Cesc Fàbregas is a household name. So when he suddenly appeared with a brand new hairline in 2014, fans were bound to notice.
What was his secret? Did Cesc Fàbregas have a hair transplant, or were his results due to something else? If he opted for a transplant, he was one of many — Europeans saw a 240% increase in interest in hair transplant surgeries between 2010 and 2021 [1].
In this article, we’ll explore:
Francesc “Cesc” Fàbregas Soler is a former footballer who was born on May 4, 1987, in Spain. He became Arsenal’s club captain in 2003 and went on to have a long, successful career playing for Arsenal, FC Barcelona, Chelsea, AS Monaco, and Como 1907.
Fàbregas was part of the squads that won the UEFA Euro 2008, the FIFA World Cup 2010, and the UEFA Euro 2012, and he finally retired from professional football in 2023. In 2024, he became the head coach of Como 1907.
Like many footballers who have hair transplants, Fàbregas has never openly discussed having a hair transplant or any treatment for his hair. However, he had early signs of thinning and balding, which suddenly disappeared in 2014 and he appeared sporting a much straighter hairline.
His hairline has stayed the same ever since. And as a hair transplant is the only permanent treatment for male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), it’s very likely that Fàbregas had a hair transplant in 2014.
Cesc Fàbregas’ hairline has gone through some definite changes over the years. Here, we’ll look at when he first started losing his hair, how his appearance has changed over time, and what he did to get those results.
As a young man, Cesc Fàbregas had a healthy head of hair. But by 2011, when he was just 24 years old, he was already starting to show signs of male pattern baldness.
In this photo, you can see signs of temple hair loss. These changes put him at around stage 2 on the Norwood scale.
By 2012, his hair loss had progressed further. Here, you can see Fàbregas had an M-shaped hairline — another classic symptom of male pattern baldness.
Fàbregas’ hair loss reached its peak in 2014. This is also the year that he likely had a hair transplant.
In this photo, you’ll notice dark spots around Fàbregas’ hairline. These may be the early results of a hair transplant beginning to grow through.
By 2015, there was no doubt about it. Fàbregas had a brand new hairline that looked incredibly natural and made him look younger.
Although Fàbregas kept his new hairline from 2015, his hair appeared thinner again at certain times — as shown by this image from 2023. Surgeons often recommend medication like Minoxidil or Finasteride to maintain density after a transplant, and it’s possible that Fàbregas didn’t follow those recommendations.
However, fast forward to 2025, and Fàbregas’ hair looks the thickest it’s ever been. This suggests it’s likely he did have a hair transplant in 2014, because a hair transplant is permanent and these are the kind of long-term results we’d expect to see when post-transplant recommendations are followed.
Fàbregas developed a condition called male pattern baldness in his mid-20s. This type of alopecia is incredibly common and affects most men at some point in their lives.
Early symptoms include a receding hairline and temple hair loss. Later, men may develop a bald spot on the crown, and some men go completely bald.
The Norwood Scale documents the typical progression of male pattern baldness. Right before his transplant, Fàbregas reached around Norwood stage 3.
Fàbregas likely chose a follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplant. This type of hair transplant offers incredibly natural results with minimal scarring and is perfect for men without excessive hair loss.
The other common type of hair transplantation is follicular unit transplantation (FUT). This type of transplant allows more hair follicles to be transplanted in one go, making it a good option for more extensive hair loss.
Both types of hair transplant involve moving healthy follicles from areas of hair loss to areas of hair growth. However, FUE and FUT differ in the methods used to extract follicles from the hair transplant donor area.
Because of these differences, FUT hair transplants leave a linear hair transplant scar at the donor site. Fàbregas has never shown any signs of a scar like this.
In 2014, Fàbregas was living in London while he played for Chelsea FC. Therefore, it’s likely he had his hair transplant in the UK.
According to our research, the average UK hair transplant cost for a male patient with Norwood stage 2-3 hair loss is around £4,820. Prices may have been lower 11 years ago, in 2014.
However, it’s possible that Fàbregas paid more or less than this depending on his choice of clinic and surgeon. As a celebrity, he could afford the best, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he paid over the odds. Our research suggests there is no correlation between a surgeon’s experience and the price per graft.
Curious to know what happens if you get a hair transplant? Any reputable clinic will follow these steps.
A hair transplant surgeon will assess your hair loss and decide whether you’re a candidate for a natural-looking hair transplant. If you are, they’ll help you plan your new look and if not, they’ll suggest alternative treatments.
Most people receive local anaesthesia before a hair transplant, so you’ll be awake but won’t feel any pain. Once the area is numb, your surgeon will extract hair follicles from the donor area (usually the back or sides of the head).
The extracted hairs are then carefully placed in areas of hair loss. Altogether, the procedure often takes 4-7 hours, depending on how many grafts you need and whether your surgeon uses FUE or FUT.
After the procedure, you’ll likely have some mild hair transplant side effects like swelling and redness around your scalp for a few days. Your scabs will shed within the first week or two, and you’ll go back to normal activities around this time as well.
You’ll lose the transplanted hair (known as shock loss) several weeks after the procedure, but the follicles will remain. They’ll start growing new hair within 3-4 months and by 12-18 months, you’ll see the final results.
If you’re looking for a UK hair clinic trusted by celebrities, look no further than the Wimpole Clinic. We’re responsible for Rob Holding’s hair transplant, as well as transplants for other sporting stars like Ben Stokes.
We work with some of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK, so you can rest assured that results will look incredibly natural. Not everyone is a good candidate for a hair transplant, but we also offer a wide range of other hair loss treatments.
Depending on your symptoms, our trichologists may recommend:
Ready to start your hair restoration journey? Book a consultation at your nearest clinic location today.
To avoid public attention, celebrities sometimes get hair transplants in stages to make it less obvious. They may plan their procedures around time off, change their hairstyle, or wear hats in the growing-out phase. Celebs choose reputable, experienced clinics and top-notch surgeons who can deliver seamless results with minimal scarring.
10 years after a hair transplant, your transplanted hair should continue to grow. However, you may need a follow-up procedure if you continue to lose hair around the transplanted grafts.
Plenty of celebrities have opted for a hair transplant over the years, such as Gary Goldsmith, Jake Quickenden, and Joel McHale. Celebs who may have possibly had a transplant include Conor McGregor, Sylvester Stallone, and Jamie Foxx.
A hair transplant isn’t right for everyone. If you don’t have enough donor hair, have certain medical conditions, have unstable hair loss, are under 18, or have active scalp conditions like scalp psoriasis, a hair transplant may not be suitable for you.
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