Hair transplants have gotten more and more popular in recent years. Many celebrities, like Boy George (who was influenced by football star Wayne Rooney), Elton John (he’s had two hair transplants that caused him pain and made him wear wigs), and Robbie Williams, have been open about having this kind of surgery.
Robbie Williams, who used to be in the band Take That, had a hair transplant in 2013. Then, seven years later, he decided to have another one. But he was told that his hair was now too thin. After that, he said he was accepting his hair loss. A hair transplant is a medical procedure where hair is moved to an area where it’s thinning or bald. There are two main types of hair transplants: follicular unit transplantation (also called the strip method, or FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE).
FUE means taking out hair follicles from an area where there’s enough hair (the donor area) and putting them into the balding areas. It’s less invasive than FUT. With FUE, there are no long, straight scars, and people recover faster. It can take between six to eight hours to do.
FUT involves removing a strip of the scalp. Then, individual hair follicles are taken from that strip. This leaves a scar at the back of the head and it takes longer to heal.
Baga, who is 35 years old, finished third on the first series of Drag Race UK in 2019. After wearing wigs for years, she had a hair transplant more than a year ago at the Wimpole Clinic on London’s famous Harley Street. She noticed her hair was thinning while she was on the show, and she wanted a “stronger hairline.” She told PinkNews, “For me, it was more like a cosmetic surgery to change the shape of my face. When I look in the mirror, I want to feel like I look amazing.”
She also said, “I’m not doing this for anyone else. You shouldn’t feel ashamed. You can’t help how you were born because it’s all about your genes.” She went on to praise William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow on Coronation Street. He’s in his nineties and still has a full head of hair. Even though she was offered tablets to make her hair thicker, Baga chose to have the surgery, even though there are some risks.
She said, “I have a lot of friends who have had a hair transplant,” and she mentioned her fellow Drag Race UK star Bimini, who shared her own hair transplant experience in 2024.
When Bimini had the surgery last summer, she had facial swelling. This is a common side effect because the immune system is trying to fight off possible infections. The NHS (National Health Service) warns that “cosmetic surgery can sometimes go wrong, and the results might not be what you hoped for.” It also says that if you want a hair transplant in England, you should check with the Care Quality Commission to see if the hospital or clinic is registered.
Some people go to Turkey for hair transplants because it’s cheaper there. But some surgeons say that the low prices mean they might cut corners on safety and quality.
Hair transplants usually have some common side effects. These include a tight, achy feeling and a swollen scalp for a few days. There can also be temporary scabbing and scarring.
Sometimes, the surgery can have problems. The NHS points out that common issues are bleeding, getting an infection, or having an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic. After having the transplant, Baga says her hair is now much thicker and healthier.
She’s excited and says, “I’m getting a lot more compliments. And it doesn’t even look like I’ve had a hair transplant.” Now, instead of wearing a cap when she goes out, she uses hair gel.
Baga talked about her “bestest friend,” The Vivienne, who passed away last month. She paid an emotional tribute to her. Baga remembered The Vivienne saying, “It looks great, girl.”
The Vivienne had a hair transplant in 2020 and showed her progress on social media. Baga said, “The Vivienne was so great and very talented. She would always say, ‘Put the graft in,’ and that if you want something, ‘You have to work for it. ’ When we were on Drag Race, I had been doing drag for about 13 years. She was my biggest supporter. She would say, ‘Whatever you do, just go out and do your best.’”
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