Wayne Rooney Hair Transplant: Expert Analysis of His Hair Loss and Restoration

Key takeaways:

• Has Wayne Rooney had a hair transplant? Yes, and he publicly talked about it. He confirmed having the procedure in a tweet in 2011, saying, “I have had a hair transplant. I was going bald at 25, why not? I’m delighted with the result.”
  
• When did he have the hair transplant? He got his first procedure done back in 2011 when he was 25 and did one more in 2013. He started losing his hair early into his 20s.
  
• Why did he have it? Rooney had been the subject of constant media attention and jokes about his hairline, and he has admitted that he became self-conscious about it. In his 2015 autobiography, he talked about having the second procedure to deal with further hair loss.
  
• Which technique was used? Our surgeons suggest he likely had the FUE (Follicular Unit Excision) technique. He was seen with a shaved head around the time of the procedure, which reinforces the assessment. An FUT technique will usually leave a linear scar on the scalp.
  
• How Many Grafts Did Wayne Rooney Have? Our surgeons estimate that he had about 2000 grafts done on his temples and hairline in his first procedure back in 2011 and maybe 1000-1500 grafts in his second procedure in 2013 as a top-up. A second hair transplant or top-up can be used to deal with any further hair loss.

Wayne Rooney is widely regarded as one of the greatest football talents from England. He was the former all-time goal scorer for the English national team and still remains the all-time goal scorer for Manchester United. He won five Premier League titles and the Champions League before moving into the world of football management.

Living in the spotlight, both on the pitch and in the media, Rooney became the target of playful jabs and memes about his hair. Despite his undeniable talent and achievements, the impact of hair loss on his self-esteem was evident and became further exacerbated by tabloid headlines’ scrutiny.

Rooney started losing his hair at a young age with pictures of his baldness becoming a talking point in the press. However, he responded positively to the criticism by sharing his experience with hair loss and how he chose to have a hair transplant. He has since been credited with helping break down the stigma around hair loss and choosing hair transplant as a solution.

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.

— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) June 4, 2011

Wayne Rooney’s Hair Over the Years

Wayne Rooney is one of the first celebrities to publicly talk about having a hair transplant, which was not socially acceptable as it is right now. His openness and courage to talk about it are considered to have made a significant impact in making hair transplants more acceptable, with lots of people being inspired to have it by his story.

2007–2008

By the time he was 21 years old in 2007, he had become a regular player for Manchester United and England. He began to lose some hair around his temples and started to develop an M-shaped hairline at this time.

2008–2011: rapid progression

There was a rapid progression over the next few years from 2008 to 2011, with the hair loss now noticeably advanced. Both temples receded further, with hair loss in the crown area. This is a considerably fast hair loss for a man in his early-to-mid-twenties. 

As a star football player, his hair loss drew massive attention from both the media and fans.

Being constantly photographed and mentioned in the press led to him becoming more self-aware of the condition. At this time, his hair loss had progressed to around Norwood stage 3 to 4.

2011: First Hair Transplant

In 2011, aged 25, Rooney had his first hair transplant. He went public about the procedure, talking about likely going bald at 25 and how delighted he was about the result.

At this time, he was one of the first high-profile celebrities to openly talk about having a hair transplant. This had a positive impact on people’s perception of the procedure and became a source of inspiration for a lot of men.

2013: the second procedure

Wayne Rooney had the second procedure to deal with further hair loss. For men with actively progressing hair loss, a second hair transplant is often pre-planned to be done at a certain time to keep pace with expected hair loss progression.

2015 onwards: a restored, natural hairline

By this time, he sported noticeably fuller hair and a more defined hairline.

In his 2015 autobiography, he reflected on his hair loss experience, the impact it had on him, and how at one point he considered shaving his head before finally deciding to opt for a hair transplant.

“Hair is a massive part of an individual’s identity, and its loss can profoundly impact one’s self-confidence, social interactions, and overall psychological well-being. The emotional distress associated with hair loss is a very common clinical reality, often affecting people long before the hair loss becomes severe. In the past, hair loss treatment options like hair transplantation were associated with social stigma, and people couldn’t talk about it openly. However, public disclosures by high-profile figures, like Wayne Rooney in 2011, marked a pivotal shift, normalizing open conversations about hair restoration. Today, acknowledging and treating hair loss is considered a vital step in helping individuals reclaim their confidence and improve their quality of life.“

Dr Bijaya Laxmi Gurung, Hair Transplant Surgeon, The Treatment Rooms London.

How Many Grafts Did Wayne Rooney Have?

Rooney has never disclosed the number of hair grafts used during his first and second hair transplant.

Our surgeons estimate about 2000 grafts were used on his temples and hairline in his first procedure back in 2011. The second procedure in 2013 is estimated to have required 1000-1500 grafts

A second hair transplant or top-up can be used to deal with any further hair loss. It is often pre-planned to keep pace with new areas of thinning and baldness, and this requires careful donor hair management and planning.

“For younger individuals experiencing advanced hair loss, undergoing a hair transplant often requires additional procedures in the future. This is not due to surgical failure, but because male pattern baldness is a progressive condition that advances over time. Wayne Rooney is a great example of this; he required a second transplant in 2013 simply because his native hairs continued to thin. When treating early-onset hair loss, a good surgeon looks beyond the immediate cosmetic goals to plan a lifetime strategy. This involves designing a conservative hairline with the right density and preserving the donor hair to ensure enough follicles remain available for the future.“

Dr Bijaya Laxmi Gurung, Hair Transplant Surgeon, The Treatment Rooms London

What Type of Hair Transplant Did Wayne Rooney Have?

Wayne Rooney underwent a Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) hair transplant. For most celebrity cases that we’ve analysed, understanding the technique has been inferred from available pictures, but Rooney, in partnership with his hair transplant clinic, identified FUE as the technique used.

The FUE technique involves harvesting follicular units primarily from the donor areas, the back and sides of the scalp, which are resistant to the hormone responsible for hair loss, the DHT hormone.

At the time of the procedure, he also had a closely shaved head, which is consistent with the FUE technique. The donor area is shaved short, making it easy for the surgeon to perform precise excision.

Are you inspired by Wayne Rooney’s Hair Loss?

If you are experiencing male pattern hair loss and you are inspired by Wayne Rooney’s story, it is important to note that while hair transplant is an effective hair restoration solution, success often depends on the quality of the surgeon or clinic used.

We recommend taking enough time to do your research, get recommendations from a friend or family member with a successful hair transplant, check the clinic’s website to see previous cases, and check online for reviews

You can reach out to us at The Treatment Rooms London to book a session with one of our surgeons and discuss your hair loss and the best treatment options available for you.

At our clinic, we operate a surgeon-led system where all patients are attended to by a qualified surgeon, and the same surgeon will lead your procedure if you decide to proceed.

References

1. Rooney W [@WayneRooney]. 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. [Twitter]. 2011 Jun 4 [cited 2026 Sep 4]. Available from: https://x.com/WayneRooney/status/76938881710301184
   
2. The bald truth: Rooney confirms hair transplant [Internet]. BBC News. 2011 Jun 4 [cited 2026 Sep 4]. (Widely reported; a freely accessible secondary source for the confirmation, the Harley Street detail, and Coleen Rooney’s corroboration.)
   
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 Sep 4]. 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 Sep 4]. 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