If you had to think of one nail-biting Super Over innings in cricket, Ben Stokes’ face will surely come to your mind. Hailed as one of the best all-rounders, he’s a sensation not just on the pitch but also on the field. But that’s nothing new. What’s always been a question mark, however, is his hair.
For years now, Ben Stokes’ hair transplant has been speculated (especially as he turned a new leaf after being cleared of the Bristol nightclub incident) and the bowler himself has admitted to getting the surgery. But how did it come to be? Let’s find out!
Who Is Ben Stokes?
If your team’s in a crunch situation, you’d count your lucky stars for having Ben Stokes on your side because he’s the kind of player who thrives in it. Born in New Zealand to a former rugby league international, Gerard Stokes, and New Zealand cricketer, Deborah Stokes, the batsman moved to England after his father was appointed the coach there.
Sports was in the family, but Ben decided on cricket instead of rugby. And at the age of 17, in 2009, he debuted for Durham against Surrey, where he took the wicket of Mark Ramprakash – then an established player who was known for hitting centuries – for just 36.
He finally made his ODI debut just 2 years later against Ireland, and a month later, he also became a part of the T20I squad against the West Indies. Two years later, he also became a part of the test team, playing his first test match against England, where he again took the key wickets of Michael Clarke and Peter Siddle.
Gradually, he became England’s mainstay, but he cemented his name in cricketing history after playing a cracker of a Super Over (with that accidental six!) against New Zealand in the 2019 ODI World Cup. England won that tournament, and Ben Stokes was at the heart of it all, for which he was showered with accolades soon after.
Currently, he’s the captain of the test team, and although he retired from the ODI in July last year (which was 2022), he reversed his decision and became a part of the squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup. His fans can only wait to watch his heroics once again.
How Old Is Ben Stokes?
Born in June 1991, Ben Stokes is currently 32 years old. And for those wondering, cricketers usually retire around the age of 35 (it can be later than that), so Ben’s probably going to be around for a while, especially considering how fit he is.
Although he’s had fitness issues in the past, only time will tell. Maybe he’d pick up another trophy or two before finally retiring.
Ben Stokes’ Hair Transplant Journey
Now, let’s take a closer look at the details of Ben Stokes’ hair transplant journey.
Did Ben Stokes Get A Hair Transplant?
Ben Stokes had a hair transplant in 2018. Usually sporting a classic taper cut, during that time, the all-rounder was seen with a fresh buzzcut and a hairline that looked like it’d moved a bit forward (instead of receding as it was happening before).
Usually, those who get a hair transplant have their heads shaved so that the surgeon can extract and transplant the hair grafts more easily (although an unshaven hair transplant is also suitable if the balding area is not too large).
Many reported that new hair was just a part of Ben entering his “new era” after being cleared of “affray” – a public fight disturbing the peace – charges against him after he got involved in a brawl outside of Bristol club.
Why Did Ben Stokes Have A Hair Transplant?
From the looks of it, Ben Stokes was losing his hair due to male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia, which has affected millions of men and women around the globe. It’s something that occurs due to a combination of genetics and hormones.
A hormone called dihydrotestosterone or DHT results in the miniaturisation of hair follicles, which leads to thinning and eventual balding.
The reason why this type of hair loss is called “pattern” baldness is because it progresses in a distinct pattern. The hairline starts receding in an “M” shape (like what you saw above). It keeps moving backwards, and you might also develop a bald spot in the crown at the same time.
Except for a hair transplant, there’s no permanent treatment (it has no cure) for this type of hair loss. Medications like minoxidil and finasteride are also effective, but you have to keep taking them to see results, and they can cause some unwanted side effects.
What Type Of Hair Transplant Did Ben Stokes Have?
Ben Stokes most probably would have had a Follicular Unit Extraction or FUE hair transplant. In this, individual hair follicles are taken out from the back of the scalp and transplanted into the bald areas. It doesn’t leave visible scars behind, especially after the hair starts to grow out.
This hair transplantation technique is generally preferred over the Follicular Unit Transplant or FUT. That’s because, in this one, a piece of skin is removed from the back of the scalp, and the individual hair grafts are taken out from that.
The problem is that you’ll end up needing stitches, recovery can be relatively difficult, and you can also have a linear scar behind. For this reason, FUE is preferred, and Ben also had his hair transplant with that technique.
How Many Grafts Did Ben Stokes Need For A Hair Transplant?
Considering how small Ben Stokes’ bald areas were, he had 1,800 hai grafts for his surgery, according to the clinic where he had it. Using a hair graft calculator, you can also get an estimate of the number of grafts you might need for your transplantation surgery.
Keep in mind that the number of grafts you need can vary depending on your desired density, the strength of your donor area, hair type, and the size of your balding area. So, only your surgeon can provide you with a more accurate estimate.
Longevita Hair Transplant Overview
Longevita Hair Transplant is a medical tourism facilitator that’s been offering surgical and non-surgical hair loss solutions to its patients for more than a decade. We’ve served thousands of patients with a 98% success rate.
You can get platelet-rich plasma injections, FUE, DHI, and Sapphire hair transplantation of the scalp and facial hair with us to reverse your hair loss. Our services are available in both London, but you can also get a hair transplant in Turkey for almost half the price.
