Award-winning actor Andrew Scott’s sense of style and elegant looks are highly appreciated by fans worldwide. However, the movie star has not been spared from male pattern baldness. This common hair loss condition that affects over 85% of men at some point in life [1] can impair an actor’s career. That is why rumours about Andrew Scott’s hair transplant have been bubbling online.
Andrew has made no comments about the state of his hairline or having had any kind of surgery to correct it. However, his desire to keep this aspect of his life private has only fanned the rumour flames. So, did the actor really have a hair transplant? This article will give you all the information you need, including:
Andrew Scott is an Irish actor born in 1976 in Dublin. He made his big screen debut in 1995, at the young age of 19, in the movie Korea. After devoting some time to theatre roles, Andrew received a minor part in the award-winning blockbuster Saving Private Ryan (1998).
The actor’s claim to fame came, however, in 2010, when Andrew portrayed the famous villain Moriarty, playing opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in the critically acclaimed BBC TV show Sherlock (2010-2017). Scott was awarded the BAFTA Television Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role.
Other accolades he received include a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance in All Of Us Strangers (2023), as well as Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the leading role in 2024’s Ripley [2].
So far, none of the photographs or video footage of Andrew seem to indicate that the actor had a hair transplant without anyone knowing. His frontal area seems to have thinned out consistently over time, and he is still displaying the tell-tale signs of male pattern baldness, such as a receding hairline and temple hair loss.
There is no evidence of a radical transformation in the actor’s hair density or the position of his hairline. Only his hairstyle sometimes differs, as he occasionally opts for a short, sparse fringe to mask his tall forehead.
However, the actor’s alopecia seems to have progressed rather slowly over the past 20 years. This suggests that Andrew may be using non-surgical hair restoration treatments (such as Minoxidil or Finasteride) to prevent more of his hair from falling out.
While Andrew may not have had a hair transplant, he would likely benefit from one if he wanted to lower his hairline. That is because he’s showing typical symptoms of male pattern baldness. This condition is very common, affecting over 85% of men at some point in life [1]. Also known as androgenetic alopecia, this type of hair loss develops when a male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) binds to specific androgen receptors in your hair follicles. This causes them to shrink, leading to hair miniaturisation and, eventually, baldness [3].
Male pattern baldness often starts between ages 25 and 35 [4] and initially affects the frontal area, causing a receding or M-shaped hairline. If left untreated, it progresses to a bald spot on the crown, which becomes larger over time. While in the earlier stages, it can be curbed or even reversed with hair loss medications, only a hair transplant offers permanent hair regrowth.
Unlike other celebrities who had hair transplants, Andrew’s hairline has not undergone massive transformations throughout his adult life. However, his hair journey reveals slowly progressing frontal balding, which has significantly altered his look compared to his teens and early 20s. Here is his hairline evolution.
There are few publicly available photos of Andrew Scott in his teenage years and most of them come from his appearance in the movie Korea at age 19. While Andrew’s hair was styled for the part he was playing, his broad forehead was visible, and his hairline seemed straight and youthful. There appeared to be no temple thinning or any other sign of teenage hair loss.
By the time the actor reached his late twenties, however, he was already showing the first signs of hair thinning and balding. His hairline had started to recede and his temples had substantially thinned out.
By his mid-30s, Andrew’s alopecia had progressed slowly but consistently. However, after this point, it seemed to stop advancing and remained steady into his 40s. To reduce the visual impact, the actor appeared to trim his hairline into a straight line, even if that made his forehead seem even taller. The neat, geometrical aspect of his frontal area gave him a slick tidy look and drew attention away from his thinning hair.
However, some fans and influencers believe the actor’s hairline is unnaturally straight. Given his very tall forehead, he may have been better served by one of these male hairstyles for receding hairlines.
Nobody knows exactly where rumours of Andrew’s hair transplant originated, and the time frame when he supposedly had this procedure is also unclear. The actor has been constantly in the public eye during the past decade, showing no substantial changes to his hair length, style, or hairline shape that may be consistent with having had a natural-looking hair transplant.
Some fans speculate he may have had surgical hair restoration in 2024, as his hairline appears to be a little bit lower in some of his 2025 photos. However, the actor has made multiple public appearances with his head uncovered in what would have been his hair transplant recovery period, when he would almost certainly have experienced some hair transplant shock loss.
It is more likely that the photographs which started the rumours were taken from more flattering angles, in better lighting or have been slightly digitally retouched. Otherwise, some speculation may have started from the fact that Andrew wore a wig for his part in Ripley [5].
In 2025, Andrew’s hairline seems to have a similar level of recession as it had during the previous decade. So, if he is taking any treatment to curb his hair loss, it appears to be working to prevent his alopecia from progressing, albeit not restoring his hair growth.
Despite his imperfect hairline, however, Andrew Scott is increasingly popular and known as one of the best-groomed figures in the movie and theatre industry [6].
If Andrew were to get a hairline-lowering hair transplant, he would probably opt for a follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure. This involves harvesting individual hair follicles from the donor area on the back of the head and implanting them into his thinning frontal area.
A few years back, a different surgical hair restoration technique called follicular unit transplantation (FUT) was the gold standard. It involved harvesting an entire strip of skin from your donor area and then cutting it up into hair grafts to be transplanted. However, while still in use today, this technique leaves a fine linear scar on the donor area, unlike FUE, which does not.
Since Andrew is an actor, his appearance is very important to him and having a scar on the back of his head may be a problem if he wants to wear his hair short. So, while FUE can take longer to perform than FUT, he would likely opt for it, as it is mostly scar-free and allows for a more speedy recovery.
Andrew’s male pattern baldness appears to be a Norwood stage 3, with receding hairline and temples, but without a bald spot on the crown. This means he wanted to get his hair surgically restored, he would probably need a 2000-graft hair transplant.
However, this is just an estimate, as only a surgeon who has had a chance to examine the actor’s hair and scalp and learn his result expectations can determine how many hair grafts he may need. Factors such as hair texture, scalp laxity and desired coverage can play an important role in making this decision.
Like every cosmetic procedure, hair transplant costs can vary significantly, depending on the clinic you choose and the services you need. Here are some of the many factors that can influence pricing:
Based on our research, an average 1500-graft hair transplant for stage 2-3 male pattern baldness costs approximately £4,820. However, if Andrew Scott decided to get a hair transplant in the UK today, he would pay, on average, over £6,500, as he would likely need 2000 hair grafts or more.
Furthermore, given his celebrity status, Andrew might choose to have his procedure at a high-end facility with luxury optional services, which might set him back more than £15,000.
If you are interested in getting a correct estimation for your own prospective hair restoration surgery, the best thing you can do is contact the clinic of your choice. They can offer you an accurate quote based on your specific condition and expectations. Moreover, the best hair transplant clinics in the UK offer free consultations to prospective clients to help determine their eligibility, graft requirements and costs.
England Cricket Captain Ben Stokes talking to Dr. Ismail Ughratdar about his hair loss journey 5 years after his successful 1800-graft FUE hair transplant at the Wimpole Clinic
If you are experiencing hair loss problems similar to Andrew’s, you may wonder if you are a good candidate for a hair transplant. If so, do not hesitate to book a free, no-obligation hair transplant consultation with one of our excellent surgeons and find out today.
Unlike all other hair loss treatments, a hair transplant is permanent and can help you put your receding hairline or thinning crown behind you. We at the award-winning Wimpole Clinic have a 50-year legacy of stellar results in helping our patients regain their youthful, luxurious coverage. We are here to help you take the first step in reclaiming your hair and, with it, your confidence.
If you are curious to discover the hair journey and results of other actors, singers or footballers who had hair transplants (or are rumoured to have had them), you may enjoy reading the following articles:
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