you may find our in-depth aftercare guide helpful.

“Hair transplant surgery has developed leaps and bounds since the 1970s when Elton John had his first procedure. The refined techniques we perform in our clinic today give predictable, safe and natural outcomes for patients”

Dr Dilan Fernando, Hair Transplant Surgeon and Co-Founder at The Treatment Rooms London

The musician wasn’t particular about the exact procedures he had to undergo to restore his hair until 2019, when he revealed in his autobiography, Me, that he had a strip of hair taken from his scalp and transplanted into his crown. 

Based on the noticeable difference in his hair density, as well as his statements about undergoing a hair transplant in the late 1970s or early 1980s, it is likely that he had an early version of the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) procedure. This was still a new concept at that time, known as the early strip-harvesting method. He also mentioned having undergone two hair transplants, both of which were unsuccessful.

How might Elton John’s hair be treated today?

The options available to John back then were scant in comparison to what exists nowadays. Judging solely from the photographs taken during the earlier stages of his hair loss, it appears he would have been a suitable candidate for FUE or FUT surgery. 

Given the demands of his career in the spotlight, an unshaven procedure might have appealed to him. 

This would have meant he could have kept his existing hair without having to shave it, which would mean there would be less obvious evidence of his surgery and less time hidden away from cameras. 

Images from his 1976 tour–and John’s own remark that he had “virtually nothing left on top” – suggest substantial loss. Based on this, our surgeons estimate that his pattern likely corresponded to grade 5 on the Norwood scale,  which is a widely used system for classifying male pattern baldness.

Under modern conditions, a possible plan that we mapped out for him involves approximately 3,000-4,500 grafts across the hairline and crown, potentially carried out in two stages. 

Why might an unshaven transplant suit someone in the public eye? 

Performers, executives, and anyone whose job requires frequent public appearances may want a hair transplant without going through a phase where their hair is obviously shaved, or without needing to withdraw from public life until the hair grows back. 

Both unshaven FUE and FUT can offer a more subtle recovery, while still producing natural-looking growth. Each method has its own advantages and limitations.

Check out our guide to the differences between FUE and FUT.

Whatever the technique you opt for, one of the most consequential decisions you have to make is clinic selection. 

A reputable surgeon-led practice should provide an individual assessment, set realistic expectations, plan for future hair loss, and use an experienced medical team. Natural results are designed and planned carefully, hair by hair, angle by angle, and patient by patient. 

Are you considering a hair transplant?

At The Treatment Rooms London, we offer our patients world-class care before, during, and after their procedure. Our surgeons will take your hair texture, curl pattern, and natural hairline into account during the planning phase, helping you achieve natural-looking results.

Our clinic is surgeon-led, which allows for a very direct continuity of care. From your very first questions to the treatment itself, you will be under the care of one of our surgeons who will be in contact with you from the consultation stage through the post-hair transplant phase.

References

1. Men’s hair loss (2024) American Hair Loss Association. Available at: https://www.americanhairloss.org/mens-hair-loss/  (Accessed: 18 February 2025). 
   
2. NICE (2022) How common is male pattern hair loss?, Male pattern hair loss (male androgenetic alopecia). Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/male-pattern-hair-loss-male-androgenetic-alopecia/background-information/prevalence/ (Accessed: 18 February 2025). 
   
3. John, E. (2019) Me. London: MacMillan, an imprint of Pan MacMillan. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250147608/me/