Former Holby City star Lee Mead opens up over his hair transplant

The actor had the surgery for confidence reasons.

By Brenna Cooper

3 Feb 2023

BBC

Former Holby City star Lee Mead has opened up on his decision to undergo a hair transplant, revealing the procedure took seven hours to complete.

Appearing on today's (February 3) episode of This Morning the actor discussed his experience with hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary. "I had my first one 15 years ago, but nobody knew it had happened," he said, explaining that the first procedure had removed a strip of hair from the back of his head.

"I have always said there is nothing wrong with being bald. It's a personal thing," he continued.

"For me I had this great hair but I was receding underneath and it affected my confidence a little bit."

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The actor went on to add that he decided to have the second hair transplant after hearing Robbie Williams say that his hair had been too thin for the procedure after waiting too long.

"It's best to get it done sooner rather than later."

When asked by Dermot if his work had impacted his decision to get the work done, the actor replied it was purely for self-confidence. "There's so many theatre roles where you can just wear a wig. I don't think that matters at all," he said. "For me I just thought get it done.

"It's so common now but not publicly spoken about as it should be."

Asked about how long a hair transplant can take, Lee revealed that he had been under local anaesthetic for seven hours while doctors removed individual hair follicles from his scalp.

"Local for seven hours," replied a shocked Dermot to the news, "Knock me out baby."

However Lee explained that the process, which involves extracting individual hairs and then reinserting them, was quicker than he had thought.

"It went quicker than I thought it would," he replied. "I had 20 injections [in his head] that was the most painful part."

The actor had unveiled the transformation last month, revealing via Instagram that he had flown to Istanbul in Turkey in order to undergo the procedure.

"Hair today gone tomorrow," he wrote under the image, showing his scalp being prepped for surgery.

This Morning airs on weekdays from 10am on ITV1.