Soap star Jack P Shepherd has been showing off the results of his first hair transplant.
The 31-year-old, who plays David Platt in ITV's Coronation Street , said his hair loss had made him depressed.
With fears for his future acting career, Jack decided to go for the operation at with surgeon Asim Shahmalak at Crown Clinic in Manchester.
The dad-of-three said: "I had been depressed about my hair loss throughout my 20s and I knew I needed to get it sorted out to protect my mental health.
"As an actor, my hair and my looks are crucial to my success and if I go bald then I am not going to be considered for younger roles as I get older.
"I know a lot of actors have similar concerns to me and are desperate to cover up their baldness.
"We need surgical help not because we are particularly vain but to protect our livelihoods as actors.
"My body confidence has soared since I had the procedure as the new hair has grown back.
"It is nine months since I went under the knife and it takes a year to see the full effects - so I still have around 10% more to go.
"I have always wanted to grow an Elvis quiff and now I have enough hair at the front of my hairline to have a go at one.
"My hair is 1,000% better and it is lovely to hear the positive comments about the change in my appearance from everyone at Corrie."
Jack had more than 3,000 hairs implanted into the front of his scalp by Dr Shahmalak just before the soap’s Christmas break last year.
He had a long-haired FUE (follicular unit extraction) procedure similar to Wayne Rooney which meant Jack did not need his head shaving to obtain the donor hair from the back of his scalp.
This was crucial for Jack who had to look the same when he returned to his Corrie role in the New Year.
The new hair started growing back in the spring and now Jack’s hair transplant is almost complete.
Jack said: “There are only a few cosmetic procedures that men can have to make themselves look younger. It is the modern day version of the boob job.
“No man wants to go bald, particularly one in his early 30s like me, and this simple operation can completely transform your life.
“I was in and out in a day, back on the Corrie set in two weeks and, nine months later, I have a completely new hairline.
“I have never felt more body confident and I know in taking this step I have helped my future as an actor.
“I have been inspired by stars such as Wayne Rooney and Calum Best who have been so public about their operations and how they have benefitted from surgery.
“It is the same cost as replacing your car but the benefits to your self-confidence and mental wellbeing are incalculable.”
Jack has been playing David Platt since he was 12 and next year celebrates 20 years on Corrie.
He blamed his baldness in part on stress and insomnia caused by off-screen pressures.
He said: “I remember seeing myself on screen and thinking: ‘Oh my God, it is really falling out.’”
He chose Dr Shahmalak for the procedure because of his global reputation and his work with other stars such as model Calum Best, TV doctor Christian Jessen, former Liverpool footballer Didi Hamann and Homes Under The Hammer presenter Martin Roberts.
Dr Shahmalak said: “I am delighted that Jack’s hair looks so good and he can grow the quiff he has always wanted.
“I have worked with a lot of actors and people who work in TV and they appreciate just how crucial a strong hairline is to their on-screen success."
