Beard Transplantation
Many men like to have dense and long beards. Unfortunately, some lose beard density due to injuries in the beard area, genetics, stress, etc. These issues can make facial hair growth difficult or even impossible. The good news is there’s an effective and permanent solution: beard transplantation.
Steps of Beard Transplantation
Just like other hair transplantation methods (FIT and FUT), beard transplantation is a multi-step process. The first step is for the surgeon to extract hairs from the donor area or the hair bank, which is usually behind and around the ears. As there is a high risk that your immune system will reject another person’s hair, only your facial and body hair should be used during the transplant. Furthermore, your body hair provides the best match and looks very natural. If there is not enough hair on the sides or back of your head, the surgeon may suggest extracting hair follicles from another body part, such as the chest.
Methods of Beard Transplantation
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FUT Method: In this method, a long and narrow strip is removed from the donor area or the hair bank. The extraction area can be around the ears, back of the head, or another body part where hair grows. Strip extraction allows the surgeon to extract a large number of follicles at once. This method can be ideal for patients with limited facial hair who want a fuller beard. This method requires a linear incision which can leave a thin scar in the donor area. If someone grows their hair long, the scar can be easily hidden.
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FIT Method: In this method, donor hair follicles are extracted one by one using a small punch. Patients who opt for FIT often report less pain compared to FUT, and the resulting scars are easier to conceal as they appear as tiny dots. FIT may be a better option for individuals looking to cover a smaller facial area or who keep their hair very short.
Both surgical techniques have their advantages and disadvantages. Your surgeon will assess and recommend the method that best suits your goals and needs. The results of beard transplantation are permanent. Once the hair starts to grow, you are free to style your new beard however you like or even shave it off completely. Between 1000 to 2000 hair follicle grafts, or more, are usually extracted from the back of the head, often behind the ears, and transplanted onto the face.
Before the Beard Transplant
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Wear comfortable clothing on the day of the transplant as the procedure takes several hours and you will be awake during the process.
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If desired, an oral sedative can be taken before the procedure to ensure comfort during the transplant. Local anesthesia is used to ensure no pain is felt.
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On the day of the procedure, your doctor will design the beard pattern with you in front of a mirror. The doctor will then determine the donor site for hair extraction.
How Beard Transplantation is Done
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Follicle Extraction (FIT Method): The first step is shaving the extraction area on your head. Before starting the surgery, the doctor will apply a local anesthetic to numb the donor and transplant areas. The doctor then extracts follicular units (groups of hair follicles) from the sides or back of the head (usually using the FIT method to reduce scarring).
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Follicle Transplantation: Once all the donor hairs are extracted and ready, the surgeon carefully prepares the grafts and places each hair follicle, one by one, into your natural facial hair at the appropriate angle so that each transplanted hair blends seamlessly with your existing beard. The surgeon also takes into account the natural pattern of facial hair growth to achieve the most natural-looking results.
Overall, you can expect the surgery to take up to five hours. In most cases, the hair transplant is completed within 2 to 5 hours, but sometimes it may take up to 8 hours.
Aftercare for Beard Transplantation
You can return home on the same day the beard transplant procedure is done. As you may feel a bit groggy or sleepy from the sedative, you should ask a family member or close friend to drive you home from the surgery center. You might also want someone to stay with you overnight in case you need help.
Avoid certain medications and exposure to sunlight as it can make the scars more visible. Try to avoid alcohol, especially if you are taking prescribed painkillers. As your face may be a bit sore after the beard transplant, it is best to avoid eating foods that are hard to chew. Stick to soft foods or foods that are easy to chew until the pain and swelling subside.
Recovery Time After Beard Transplantation
The recovery process after beard transplantation takes about a week. Patients should follow all aftercare instructions to achieve the best results and avoid complications. You will need a day to recover after the beard transplant. Tiny scabs may form around each newly transplanted hair follicle, but these scabs will disappear within a few days.
Warning: Your new beard hairs may shed after 2 or 3 weeks. This is completely natural – the follicles go into shock and do not grow immediately. Beard regrowth usually takes about four to six months.