What happened to Conor McGregor’s hairline? – Expert surgeon analysis by Dr Arshad FRCS
Introduction
Conor McGregor is one of the most well-known and ‘notorious’ athletes in the world today. The UFC fighter is as renowned for his verbal attacks as he is for his physical attacks in the octagon. Over his time in the limelight, he has also attained recognition for his fashion sense and hairstyles and when it comes to his hairline, something seems to have happened within the last year or so that suggests he may have had a hair transplant.
As you can see from the photos above, taken from 2016 through to 2020, McGregor is showing signs of thinning and recession of the right/left frontal-temporal area and central portion of the frontal hairline, which is quite common for men of his age (early 30’s). The pattern of hair loss is typical of early androgenetic alopecia (Male pattern baldness). Another relevant factor apart from genetics is that certain anabolic steroids can accelerate hair loss and there is some speculation that Conor Mcgregor has been utilising these drugs to change his physique.
Conor Mcgregor’s hairline has changed
The photos above in 2021 show a lower and non-recessed hairline. On first inspection, this can be mistaken for Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP). This is where the scalp is tattooed to give a cosmetic appearance of close-cut hair (buzz cut). Conor Mcgregor’s dad has publicly confirmed that he himself has undergone SMP. It’s unlikely that Conor Mcgregor had SMP as it is a semi-permanent treatment and in more recent photos, in late 2022, the previous hairline is no longer there, but fine hairs can be seen in the frontal hairline.
Conor Mcgregor’s 6 month post-hair transplant appearance
The hair transplant process involves surgically moving permanent hair from the back and sides of the scalp (donor zone) to the areas where there has been hair loss or thinning. In the first few weeks, there is an initial phase where these new grafts are visible however the hairs then enter a shedding phase which lasts around 4 to 5 months. Following this, a growth phase occurs after 6 months. In the images above Connor is possible around 6 months post hair transplant procedure.
Conor Mcgregor’s 12 month post-hair transplant appearance
Hair transplants take around 12 to 18 months to see the final results. Taking into account the timeline of these photos, the last photo (above) shows Connor’s hairline at its ‘possible’ final stage in 2023. This hairline shows a completely different shape and position on the scalp from that of 2020. The yield of a hair transplant i.e. the final density achieved is dependent on many factors. Biological variation can affect the result. For example, some patients naturally have thicker and darker hair in the donor zone and therefore achieving a denser look is easier. Connor McGregor’s hair appears fairly thin and lighter in colour therefore achieving higher density may require a second pass. Another factor that can impact the result of a hair transplant is the use of anabolic steroids. Research has shown that steroids increase the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the bloodstream which in turn attaches to hair follicles on the scalp, damaging and weakening them through an inflammatory process, leading to and/or accelerating hair loss.
Conclusion
Clearly, the hairline situation of Connor McGregor is an evolving process with multiple factors at play. According to our expert surgeon’s opinion (Dr Arshad FRCS) Connor McGregor may undergo a further procedure (as many patients do) to refine his hairline and make it stronger.
