LeBron James is Unstoppable - But Is the Same True for His Hair Loss?

Photo by PR Photos

On the court, he's practically a superhero, an unstoppable force able to rebuild a team with a single bound - but is hair loss King James' kryptonite?

Sports writers and pundits have long had fun at LeBron's expense, by pointing out the now 30-year old's ever receding hairline. But just how bad is it? Is he getting it treated? And will his hairline ever grow back?

Here's a quick look at the King's battle with hair loss:

• Earlier photos of him at practice (without the infamous headband) showed a significant amount of hair loss in the frontal area, likely a Norwood-Hamilton 3 pattern, proceeding to a NW3-vertex as he starts to lose coverage in the crown area.
• However, recent promotional photos of him show that despite the loss, he's been able to create a stronger amount of frontal coverage and a more youthful hairline appearance. How did he do it? Presumably through a combination of camouflage powders, hair transplantation, scalp micropigmentation and maybe even a little Photoshop help.
• Game 6 photos in 2013 showed what appeared to be a linear scar line at the back of LeBron's scalp, normally a tell-tale sign of a strip-harvest hair transplant. Why he would opt for an outdated procedure, instead of the much more modern and less invasive NeoGraft FUE hair transplants, is unclear, but the photographic evidence was compelling. Most athlete's today choose the NeoGraft FUE because it requires virtually no down time, narcotic pain medication or stitches. It also doesn't leave behind a linear scar, which makes it much harder to detect.
• In order for LeBron to stay ahead of his hair loss situation, he needs to keep an eye on the non-transplanted hair which most certainly will keep miniaturizing if not addressed. To keep the "King's Crown" intact, LeBron should consider sophisticated treatments such as topical Formula 82M compounded minoxidil, oral therapy like compounded FinPlus finasteride, low-level laser therapy LaserCap and/or PRP platelet-rich plasma therapy. He should also be monitored at least four times per year by a board-certified hair restoration physician who can scientifically track the hair growth status in all at-risk areas.

Is Hair Loss the One Thing LeBron James Can't Control?

 

Photo by PR Photos

 
The Cleveland Sun Times recently took an interesting and humorous look back at the ever changing hairline of LeBron James - from the full and thick 'do he had as a teenager to today's recessionary struggle. South Florida basketball fans might find some comfort in this article: "LeBron's Hair: A Tale of Heartbreak."

LeBron has been battling hair loss for years, which is most easily seen in the temporal point recession that has emerged in unguarded photos like this one and this one. Much of the time, he appears in public either covering his hairline with a hat or sweatband, or else the hairline appears miraculously full. More than likely the latter is due to a camouflaging agent having been used to conceal the recession for public events.

Even USA Today got into the act, asking if LeBron had undergone hair transplant surgery. However, I take issue with the paper's use of the derogatory term 'plugs' - plugs are what you got in a 1980s hair transplant, not with today's cutting-edge treatments, particularly NeoGraft FUE.

Hair loss is obviously a concern for King James, but it's clearly not beyond his ability to fix. Overall, his recession is quite manageable - all he needs to do is visit a board-certified hair restoration physician. There are a number of advanced medical treatments he can turn to which have been proven effective at restoring a full, 100% natural-looking hairline. From NeoGraft FUE to Propecia and Formula 82M, the King has options. Hopefully he'll start using them.

The LeBron James Hair Mystery - Solved

Photo by PR Photos

Only a couple of weeks ago, the media was speculating about LeBron James' miraculously full hairline in his Sports Illustrated cover. Now that hairline is dwindling before our very eyes, and many are wondering, what the heck happened?

Last summer, I wrote about a suspicious scar at the back of LeBron's head during Game 6. This looked very similar to the long linear scar line that occurs after a strip-harvest hair transplant surgery (this scar is caused by the surgeon having to remove a strip of scalp, i.e., the 'donor area,' in order to supply the follicles for transplantation - and that's why I always encourage patients to seek out the more modern NeoGraft FUE instead). At the time, this seemed to suggest that LeBron had undergone an old-fashioned strip-harvest surgery; after all, his hairline was looking much fuller than it had for some time. However, now that the frontal hair line is thinning again, it's clear that he did not undergo hair transplantation - at least not at the front of his scalp. Transplanted hair is permanent - it doesn't fall out because of male pattern hair loss.

So what is happening with LeBron's on again, off again hair?

Unless the images are being photoshopped, which I don't think they are in every case, the most likely explanation is that LeBron has been using a camouflage powder (like Toppik) to make his hairline appear fuller. It's also possible that he's been using topical minoxidil (either over-the-counter or a compounded prescription version like Formula 82M) and simply stopped using it - although it generally takes about six weeks before we see hair fallout from discontinuing treatment. 

For those who wonder if his hair transplant is "wearing off" or failing him, sorry, but that's just not how it works. 

Mystery solved.

NBA Hair Awards - GQ.com

Who has the best hair in the NBA? Who has the worst? Do ponytails belong on the court? To find out, check out GQ.com's NBA Hair Awards, see the slideshow here. 

I write a lot about celebrities, but a growing number of high profile athletes are taking advantage of the new technologies available to treat hair loss. In the past few years, Broncos' wide receiver Wes Welker, LeBron James, and Tom Brady have all reportedly undergone hair transplants to help restore their hairlines. English footballer Wayne Rooney even documented his transplant experience for the media and his fans. 

No doubt these athletes are drawn to new transplant techniques that require little downtime and discreet healing. The FDA-approved NeoGraft FUE device is used to extract individual hair follicles from the donor area at the back of the patient's scalp which are then implanted into the bald areas of the scalp. This method replaces the prior technique of cutting a large strip from the back of the patient's scalp and eliminates the use of sutures or staples. FUE procedures leave no linear scar and patients can return to moderate athletic activity in just days instead of weeks making it perfect for athletes.

TMZ: LeBron James in Hair Loss Denial

 

LeBron James, July 2013 (Photo by PR Photos)

He may be the best basketball player in the world, but that hasn't stopped the media from deriding LeBron James' efforts to hide his receding hair line. TMZ recently poked a little fun at LeBron for what they call his "hair-loss denial," with a little advice from none other than Inside the NBA's Kenny Smith (a fellow sufferer of androgenetic alopecia). 

The Celebrity Hair Loss Blog has written about LeBron's recession problems before, including his suspected hair transplant over the summer - which, unfortunately, appears to have been an old-fashioned "linear" or "strip-harvest" hair transplant which results in a long linear scar at the back of the head. A much better option for LeBron would have been the FUE (follicular unit extraction) with NeoGraft, a no scalpel/no stitch minimally invasive procedure that creates a completely natural-looking hair line without the risk of linear scarring. 

At 29 years old, many may think LeBron is fairly young to be losing his hair, but hair loss in your 20s is not uncommon at all. If LeBron wants to protect his hair line, he should consider an aggressive multi-therapy regimen, potentially including such treatments as compounded minoxidil and finasteride, low level laser therapy, nutritional supplements like Viviscal and possibly another hair transplant (FUE with NeoGraft).

Game 6 Photos Show LeBron James Had a Hair Transplant

Photo by Bauman Medical's Felipe Reynoso

Photo by Bauman Medical's Felipe Reynoso

It's been rumored for some time that the Miami Heat's LeBron James underwent a hair transplant - but these photos, taken at Game 6 of the NBA Finals in the American Airlines Arena by Bauman Medical Group surgical technician Felipe Reynoso, show strong evidence that LeBron has undergone hair transplantation. 

This is one of the rare times LeBron has appeared on court without his customary headband.

If you look at the two photos above, you'll see a large linear horizontal scar around the back of the scalp. From this vantage point, the long scar was easily visible from behind and from the right - approximately 4 mm in width. This is a tell-tale sign of a linear or "strip" harvest from a hair transplant surgery. Strip harvesting is an older method (some would say "outdated" too) of performing a hair transplant, in which a long linear strip is removed from the back of the scalp and then the follicles are dissected from this tissue sample and implanted into the bald areas of the scalp. 

It's not entirely clear how long ago the procedure was performed, although I'd venture to say it's probably over a year old. It's also unclear why LeBron would have opted for this older hair transplant method - when a more advanced procedure known as NeoGraft FUE (no scalpel/no stitch) is now widely available and doesn't leave a linear scar, since the follicular units are harvested individually. UK footballer Wayne Rooney made his FUE-style hair transplant famous by tweeting out his post-op pictures and announced his recent "top-up" procedure, which LeBron might also be in need of, judging from the still-receded hairline.

LeBron's case is similar to Jeremy Piven, who was spotted with a long linear 'strip harvest' scar at the back of the head in 2010.

LeBron James' Hairline Woes

LeBron James' receding hairline has been the punchline of many jokes and is often the topic of media speculation, but it appears the basketball star might be planning to put an end to all that. 

In a recent Twitter post, LeBron suggested his hairline might be coming back soon. While the 26-year old athlete might be using humor to address the situation, if he is serious about wanting to reverse the damage, there are options available that can help.

LeBron's best bet is a minimally invasive hair transplant with NeoGraft FUE. The NeoGraft FUE procedure allows athletes like LeBron to avoid having stitches in their donor area, therefore, allowing him to return to training and workouts in as little as three days. Another bonus, NeoGraft leaves no 'tell-tale' linear scar, so very short haircuts are possible later on.

He would hardly be the first public figure to take action against hair loss, more celebrities and athletes are investing in hair restoration than ever before. New technology and non-invasive procedures are selling points for those looking to enhance their looks discreetly. With the NBA currently stuck in a lockout, now may be the perfect time for LeBron to seek the help of a board-certified hair restoration physician. 

Many people are surprised to learn that hair transplantation works equally well for ethnic patients and especially those of African descent.  Before and After photos of Dr. Alan Bauman's ethnic hair transplant patients are available.