Did John Cena Get a Hair Transplant? An Expert Analysis of His Hairline

Key Takeaways:

1. Did John Cena get a hair transplant? John Cena publicly revealed that he did get a hair transplant on The Pat McAfee Show on April 21st, 2025. He said he got it done because fans were making jokes about his bald head. He would later add, “There is no shame to it”.
   
2. Exactly when did John have his hair transplant? John admittedly got the hair transplant back in November of 2024 when he was 47. He recently had a second hair transplant in June of 2025. He is vocal about his hair loss journey and also spoke about it while attending Comic-Con on July 25, 2025.
   
3. Which hair transplant technique was used? Both procedures were follicular unit excisions (FUE). They were performed by Dr Ken Anderson of the Anderson Center for Hair in Atlanta, Georgia. Cena claims that for his second surgery, his surgeon shaved his head in order to make placing follicles easier.
   
4. How many grafts do you think he had? We think approximately 1,800–2,200 grafts were used for his procedure. His hair loss around the crown area can take many more hair follicles than the hairline due to a larger area that needs coverage.

Professional wrestler turned Hollywood actor John Cena has been a household name for over two decades now. Over the years, he has continued to have hair loss around his hairline and crown area.

In an interview, he cited fans holding “The Bald Cena” banner at one of his WWE matches as part of what made him decide to go through with the hair transplant. Cena went on to say that “there is no shame to it.”

He has since had two hair restoration procedures, which have allowed him to completely cover his hair loss and sport a more youthful hairline.

“At the Treatment Rooms London, depending on specific cases, we may consider a multiple-day surgery or a planned staged procedure; this allows us to work safely and achieve the best natural-looking results. We plan this together with the patient, explaining the reasons for the approach, its benefits, and what can realistically be achieved at each stage.”

Dr Bijya Laxmi Gurung, Hair Transplant Surgeon at The Treatment Rooms London

Has John Cena Had a Hair Transplant?

Yes. John Cena has publicly acknowledged he’s had hair transplant surgery; in fact, two surgeries- and has been open about both of them.
The first procedure was likely done in November of 2024, and he had a second one in June of 2025. The first was likely done using the FUE or Low-Shave FUE method. He mentioned he has a full shave for the second procedure.

He shared that fan reactions to his hair displaying signs at a WWE match mocking his bald spot motivated him to opt for a hair transplant, and he’s since become an advocate against the stigma of seeking treatment for hair loss.

“I hate the fact that if there wasn’t so much shame around it, I would have gotten it done 10 years ago,” he said in an interview with People.

John Cena’s Hair Loss Timeline

John Cena has had a long career in the public eye, spanning over two decades. With this, we can analyse an extensive amount of his pictures to understand how his hair has changed over time.

Early Wrestling Career

For most of his WWE career, Cena’s hair was kept very short, shaved on the sides and only grown long on top. He is sometimes seen with a cap, which is part of his style and fashion. With this style, early hair loss would have been difficult to detect. 

Short hair naturally hides reduced density, and because there were no visible signs of extensive hair loss, it will be difficult to ascertain any hair loss at this stage.

Around 2015: Noticeable thinning at the crown

Now well into his late thirties, the first signs of hair loss are noticeable at the crown, which is the area at the top/back of the head.

What’s slightly different about Cena’s hair loss is that most men experience receding hairlines first, but John’s frontal hairline appears to be stable, with the thinning mostly visible at the crown.

Our surgeons would roughly classify his hair loss as Norwood stage 3 vertex hair loss, where the front hairline is mostly preserved, but thinning is significant at the crown.

2024: More Visible Balding Area and the Turning Point

By 2024, the thinning at his crown had become much more noticeable. At a WWE match, fans held up signs referring to him as “the bald cena”. He would later mention this prompted him to finally have a hair restoration procedure done.

Late 2024 to 2025: Treatment and Recovery

Cena had his first hair transplant in November 2024, treating both the crown and areas along the frontal hairline, followed by a second, shorter procedure in June 2025 to add density along his frontal hairline.

What Kind of Hair Transplant Did John Cena Have?

Both of Cena’s hair transplants were likely performed using Follicular Unit Excision (FUE), and reportedly done by Dr Ken Anderson at his Anderson Center for Hair clinic in Atlanta.

FUE hair transplant technique involves removing individual follicular units from the donor areas, mostly on the back and sides of the scalp, where the hair follicles are DHT-resistant. The hair follicles will then be transplanted to the balding or thinning area.

Because FUE involves harvesting hair follicles one at a time, it leaves small circular scars that fade away after a few weeks. This is unlike FUT, which leaves a long linear scar at the back of the head.

There are a limited number of grafts which can be harvested, so it needs to be carefully allocated and considered from the very first procedure. Over-harvesting can limit future options, particularly if a second transplant is needed later on. 

With careful assessment, counselling, and long-term planning with the patient, it is still possible to achieve a natural and satisfying outcome even in more acdvanced cases of hair loss.

Dr Bijya Laxmi Gurung, Hair Transplant Surgeon at The Treatment Rooms London

Are You Considering Having a Hair Transplant?

Having a hair transplant is a personal choice, and if you are inspired by John Cena’s story, it is important to understand that success starts with finding the right hair transplant clinic. For some people, having a hair transplant might not be the best solution for their current situation; a credible hair loss clinic will carry out an assessment, advising you on your best option.

At The Treatment Rooms London, we operate with a surgeon-first approach, ensuring all our patients are given the right advice on their best options. Should a hair transplant be the best option for you, we will plan your procedure considering your expectations and the most realistic outcome based on your hair loss stage and the best hairline design that is age-appropriate for you.

Contact us, and one of our team will reach out to guide you on the next steps.

References

1. People. John Cena says 2 hair transplants “totally changed my life” after more than 20 hours total in surgery [Internet]. 2025 Jul [cited 2026 Aug 28]. Available from: https://people.com/john-cena-says-2-hair-transplants-totally-changed-my-life-after-more-than-20-hours-total-in-surgery-exclusive-12027166
   
2. TODAY. John Cena says on “Pat McAfee Show” that he had a hair transplant [Internet]. 2025 Apr [cited 2026 Aug 28].
   Available from: https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/john-cena-hair-transplant-pat-mcafee-show-rcna202310
   
3. Asfour L, Cranwell W, Sinclair R. Male androgenetic alopecia. [Updated 2023 Jan 25]. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000– [cited 2026 Aug 28]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278957/
   
4. Ho CH, Zito PM. Androgenetic alopecia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 [cited 2026 Aug 28]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430924/
   
5. Jimenez F, Alam M, Vogel JE, Avram M. Hair transplantation: basic overview. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Oct;85(4):803–814. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2021.03.124