LeBron James Hair Transplant: Before and After

For many years LeBron James could be seen on the basketball court with his hairline receding behind his headband, so it is well established that he has suffered from male pattern baldness since his early to mid-20s. 

LeBron was at the Paris 2024 Olympics winning Gold for Team USA with what appeared to be a strong hairline (see image below). Now at the age of 40, it is obvious that LeBron James has done something to achieve a renewed appearance to his hair. 

The evidence for LeBron having a hair transplant to his frontal hairline is compelling. Spray-on hair fibres are a common camouflage tactic to create the appearance of a full hairline but these are not compatible with a sport as sweaty as basketball! 

Where LeBron has achieved more permanent restoration as demonstrated by his hairline upgrades on the court, it is possible that he visited a hair transplant clinic to undergo a hair transplant to the frontal hairline. 

LeBron James’ hair transplant before and after

The picture on the left clearly illustrates a receding hairline and signs of male pattern baldness. The adjacent picture is of LeBron following his speculated hair transplant with no receding hairline. 

For someone who is constantly in the public eye and an icon that goes beyond basketball, looking good is part of the job and he may have decided to restore his hairline to maintain his appearance.

What type of hair transplant did LeBron James have?

Hair transplants leave scars of varying types depending on what surgery you opt for. An FUE hair transplant (Follicular Unit Excision) generally leaves minimal “dot-like” scarring due to the nature of individually removing hair follicles a millimetre in diameter. 

In June 2015 LeBron James very unfortunately hit the back of his head on a camera during the NBA finals. This led to some very high-definition close-up footage of his likely donor area and what appears to be “dot-like” scarring in keeping with FUE hair transplant surgery this can be seen in the photo below.

An FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) Strip hair transplant involves removing a strip of the scalp containing hair follicles from a donor area. This leaves a long linear strip at the back of the head. There is minimal evidence to suggest this method of surgery was performed.  

Factoring in the information and photographic evidence, it would appear that LeBron James might have had an FUE hair transplant to his hairline and temples to thicken the areas more to his preference. 

It is possible that the procedure took place after 2014 when he still had obvious signs of recession and before June 2015 when he was shown to have “dot-like” scars at the time of his head injury. 

How many hairs did LeBron James have transplanted?

Our experienced, award-winning hair transplant Surgeons in London estimate that LeBron James has had close to 1500 – 2000 grafts transplanted into his hairline, with each graft producing 1-4 hairs.

To figure out how many grafts you would need if you were to get an FUE hair transplant, why not try our hair graft calculator?

How many hair transplants has LeBron James had?

Since donning a new hairline around 2015 with a speculated hair transplant at that time, sequential photos since then have shown patchy areas of thinning and balding behind the hairline and in the crown (see photos below). It may be the case that LeBron James has had multiple FUE hair transplants to address these areas also, resulting in the rejuvenated head of hair he now has in his 40s. 

Google ‘LeBron James hair transplant’

If you fancy doing a bit more research, why not search for ‘LeBron James hair 2005’ and ‘LeBron James hair 2008’, you will be able to see how his hairline has changed.

In 2008, it was clear that his hairline had receded beyond what it was back in 2005 and what it now looks like today.

LeBron James Hair Transplants FAQ 

1. Did LeBron James Get a Hair Transplant?

While he did not confirm if he had done a transplant or not, there was a visible change in his hairline. He used to have a patchy frontal loss behind the hairline and a crown thinning. He used to wear a headband to conceal the crown thinning but that has changed now as he now has a thick and full hairline.

2. What Does LeBron James’ Hairline Look Like Before and After?

LeBron James used to have a noticeable receding hairline which started in his mid-20s. After the suspected hair transplant, he now has a full and thick hairline. A scar was noticed behind his head suggesting an FUT hair transplant was done.

3. Why Do People Think LeBron James Had a Hair Transplant?

LeBron James’ hairline had receded previously and the sudden difference only meant people would start to ask questions. The changes led both fans and sports commentators to compare his previous looks to the recent one with a fuller hairline.

4. Has LeBron James Commented on His Hair?

He has humorously addressed his hairline in interviews without clear confirmation indicating a hair transplant has been done.

5. What Is LeBron James’ Current Hairstyle?

LeBron James is not the type that changes hairstyle frequently. He currently has a short and cropped hairstyle.

How can The Treatment Rooms London help you?

Losing your hair can be distressing, a real blow to one’s self-confidence. At The Treatment Rooms London, we know that every situation is individual, that’s why we ensure that whatever approach we go with, it’s tailored to your individual needs. Furthermore, our patient journey is second to none with hair transplant aftercare factored into our pricing structure.

For more information about costs associated with an FUE hair transplant, take a look at our dedicated hair transplant cost page or try our hair graft calculator to figure out how many grafts you might need. Get in touch today if you’d like to book a consultation to discuss how we will be able to help you.

At treatment rooms we specialise in FUE hair transplants, feel free to get in touch to find out more, or browse our other articles for answers to common questions:

• What is a FUE hair transplant?
• Is an FUE hair transplant right for me?
• Patient journey
• Aftercare and recovery
• How much does an FUE hair transplant cost?