You have probably heard of Elon Musk. He is a man who wears a couple of hats. He is a technology entrepreneur, an industrial designer, and an engineer.
However, we are not here today to discuss his business prowess. Rather, we want to know how he transformed from a balding head to a full head of hair.
In this article, we are going to get into what he did to achieve the crown of hair he proudly carries today.
Was He Even Bald in the First Place?
Before we get into the thick of things, we first want to ask ourselves if Elon was even bald to begin with. The best way to determine that would be to look at his transformation from the mid-90s when his name started getting recognition for his business successes.
If you look at his pictures from that time, you will realize that he was definitely losing hair especially at the front of his head.
Look at this old photo of him.
In the picture, he was in his late 20s and you can clearly see his bare front scalp. While it is undeniable that he was losing more hair around his crown, a closer look will tell you that the hair loss was something that was happening on his entire head.
Take a good look at the first picture; you will see that the hair above his ears was especially thin. It would be easy to say that he was going through male pattern baldness, but the nature of his hair loss rules that out.
Male pattern baldness normally features a receding hairline while other areas of the head maintain normal hair growth.
Had Elon not decided to do anything about his hair loss, he would probably be completely bald by now.
How Did Elon Musk Hair Grow Back
After looking at before and after pictures of Elon Musk, there is no denying that he did something to his hair.
The most important question now is what did he do to get that rich and thick crown of hair that he spots now?
Of course, since Elon is a man of means, he must have had several options to choose from. However, he has never come out publicly to say what he did or did not do to restore his hair.
That will not stop us though. Here is an analysis of two probable techniques he may have used.
Hair Loss Medication
If you decide to research on hair loss medication, we guarantee that you will come across the terms ‘Minoxidil’ and ‘Finasteride’.
This is because these are two of the most popular hair loss remedies in the market presently.
While Elon may have used such treatment to restore his hair, it is important to note that these drugs only prevent further hair loss instead of promoting the growth of new hair.
Moreover, they come with a host of side effects including inflammation, skin rashes, and even impotence.
Hair loss medication also needs to be taken for extended periods.
So, we highly doubt if the billionaire could have opted for this route. Next option…hair transplant.
Hair Transplant
We strongly think that Elon Musk used this technique to achieve a full head of hair. Hair transplants are not only highly advanced, but they also look much better compared to conventional hair plugs.
A hair transplant may take just a few minutes to do based on the patient’s extent of hair loss.
This should come as reprieve because if hair plugs were the only option, people would have to undergo numerous sessions in order to achieve fuller hair.
With this procedure, the hair for transplant is transferred from one scalp section to the other using extremely sharp scalpels.
Is It a Hair Transplant or a Wig?
For someone to make a good candidate for a hair transplant, they need to have enough stable supply of transplant hair.
The hair has to be enough to cover all the balding areas and other areas that could potentially lose hair. Anyone over the age of thirty is a good transplant candidate because at that age, their hair loss pattern is well established.
We can confidently say that Elon Musk has a lot of donor hair on the back of his head. How so? Well, his pre-restoration pictures show that he had considerable hair loss around his temples as well as the front of his head.
Whatever is on his head is definitely not a wig.
Which Kind of Hair Transplant did he get?
Although Elon Musk has not publicly stated anything about his hair, everything seems to point to the fact that he got a hair transplant.
This is further backed by the sentiments of one Dr. Yates who is a reputable surgeon based in Chicago. He concurs that Elon most likely underwent a hair transplant.
Now that we have that out of the way, you want to note that Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) are the most popular and reliable techniques used to transplant hair.
FUT involves harvesting strips of hair from the back of the head, dividing it and implanting it into the balding section.
On the other hand, FUE involves removing individual hair follicles for direct implantation into the balding area.
FUT does leave a linear scar on the hair donor’s head, which has to be tended to for a while after surgery. FUE on the other hand leaves minimal or no scarring.
There is also less downtime with FUE and that is why we strongly believe that Elon opted for this method.
How much did he spend?
Follicular Unit Extraction is not a cheap procedure but as a magnate, Elon Musk must have been in a position to pay for it.
Now, the thing about the hair transplant market is that it is diverse. Numerous surgeons and clinics offer hair restoration services.
In that regard, it may prove difficult to tell exactly how much Elon spent on his transplant. However, we cannot leave you hanging just like that. At least, we can give you an estimate.
A hair transplant surgery may cost an average of about $10,000. This figure may be higher or lower based on the patient’s hair loss and the clinic they want to have the procedure performed.
Since Elon Musk is not the kind of person who would be strapped on cash, we want to assume that he went for the best surgeon for his hair restoration.
That means that he must have paid more than we have estimated which could be about $20,000.
How Long Did the Procedure Take?
Follicular Unit Extraction is a procedure that takes several sessions to be complete. Each session is about three or four hours long.
The procedure is spread over a couple of sessions to conceal the visibility of the transplant. This explains why it is almost impossible to notice Elon’s transplant.
Did Elon Need the Hair Transplant?
When it comes to Elon Musk’s hair transplant, ‘need’ may be an extremely strong word. While hair transplants are usually controversial among celebrities, hair still creates that aesthetic appeal hence the need for hair transplants.
Elon did not have to undergo a hair transplant, but since he is a public figure, he may have done it in a bid to put his best image forward.
Does the Process Hurt?
Just thinking about your hair being harvested is enough to make you cringe and rightfully so. There is a bit of pain associated with hair harvesting but it is standard procedure to administer anesthesia before the procedure.
That should have made Elon’s transplant painless.
Will His Hair Ultimately Fall Off?
After all is said and done, it is important to keep in mind that a hair transplant does not guarantee perpetually voluminous and thick hair.
Hair transplants work to restore lost hair but can never stop you from balding in the future. The harvested hair must be healthy and strong for the procedure to be successful.
If this is not the case, the implanted hair may die soon after the procedure making the entire process ineffective.
And that’s why we strongly recommend the use of a hair supplement.
Why a Hair Supplement Could Be Better
Much as hair transplant surgery yields results faster, it also comes with a major downside. That is, your other hair might continue falling off meaning you’d need several surgeries throughout your lifetime.
In our view, though, hair loss supplements are a cheaper and more effective way to get to the root of the problem.
A good hair supplement is one that provides you with a healthy supply of Biotin and Serenoa repens. Biotin is a vitamin that is involved in the formation of keratin (the building blocks of hair and nails).
Serenoa repens, on the other hand, is a natural herb also known as Saw Palmetto that’s believed to reverse the effects of DHT.
DHT is a hormone responsible for most cases of male pattern baldness. And, therefore, by dealing with it, you’d effectively address the root cause of hair loss.
One affordable supplement that you might want to try is Folexin. It’s popularly mentioned as a game-changer in hair regrowth and maintenance.
Conclusion
Elon Musk must be enjoying his new hair and you can tell by the way that he has been more charismatic ever since the transplant.
Hair is not just hair: It does a lot for your self-confidence and how others perceive you. That said; a hair transplant also involves losing and some people may be uncomfortable with that.
Elon Musk is a more attractive and charming man because he decided to do something about his hair loss.
There is also a confidence boost in him that is noticeable in his eyes and we dare say that his hair has a lot to do with it.
Therefore, this is something you may want to consider if you are suffering from hair loss.
