Elton John and His Hair Transplant Journey

Sir Elton John has had one of the greatest careers in music. Since his rise to fame in the 1970s, he’s remained popular as one of the world’s most loved musicians.

Throughout his career, however, his struggle with hair loss has equally been in the public eye – in fact, he has been candid about his struggles with hair loss due to male patterned baldness (androgenetic alopecia) in his 20s. Most men experience male patterned baldness around this age, with androgenetic alopecia becoming more common and severe as they get older.^1–2

What Type of Hair Transplant Did Elton John Have?

The musician wasn’t very specific about the exact procedures he’s had 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 on undergoing a hair transplant around the late 70s or early 80s, it is likely 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 being unsuccessful.

Why was Elton John’s Hair Transplant Unsuccessful?

Elton John has openly discussed his hair loss and the possible factors that contributed to the failure of his double hair transplant procedures. In his interviews and even his autobiography, admits that he overlooked certain aspects of post-operative care, which may have affected the results of his transplants. He has stated that his habits with recreational drugs, along with wearing hats immediately after surgery with the wrong technique, could have been why his transplants didn’t take as expected.

“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. 

Our surgeons at The Treatment Rooms always emphasise how crucial the first few days after surgery are for achieving the best results. During this period, the newly transplanted hair grafts begin to secure themselves into the scalp, and following a proper aftercare routine is key. This includes keeping the newly implanted grafts hydrated, nourished, and protected from factors like physical trauma and sun exposure.

We also advise caution when wearing a cap after surgery. We ask our patients to try and avoid it as much as possible, but if absolutely necessary, there’s a correct way to do it during the first few days to make sure the grafts remain undisturbed. 

Elton John’s journey highlights the importance of proper post-operative care and a healthy lifestyle in achieving successful hair restoration results. His experiences serve as a reminder that, even with surgical intervention, the aftercare routine is crucial for ensuring the best possible outcome.

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.

Considerations for Transplanting Elton John’s Hair

Back then, Elton John didn’t have nearly as many options for hair transplants as we do today. Looking at the early stages of his hair loss, he would have been a good candidate for an FUE or FUT surgery, and most likely an unshaven procedure to keep his time away from the spotlight to a minimum. Assessing his hair loss from his 1976 tour pictures, where he mentioned himself that he has “virtually nothing left on top”, our Surgeons suggested a score of 5 on the Norwood Scale which is a popular tool to grade how advanced hair loss is. Our surgeons estimate that as part of his hair transplant, Elton could have had benefitted from 3000-4500 grafts transplanted into his crown and hairline in two stages, with each graft producing 2-4 hairs.

It makes sense why an unshaven hair transplant is often the go-to choice for those constantly in the public eye. Anyone with a busy lifestyle or a job that involves frequent public appearances might want a more discreet way to restore their hair without too much downtime. To address this, unshaven FUT and FUE techniques can be done, allowing for a subtle recovery while still delivering natural-looking results.

Both methods are highly effective for thinning or receding hairlines, especially for those experiencing male pattern baldness. If you’re curious about how they compare, you can check out this article for a detailed breakdown of the differences between FUE and FUT.

When considering a hair transplant, selecting a reputable, surgeon-led clinic is crucial. Top-tier clinics provide personalised assessments, employ highly skilled medical teams, and utilise cutting-edge technology to ensure precise, natural-looking results.  

Elton John’s Hair Now

Currently, Elton John is happily rocking his professionally fitted toupee! While hair transplantation is a more permanent and natural solution for those experiencing pattern baldness, it isn’t always the right option for everyone. A successful transplant depends on an individual’s suitability, which includes whether they have enough healthy donor hair for the procedure (or multiple procedures). 

Like Elton, if you’re at a stage of experiencing extensive hair loss and a transplant isn’t on the table, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with exploring non-surgical options. We at the Treatment Rooms suggest treatments like Scalp Micro Pigmentation (SMP) or a professionally fitted toupee, which can still help you achieve a look that makes you feel confident.

As John put it himself: “Yes, I am bald, but I don’t like being bald, so I wear a toupee!” And honestly? He seems happy with it, and it suits him – that’s what counts!

Elton John’s Hair Transplant FAQs

1. When Did Elton John Start Losing His Hair?
   
   Elton John began losing his hair in the early 1970s, around the age of 23, just as he was debuting in America. Male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) often starts around this age in men who are genetically predisposed to it, becoming more common and severe with age.^1,2
   
2. When Did Elton John Get His Hair Transplant?
   
   In his autobiography and interviews, he mentioned getting two hair transplants done in the late 70s by Pierre Putot in Paris, after his 1976 tour.
    
3. How Many Hair Transplants Did Elton John Have?
   
   He mentioned that he has had 2 hair transplants done – both being unfortunately unsuccessful. 
   
4. What Type Of Hair Transplant Procedure Did Elton John Have?
   
   From our analysis, available imagery online, and of course, John’s statements, we can confirm that he had an early version of the FUT strip transplant (strip-harvesting method).
   
5. Is The Hair Transplant Permanent?
   
   The results should be permanent or could last up to 20 years, provided that the procedure and recovery went successfully. Ideally, once the transplanted hair follicles are well established after some months, they would grow naturally for up to 20 years or last a lifetime. However, as we explored, for John, this was not the case. It did not take, possibly due to the hair follicles not being established well enough on his scalp during his aftercare period. Since the late 70s when Sir Elton John got his hair transplant done, hair transplantation methods have evolved drastically and have shown a promising trend of producing successful hair transplants for many. 
   
6. Does Elton John Wear A Wig? 
   
   He’s been open about his journey with hair restoration and the various methods he’s used over the years. After his hair transplants didn’t take, he initially had a weave done, then turned to hairpieces crafted by Hollywood wig makers. Today, he’s completely transparent about wearing a toupee. 
   
   For those who have reached Norwood 7 on the hair loss scale and are no longer suitable for a hair transplant due to limited donor hair, there are still plenty of non-surgical alternatives available. Professionally fitted toupees can help bring back the feeling of having a full head of hair, or for a more subtle approach, Scalp Micro Pigmentation (SMP) is a good alternative to create the appearance of a closely shaved, fuller scalp.
   

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/