Former UFC star Jorge Masvidal has become the latest combat sports athlete to open up about undergoing cosmetic enhancement, revealing plans for a hair transplant procedure.
The 40-year-old Miami native shared the news with his followers on Instagram, posting photos that showed medical professionals marking his hairline in preparation for the procedure. The images reveal Masvidal’s plan to address his receding hairline, particularly around the temple areas where his hair has thinned over the years.
“Headed to the seventh layer of hair,” Masvidal captioned one of the posts, maintaining his characteristic sense of humor about the process.
The announcement has sparked considerable discussion among fans, many of whom noted that Masvidal’s distinctive widow’s peak had become something of a signature look throughout his career.
Old photos circulating online show the former BMF champion in his younger years sporting a naturally straight, full hairline—a stark contrast to his current appearance.
However, the proposed design for his new hairline has raised some eyebrows. Medical professionals and hair restoration experts commenting on social media have expressed concern that the marked hairline appears unusually straight and potentially too low for a man in his 40s. Such placement could result in an unnatural appearance that doesn’t complement his age or facial structure.
“The high quality and experienced ones know what they’re doing,” noted one observer familiar with hair restoration procedures. “I can already tell for Jorge it’s too low.”
Masvidal appears to be following a growing trend among combat sports veterans who are turning to hair restoration procedures. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort recently underwent a similar procedure, receiving 1,400 grafts that left him temporarily dealing with significant facial swelling.
“The doctor only said that my hair was going to look great. New hair, new look, but he forgot to tell me that I was going to look like Rocky Balboa after the rematch,” Belfort joked in a video posted to his social media.
The trend extends beyond mixed martial arts. WWE legend John Cena, also 48, recently shared his own hair restoration journey with TMZ, explaining how audience reactions ultimately pushed him to seek treatment.
Wrestling fans had begun holding up signs reading “The bald John Cena” during his matches, bringing attention to something he had been trying to minimize.
“I hate the fact that if there wasn’t so much shame around it, I’d have gotten it done 10 years ago,” Cena admitted. His research revealed the widespread nature of male pattern baldness: “I thought I was alone, but seven or eight out of 10 [men] suffer from thinning or baldness.”
Cena now maintains an extensive hair care regimen that includes red-light therapy, minoxidil treatments, specialized vitamins, and carefully selected hair care products, all centered around the transplant he received last November.
The science behind hair transplants is relatively straightforward. As Cena explained: “They don’t do anything except move your hair, one by one, from one area to another.” The procedure typically involves harvesting hair follicles from areas of the scalp that are resistant to balding, usually the back and sides, and transplanting them to thinning or balded areas.
Medical experts note that transplanted hair follicles retain the characteristics of their donor location, meaning they should continue growing in their new position. However, for optimal results, patients are often advised to use medications like finasteride or minoxidil to help preserve remaining hair and prevent further loss in untreated areas.
For Masvidal, the timing of this cosmetic procedure comes during a transitional period in his career. While he hasn’t officially announced retirement from competition, the former welterweight contender (170 lbs/77 kg) hasn’t competed since March 2023.
