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NFL Star Wes Welker Gets Hair Transplant Surgery
by Dean Anderson
In the age of camera phones, streaming videos, and social media, the appearance of today’s athletes is discussed—and ridiculed—more than ever before, leading even the manliest of men to feel insecure about issues such as balding. As evidence to this point, Wes Welker, the New England Patriots’ star wide receiver, has announced that he has undergone a successful hair transplant operation. The procedure was performed by Dr. Robert Leonard of Cranston, Rhode Island—the same hair transplant surgeon The Inquirer caught fellow Patriot Tom Brady consulting in 2010. Welker is reportedly happy with the procedure’s results and seeks to encourage other men to explore hair restoration with a new partnership.
Wes Welker is one of over 40 million Americans currently coping with androgenic alopecia, a.k.a. male pattern baldness. Hair fall from androgenic alopecia is caused by the conversion of testosterone to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone which slowly shrivels hair follicles. While the causes of androgenic alopecia are believed to be hereditary, some scientists speculate that an abundance of testosterone, evident in high profile athletes such as the four-time Pro Bowl pick Welker, could contribute to earlier balding. If left untreated by hair restoration serums or drugs, such as Rogaine or Propecia, hair loss in androgenic alopecia sufferers continues until the front and top of the scalp are completely bare.
The hair restoration procedures, like the one Wes Welker chose to undergo, feature state-of-the-art follicular transfer methods. The first step in treatment involves doctors harvesting follicles from areas of the scalp that are unaffected by alopecia. Follicle collection proceeds either by excising a strip of hair via a technique known as follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or moving follicles individually in the more time-intensive but less scarring follicular unit extraction (FUE) method. Once they’re are gathered and separated surgeons carefully transplant each follicle to the scalp to rebuild the hairline. Much of a hair surgeon’s painstaking work involves positioning follicles so that strands grow in the same direction as surrounding hair. Wes’ procedure reportedly took only five hours, and Dr. Leonard says he can expect the new growth to take hold in around four months.
In a recent statement press release Welker expressed his satisfaction with the treatment and complimented Leonard Hair Transplant Associates. “When I was considering hair transplantation I knew that I wanted to work with the best in the field and that is why I chose Dr. Robert Leonard. Dr. Leonard has a tremendous reputation and his knowledge and expertise helped put my mind at ease throughout the process.”
Welker plans to represent Leonard Hair Transplant Associates in radio, TV and print ads this fall, a partnership that Dr. Leonard hopes will help men get over the stigma of hair implants as well as boost his business. “Having Wes on board elevates our ability to educate people and raise awareness of treatments and transplantation,” Leonard commented to The Boston Globe. “Slowly but surely, men are coming out of the closet, and having Wes helps in that regard.”
While Welker and Dr. Leonard begin their campaign to convince men of the benefits of hair transplant surgery, you can explore your hair restoration options in a private consultation scheduled through Hair Loss Specialists. If you’re interested in what our nationwide network of esteemed doctors have to offer, contact us today!
Call 866-471-8869 for FREE Consultation
