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 Why he would opt for an outdated procedure, instead of the much more modern and less invasive NeoGraft FUE hair transplants, is unclear, but the photographic evidence was compelling.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.