Hair transplants are not unheard of in the world of cricket, but unlike many footballers, you won’t hear many cricketers with hair transplants talk much about it. And Irfan Pathan’s hair transplant, alleged, of course, might just be one of them.

The now-turned-commentator/analyst’s hairline has changed quite significantly, and his hair seems quite dense, but there was a time when it looked like Irfan would lose all the hair on the top of his head.

This led to speculations about a secret transplantation surgery. However, there are others who also think that the all-rounder might be wearing a wig. So, which is it? Let’s find out!

Who Is Irfan Pathan?

Born on October 27, 1984 in Vadodara, India, Irfan Pathan was an all-rounder who was especially known for his swing bowling in the early days of his career. However, he didn’t fare too badly in the batting department either, having played for all formats – Test, ODI, and T20.

He was often compared to many other cricketing legends, including another much-celebrated all-rounder Kapil Dev and Pakistani swing-bowler Wasim Akram.

Unfortunately though, Irfan’s career was much affected by the injuries he’d sustained throughout. 2012’s T20 is when he last played for the Indian national team. He was a part of the 2013 Champions Trophy squad – which India won – but he didn’t get to play in it.

Following that, he mainly played for the Indian Premier League for a while. In 2020, he eventually retired from all formats. He’s now a commentator.

Did Irfan Pathan Get A Hair Transplant?

Irfan’s Pathan hairline had started a look bit different in the 2013 IPL (especially the May 2013 photoshoot for the ICC Champions Trophy), and by the 2014 IPL, his hair had made a full comeback. So, it might be possible that the seamer had a hair transplant sometime between that.

Before that, Irfan’s hair, especially in the front and the top seemed much thinner. Additionally, his hairline looked quite uneven, which can happen as a result of male pattern baldness. However, by 2013, the curve of his hairline was clearly outlined.

Although in some places, especially under the sun, his scalp would be visible through the hair, it’s possible that he only had the surgery a couple or so months ago. The hair doesn’t grow right after the surgery. In fact, you can experience a kind of temporary “shock hair loss,” which can leave the scalp a bit patchy.

After 3-4 months, the hair should start to grow. But it should also be noted that soon after a hair transplant, your surgeon is likely to advise you against strenuous activities since they can potentially harm the grafts.

Since we can’t say exactly when it is that Irfan might’ve had the surgery, we don’t know if there was any window of time during which the cricketer was able to take some time off. After the shock loss, however, it can take 12-18 months for you to see the final results of your procedure.

Irfan has grown his hair much longer since. And while Irfan hasn’t said anything about undergoing a procedure, his brother Yusuf Pathan quite openly shared his experience of getting a hair transplant in 2019 at a hair transplant clinic in Kolkata.

How Many Hair Grafts Did Irfan Pathan Need?

Assuming Irfan Pathan had a hair transplant, he might’ve had about 2,000 to 2,500 grafts. He seemed to have been on Norwood Stage 3a of hair loss before the (alleged) surgery, which can need about 1,500 to 2,000 grafts. However, because of the density of his hair, it’s also possible that he had a few more grafts transplanted.

You can also use a graft calculator to estimate the number of grafts you need for your hair transplant. However, it’s just an approximation. There are a number of factors that need to be considered, such as how strong your donor area is, how much you’ve gone bald and the type of hair you have, among other things. Therefore, only your surgeon can give you an exact estimate.

Irfan Pathan Hair Transplant Before After

Here’s a before and after of Irfan Pathan’s rumoured hair transplant.

Irfan Pathan’s hair in 2008:

Irfan Pathan’s hair in 2018:

Conclusion

Looking at Irfan Pathan’s pictures, it seems quite likely that he’s also among some other Indian cricketers who had a hair transplant. However, if he doesn’t feel like talking about it, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Getting a hair transplant is, after all, a very personal decision. If you’re looking for a bit more inspiration, there are many other celebrity hair transplants that have also taken place.

If you’re also looking to undergo a quality procedure at an affordable price, you can consider getting a hair transplant in Turkey. However, if you’re experiencing hair loss, first and foremost, you should consult a medical professional for a suitable treatment plan.