Gordon Ramsay is a household name thanks to his expletive-laden tirades and creative flair for insults as much as his culinary prowess. While those are Gordon’s usual headline-grabbers, not so long ago, his hair took centre stage when it was widely speculated that the celebrity chef had undergone an exorbitantly expensive hair transplant.
Though there were telltale signs of the surgery, the Masterchef judge kept mum about it. The question, however, remains if Gordon Ramsay’s hair transplant is real.
Let’s find out all about it.
Who Is Gordon Ramsay?
Gordon Ramsay is a world-renowned celebrity chef and reality TV star with 17 Michelin stars to his name. The chef, who is famed for his hilarious roasts as well as furious outbursts, is the host of several popular shows, including Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares and MasterChef USA.
Gordon’s various accolades include an Emmy, BAFTA, and a Guinness World Record for his iconic beef wellington, the latter of which he shares with YouTuber and former MasterChef contestant Nick DiGiovanni. Ramsay is widely regarded as one of the most popular and influential chefs of all time.
Did Gordon Ramsay Get A Hair Transplant?
Despite Gordon not confirming reports about him getting a hair transplant, it is highly likely he had this procedure twice — one in 2010 and the other in 2014.
In 2010, the TV chef was photographed leaving a hair transplant clinic with bandages around the back of his head and a black cap on. Additionally, the Daily Mail reported the following from a source:
“While his hair may not have been obviously receding, it had become an issue for him. Some will call it vanity – but to TV producers and Gordon it’s a pre-emptive action to stop him suddenly going on TV with obvious thinning. It’s better to act now than have countless pictures and comment scrutinising his hairline in years to come.”
A few days after the rumoured surgery, Ramsay’s face appeared to be visibly puffy — swelling being a very common side effect of hair transplantation surgery, though Ramsay gave another explanation for it.
“I had petrol doused, gasoline poured all over my hair and I had a horrific infection. It certainly didn't cause my hair to be falling out. [Then] I was in Napa for Christmas two weeks after the shoot and went riding with the kids, and had a horrendous allergic reaction to the horses, combined with the problems I had with my scalp, so it was just a hair nightmare.”
The rumours of Ramsay’s second transplant took off in 2014 when he was pictured sporting a messy undercut at Victoria Beckham’s birthday party. The back of his head was shaved, likely as a result of the hair transplant, since the donor area is always buzzed for this procedure.
He also appeared to have a bit of redness on his forehead, although his hairline was hidden by his fringe. Again, it may have been a temporary side effect of the surgery.
Where Did Gordon Ramsay Have His Hair Transplant?
For his first rumoured hair transplant, Gordon Ramsay was seen coming out of a hair transplant clinic in Beverly Hills in L.A. — an upscale renowned for housing many celebrities. Though it wasn’t reported, he may’ve had his second alleged procedure there as well.
Gordon Ramsay’s Hair Loss Over The Years
Let’s take a closer look at the progression of Gordon’s hair loss:
Year 2006
At the age of 40, Gordon had long blonde locks with a subtle part in the middle. Even though his hair would usually be swept messily forward, one thing was clear — his hairline was slightly but unusually high.
Year 2010
After he’d turned 40, Ramsay’s hair loss had become more apparent. Though he’d maintained his central forelock, the edges of his hairline kept moving backwards.
He was on Stage 3 of the Norwood Scale. By the end of that year, however, he probably had his first hair transplant.
Year 2011
Ramsay’s hairline didn’t drastically change after the alleged procedure. The edges looked slightly less recessed, but his hairline was still uneven and had the typical M-shape of androgenetic alopecia.
Year 2014
Gordon most likely had his second hair transplant in 2014 at the age of 48. He probably wore the undercut to conceal the recipient area of his scalp and (less so) the donor area.
A few months after Gordon was photographed with that hairstyle, he grew out the hair on his back and reverted back to his previous style.
Jason Miller, Fort Irwin, Gordon Ramsay arm wrestling with an US Army, Cropped, CC0 1.0
Year 2015
The following year, Gordon’s widow’s peak looked slightly diminished, and the front of his scalp was fuller.
bossmoss/Depositphotos.com
Year 2024
As a 58-year-old man, Gordon has a very full and natural-looking thatch.
What Type Of Hair Transplant Did Gordon Ramsay Get?
Gordon Ramsay most probably had his hair transplantation done through the FUE method.
Unlike the older FUT technique, the procedure does not leave a linear scar at the back of the head, which keeps the procedure more conspicuous. Also, it does not require any stitches.
When the back of Gordon’s scalp was photographed at Victoria’s birthday party, no scar was visible, which is why we believe he had an FUE surgery — both times.
How Many Grafts Did Gordon Ramsay Need?
There may have been between 1,500 and 2,000 grafts required for the hair transplants of Gordon Ramsay. His hair loss was mostly concentrated at the front of his scalp, and he was closest to Norwood 3, which is still an early stage of hair loss.
Norwood Stage 3
This stage of the Norwood Scale is characterised by hairline recession. Since the hair loss isn’t too extensive, a Norwood 3 hair transplant can generally require as many as 1,000 to 1,600 grafts.
Gordon Ramsay Hair Transplant Before And After
Here’s a look at Gordon Ramsay before his alleged hair transplant and afterwards:
gordonramsaysubmissions, gordon-ramsay-10, Cropped, CC BY 2.0 (left) and Featureflash/Depositphotos.com (right)
How Much Did Gordon Ramsay’s Hair Transplant Cost?
When he had his first alleged hair transplant, it was widely reported that Gordon had splashed an eye-watering £30,000 on his surgery.
Even by today’s standard, that’s a hefty price tag, especially if Gordon only had 500 to 1,000 or so grafts in his first procedure.
Therefore, we’re not sure if Gordon actually did pay this much for his hair transplant. There is a possibility that he may not have spent more than £30,000 on both procedures combined.
Interested In A Hair Transplant?
Longevita’s experts are ready to help you restore your hair if you’re experiencing permanent hair loss and are interested in transplantation surgery. For over a decade, we’ve helped patients achieve excellent outcomes at affordable prices. If you’re looking for the same, we’re more than happy to help!
