He was once known for his boyish good looks and thick spiky locks at the start of his career, but in recent years it has been obvious that 2002 Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates has been suffering with increasing hair loss. Gates - who sold an impressive 3.5 million records in the UK - has previously tried to compensate for this by either wearing hats in public or having his hair styled in a longer quiffed look. His thinning locks were more evident than ever in March of this year when during an appearance on This Morning, the 33-year-old showcased a long and messy swept-over style, leading to mocking comments on social media for his comb over hairstyle. Perhaps after being tired of the hurtful online abuse, Bradford native Gates has turned to expensive hair restoration surgery in an attempt to reverse some of the hair loss. Beaming for the cameras, the former pop superstar posed on Monday as he showed off the results of an expensive hair transplant at a clinic in Kent. Gates opted for the follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure favoured by many celebrities, an incredibly lengthy and painful process that can cost up to tens of thousands of pounds - depending on how many hundreds or thousands of hairs are being transferred from the back of the head to the areas at the front that are more sparse. Being in the public eye and the fact he regularly appears in West End stage shows has seemingly led to Gates taking action and try to combat his thinning air. “I'm constantly on stage so image is a big, big thing for me and I have to look my best. “I'm nervous but I'm really, really excited as well. I can't wait to get it done and lose all that self-consciousness about my hair thinning. “My hair means a lot to me so I have mixed feelings at the minute - it's a big thing but it'll definitely be worth it. “I've always wanted long hair, but I'll be happy with dense, thick hair with a better hairline. 'Maybe I'll even go back to my spiky days!” Gareth suggests men shouldn’t be embarrassed about seeking help when it comes to their hair. He said: “Women have their lips done, faces lifted or boobs done and this now is the new thing for men — and I don't think there should be any shame about it.” Medical Specialists® Pharmacy Managing Director and retired Trichologist David Bailey commented: “It is pleasing to see more men in the public eye choosing to open up about their own personal experiences with hair loss and are not afraid to discuss the treatment option they have chosen to go with. “With regards to Gareth Gates, he has not previously spoken about this issue publically before now. Therefore, it is unclear if he had first tried any approved hair loss prevention or stabilisation treatments, such as a combined therapy or Propecia (an oral medication) and Regaine (a topical medication). This is something many men see noticeable results from and not everybody can afford expensive hair transplant surgeries, especially as you often need to go back for ‘top-up’ procedures.” For suitable patients, Medical Specialists® can provide the prescription-only medication Propecia (finasteride), am effective treatment for male pattern baldness that works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT, which is thought to cause hair loss.  Men suffering with hair loss can obtain the medication upon approval of an online consultation with one of the Medical Specialists’® GMC-registered doctors. As mentioned above, Regaine Foam or Regaine Lotion – featured in numerous television adverts – is often used in conjunction with Propecia, and can also be obtained from Medical Specialists Pharmacy. Regaine contains the active ingredient Minoxidil; clinically proven to help prevent further hereditary hair loss. Minoxidil boosts blood supply to the hair follicles, strengthening existing hair and stimulating secondary hair growth.