A widow’s peak is a type of hairline that forms a V-shaped point in the centre of your forehead. Although it’s sometimes confused as a sign of hair loss, a widow’s peak is in fact a normal genetic trait [1] that many people have from childhood.
Widow’s peaks are very common; research shows that between 15% and 33% of people have a widow’s peak, varying based on ethnicity and gender [2-3].
Although it’s not a sign of hair loss in its own right, a widow’s peak can become more pronounced if your hairline starts to recede. For this reason, some people seek a widow’s peak hair transplant to straighten out their hairline when it starts receding.
In this article, you’ll learn all about widow’s peak transplants, including, the surgery techniques available and how they work; how much a hair transplant for a widow’s peak costs; alternative ways to tackle your widow’s peak; and what recovery from a widow’s peak hair transplant looks like.
Key takeaways
Here, Wimpole Clinic hair transplant surgeon Dr Chirag Gadhia shares his insights and experiences with performing widow’s peak hair transplants.
A widow’s peak hair transplant is a type of cosmetic surgery designed to amend your hairline. It involves removing follicles from the back and sides of the head and moving them to your hairline. For a widow’s peak, this is usually for one of two reasons:
Whichever is relevant to you, you can get widow’s peak surgery if you’re eligible. Dr Gadhia, a Wimpole Clinic hair transplant surgeon, explains why a widow’s peak hair transplant is a skilled procedure:
“The goal of a widow’s peak correction — and more generally, a hair transplant — is to create a natural design, not merely to remove the peak. The design should be appropriate for the patient’s facial anatomy, age gracefully, and realistic based on the available donor supply.
As with any hairline design, the objective should not be perfect symmetry, but rather a natural appearance that includes micro-irregularities. A natural design involves following the correct incision angulation to match existing hairs and using an appropriate distribution of single and double grafts, followed by multiples, to create a seamless design that blends well with the existing hair.”
He adds that there are several important factors to consider when completing an assessment for a widow’s peak hair transplant, including:
If you’ve decided to have a hair transplant to blend your widow’s peak into the rest of your hair, the Wimpole Clinic can help. We offer two different types of procedures when it comes to widow’s peak transplants: FUE (follicular unit extraction) and FUT (follicular unit transplantation).
An FUT transplant is performed by harvesting strips of skin containing healthy, active hair follicles from the back or side of your head. The surgeon then dissects this strip into hair follicle clusters, reimplanting the hair grafts into the affected areas.
This type of hair transplant costs a little more than FUE widow’s peak surgery, as it’s a more involved, invasive procedure that requires more staff to perform it effectively.
There’s also a higher risk of hair transplant scarring with FUT, as the grafts need to be harvested in strips. This means that a FUT hair transplant is recommended for patients who intend to wear their hair long, covering the scars.
Although FUT surgery is typically completed more quickly than FUE, the recovery period tends to be longer because of the larger donor site wound. With both procedures, you’ll usually see new hair growth within 6-18 months.
If you think FUT is right for your widow’s peak transplant, but you’re worried about scarring, scalp micropigmentation can help cover it.
An FUE transplant is a more modern, advanced approach to the procedure. The surgeon will use a tiny punch with a diameter of around 0.8-1 mm [4] to remove follicles individually from the donor area. The procedure is minimally invasive and therefore does not cause noticeable scarring, meaning you can wear your hair however you like.
FUE has taken the lead as the hair transplant method of choice — according to the 2025 International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) Practice Census, 85.4% of male patients globally chose FUE as their preferred hair transplant method [5].
Both FUE and FUT are equally effective for straightening a widow’s peak, so the option that’s best for you comes down to other factors:
Dr Gadhia sheds some light on other factors that may influence the choice between FUE and FUT:
“Hair texture can significantly influence whether we recommend the FUT or FUE procedure. When a patient has extensive hair loss… FUT may be a more optimal solution, especially when combined with FUE, as this approach can yield a higher total graft count.
For Afro-Caribbean hair types in particular, where curlier roots make FUE extraction more challenging, FUT can often be the preferable option as it reduces the risk of follicular transection. Because we specialise in Afro hair transplants, we place strong emphasis on a comprehensive assessment. This includes evaluating scalp laxity, any previous procedures, the patient’s willingness to shave the donor and recipient areas, and how they plan to style their hair in the future.”
There are three steps to any hair transplant procedure, including widow’s peak surgery:
The cost of a hair transplant to address a widow’s peak will depend on the number of hair grafts that need to be relocated, among other factors (such as location and surgical complexity). The number of grafts required for a widow’s peak hair transplant is generally low, but it varies for each person.
The Wimpole Clinic conducted extensive research to produce the estimates above. These costs are for a UK hair transplant, not specifically a widow’s peak hair transplant, but they help you get a general idea of pricing.
As costs depend on graft numbers, understanding how many grafts you need is the first step to pricing up your transplant. This is one of the ways our hair transplant surgeons can help at your initial consultation.
The image below will help you estimate the number of grafts needed, but it’s essential to consider the density of the area as well. Although the area may seem small, achieving a natural appearance may necessitate a significant number of grafts.
For a widow’s peak that has been exaggerated by a receding hairline, hair loss typically covers zones 1 and 2. This would mean roughly 2,000 grafts would be needed to correct a receding hairline with a widow’s peak.
According to our hair transplant cost analysis, a typical 2,000 graft hair transplant cost in the UK is on average £4,820. See our hair transplant prices for both FUT and FUE at the Wimpole Clinic.
Graft number is the first factor considered when calculating the cost of a widow’s peak hair transplant, but there are plenty of other factors at play. Costs for a widow’s peak hair transplant differ from person to person for several reasons, including:
We asked Dr Gadhia whether there were any cost differences in performing widow’s peak transplants for patients with varying densities. He replied:
“Costs are dependent on graft numbers which is a reflection of densities, this is determined by the extent of hair loss and what we deem to be a safe extraction number.”
A basic widow’s peak hair transplant is a minimally invasive procedure and recovery is usually straightforward. In theory, you could return to work the day after surgery, but surgeons usually recommend taking at least a week off work for the best results.
You’ll likely have some hair transplant swelling, redness, and soreness around the donor and recipient sites for the first week or two post-transplant. You should avoid strenuous exercise in the early healing stage, as raised blood pressure, sweating, and physical strain can increase swelling or even dislodge grafts before they take root. Moderate activity is generally considered safer after the first couple of weeks, but recommendations vary, so always follow your surgeon’s advice.
You should have minimal hair transplant side effects after the first two weeks, although most of the transplanted hair will shed within the first few months. This is a normal part of hair transplant recovery called shock loss. New hair growth begins around 3-4 months post-transplant [7], and the final results of a widow’s peak hair transplant take 12-18 months to become visible.
Dr Gadhia proposes the following protocol to help a widow’s peak hair transplant heal as efficiently as possible:
Although FUE and FUT are both types of minimally invasive surgery with fast recovery times, there are some differences in healing between the two. This is mainly due to the bigger incision that’s required at the donor area for FUT.
A few differences between FUE and FUT include:
If you’re looking for a solution that is less intensive than a V-shape hair transplant, there are a few options available. Instead of adding hair to the spaces highlighted by the ‘V’ shape, some people prefer to remove the ‘V’ itself.
This can be done using one of the following methods.
Laser hair removal uses a laser to remove hairs permanently. It works by targeting melanin in the hair to heat and damage the follicle via selective photothermolysis. For this reason, it tends to work better on darker hair and is less effective for white, grey or pale blonde hairs, which contain little to no melanin [8].
Laser hair removal can be an effective solution if you have dark hair and a widow’s peak with no receding hairline. However, if your hairline is also receding, laser hair removal does nothing to address the recession and you will end up with a higher hairline if you use this treatment. The process is also expensive and may take several sessions.
Scalp micropigmentation (SMP) is a semi-permanent way to change the look of your hairline. When addressing a widow’s peak, SMP can be used to fill in the gaps either side of the peak to create the impression of a straight, lower hairline.
However, SMP gives the impression of very short, buzzcut hair. So this treatment is only suitable if you intend to shave your head or get a very short haircut.
If you have a widow’s peak that is causing issues with self-confidence or you are experiencing hair loss, we’re here to help. We’ve been performing expert hair restoration services for more than 50 years at the Wimpole Clinic, awarded best hair transplant clinic of the year for four years running.
For this reason, our leading hair loss team is able to provide consistently outstanding services for people with widow’s peaks. We offer a range of services to treat a widow’s peak with a receding hairline, from FUT and FUE to low-level laser therapy, PRP and hair loss medication.
If you’re unsure about where to start with treating your widow’s peak, read our prepared list of questions to ask before getting a hair transplant to get the most out of your hair restoration consultation. Our trichology team is on hand to answer any questions or concerns you may have about your hairline and all things hair-related, including treatments to prevent further hair loss.
Book your free consultation at your nearest clinic location to learn how we can transform your widow’s peak into the hairline you’ve been dreaming of.
Yes, it’s possible to get a hair transplant without shaving your head if you have a widow’s peak. It’s not always necessary to shave your head if you have FUT, and unshaven FUE may be an option in some cases. Talk to your surgeon if you’re considering an unshaven widow’s peak transplant.
At the Wimpole Clinic, yes — many of our patients opt to get a hair transplant on finance. This can help you spread the cost of your widow’s peak hair transplant over several months.
Minoxidil may help restore any hair loss along your hairline, but it won’t regrow hair where it wasn’t previously. So you can’t use Minoxidil to straighten out a widow’s peak, but you can use it if you’re losing hair along your hairline.
Finasteride can help to slow down or prevent further temple hair loss and hairline recession if you have male pattern baldness. This may improve the appearance of a widow’s peak that is affected by a receding hairline.
However, you’ll need to keep up with treatments long-term to maintain results, and Finasteride won’t be any help to correct a widow’s peak in the absence of male pattern baldness.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr Chirag Gadhia (GMC 7926627) is one of our specialist FUE hair transplant surgeons, focusing on restoring natural-looking hairlines and enhancing hair density by combining the artistic nature of hair transplants with advanced surgical techniques. Dr Gadhia trained at our prestigious Wimpole Training Academy and has had experience at our world leading super premium Mayfair Hair Clinic, where he has gained and refined his knowledge to advance his hair restorative surgeries.
Dr Gadhia’s completed his medical degree at the renowned University of Pavia, Italy. He then honed his skills in various NHS surgical departments in Oxford, including Upper gastrointestinal and bariatric surgery, colorectal surgery. This diverse experience has shaped his personalised approach to patient care. He takes the time to understand each patient’s unique goals and concerns before recommending a tailored treatment plan.
Dr Gadhia is committed to providing compassionate care and empowering his patients to regain confidence and self-esteem through transformative hair restoration treatments. He is dedicated to staying at the forefront of advancements in the field and ensuring that his patients receive the highest standard of care.
