EXPERT GUIDE

Beard Transplant


Mike Kaine, MD

This text was written according to the highest scientific standards and reviewed by medical experts. Find out more about our quality assurance.

Written by Erin D. Updated on 22 Aug 2024

The beard has been considered an important feature of a man’s face for centuries. The beard is no longer just an expression of masculinity, but an important accessory. Variable in shape, color and length, facial hair is now just as important as a successful hairstyle to physical appearance and attractiveness.

Both young men and the older generation desire a flawless appearance of their facial hair. In the best case, a small amount of beard care is sufficient. However, not everyone is blessed with uniform hair growth on their face. More often than one would think, men suffer from holes, gaps and bald spots in their beard. This patchiness can have many different causes, which oftentimes, thanks to modern methods of beard hair transplantation, can be vastly improved.

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What is a beard transplantation?

Regardless of whether the cause of the inhibited beard growth is genetic or hormonal, with the gentle procedures of modern beard transplantation, large areas can be densely covered, similar to a traditional hair transplantation. Individual hairs are taken from various parts of the body and transplanted to the desired location. Even small gaps, which are caused by scars, for example, can be filled with this hair transplant method.

DHI Method – Direct Hair Implantation

In this method, the patient’s own hairs, usually from the back of the head, are removed one by one and immediately transplanted to the appropriate places as donor hairs. With the DHI method, there are no cuts or scars and the survival rate of the hair roots removed is above average.

FUE Method – Follicular Unit Extraction

With the FUE method, the hair follicles are removed individually with extreme precision and stored temporarily before insertion. Due to this gentle and complex technique, no scars are left behind, which makes this treatment method particularly attractive for patients who like to keep their hair styled short. This treatment method enables a fast healing and growth phase for the transplanted hair.

FUT Method – Follicular Unit Transplantation

With the FUT method, follicular units are extracted as tufts of hair in the form of narrow strips at the back of the head, then dissected and transplanted to the desired locations. With this technique, several hair roots which belonged to the same group are transplanted, which leads to a particularly natural result, especially in larger bald areas. The scar between the ears created by the procedure is completely covered by the overlying hair after regeneration. However, the FUT method is unusual for beard hair transplantation.

After the recent medihair hair transplant statistics 5% of all men hair transplants are beard transplants:

Most common hair transplant types

Pros and Cons Beard Transplant

Pros Cons
Several months after the beard implant, natural results are visible and the healing process is complete or almost complete. The procedure can be quite lengthy, lasting many hours and in some cases with a large number of grafts the transplantation can last several days.
The self-esteem of the patient is greatly improved with long-term results. The transplanted hair will shed initially before growing back several months later.
The beard transplant is permanent as the implanted grafts will continue to grow for the duration of the patient’s life. The implant can be quite expensive, and prices have a lot of variation depending on the surgeon and location of the clinic you choose.
Despite the patient remaining conscious during the procedure, the treatment is virtually painless leading to almost no recovery time.
A beard implant has continuously proven to be the most effective, and natural treatment for a patchy or thin beard.

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Who is a good candidate for a beard implant?

A beard implant is a viable option for the vast majority of men who desire one. The only prerequisite is they need to have a large enough donor area at the back or crown of the head to fully cover the desired areas. Even if there are not enough hair follicles at the back or top of the head due to balding, the doctor may recommend a transplant using body hair or hair from the neck.

 

Emotional impact of a hair transplant on a patient

Side effects and risks

As with any surgical procedure, hair transplantation also involves side effects and risks, which every patient should be fully informed of. Although complications are rather rare with a transplantation performed by a hair surgeon, exceptions may occur. Many patients feel a slight itching in the affected areas after the procedure. If this area is scratched too much, there is a low risk of infection from colonizing germs and bacteria.

Others may feel numb, but this usually disappears completely after a few weeks. In exceptional cases, punctures caused by the procedure can cause bleeding, which can lead to severe swelling in the following days. These swellings can spread to the eyelids and are very annoying but harmless. In general, the healing process should be supported by keeping the healing skin clean and avoiding direct sunlight.

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For whom is a beard transplantation suitable?

A beard transplantation can be an excellent way to achieve the desired self-image for men who are not satisfied with their beard growth, provided that a few conditions are met. The reason for the lack of hair growth is irrelevant with beard transplantations.

Regardless of the lack of hair growth being due to hormone deficiency, scars or genetic predisposition, anyone can have a beard transplantation. However, it is important that the skin is healthy and free of inflammatory diseases and injuries. In addition, the crown of hair, as a donor area, should be full.

If the lack of beard growth is the result of chemo- or radiotherapy, it is important that the patient consults his treating physician prior to a transplant. In order to obtain a permanent result, the therapies should be completed before a transplantation is performed.

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We have found in our current hair transplantation cost study that not only are there large price differences between individual providers, but also significant differences in quality. Therefore, you should comprehensively inform yourself to reduce the associated risks. Our experts will be happy to help you and inform you about the results of the study: Request results now

Costs of a beard hair transplant

The costs for a beard hair transplantation vary, since each treatment should be adapted to the patient and his hair growth. Factors such as the number and availability of donor hair and the size of the area to be transplanted are relevant here. Therefore, the number of follicular units required must be determined. Depending on the choice of hair surgeon and location the cost will be between 3,000-10,000 USD for a transplant of 2,500 grafts. According to our hair transplant cost study the cheapest beard transplants are available in Turkey.

Before and After Beard Transplant

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Procedure of a beard hair transplant

In many modern clinics the procedure of the beard transplantation follows a fixed process. At first, the hair surgeon and the customer discuss the patient’s wishes and ideas, the possible results and the necessary steps.

The number of grafts necessary to achieve the desired result is determined. At the same time the hair surgeon checks how many grafts are available for removal in the neck area.

The minimally invasive procedure begins with the extraction of the grafts, or the follicular units (FU’s), from the back of the patient’s head. From these, individual hair root units are selected and examined for strength and thickness. Hairs that are too fine are sorted out at this point. Since the hair on the head grows in groups, but the beard hair consists of individual hairs, the extracted hair root units are divided into individual hairs. Thus, a natural end result is achieved. Meanwhile, the hair-free area is prepared for transplantation by punching small openings on the surface for the prepared hair.

Hai Transplant FUT or FUE

Once the beard region and the donor hair have been completely prepared, the individual hairs are implanted into the small openings. This process can take several hours. The patient is discharged immediately after the successful beard transplantation.

After about three to six months, the result of the beard implant can be finally assessed. The implanted beard hairs need this time to grow back.

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Beard Transplant Post Surgery

The recovery from a beard implant is typically painless and has very few issues. There will occasionally be minor side effects which include itching, small scabs, slight bleeding, swelling and/or mild bruising. All of these symptoms are to be expected with any procedure that requires making incisions in the skin. It is very common for the transplanted hair to shed within several weeks of the transplant as well, new hair will grow back in the following months. These side effects should not be a cause for worrying to the patient.

To alleviate the itching sensation and scabbing a patient may experience doctors can prescribe an antibiotic or antibiotic ointment. This will also speed up the healing process.

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Beard Transplant Alternatives

  • One of the best alternatives to a beard transplant is using minoxidil. This solution works best for men suffering from progressive hair loss as it will not strongly grow hair in bald areas. It may, however, help stimulate further hair growth and increase the density of the patient’s beard.
  • Another alternative is taking supplements. Hair loss can be caused by a vitamin or nutrient deficiency, because of this it is very important for an individual to have a well-balanced diet. Without these nutrients or vitamins, the hair follicles will not be able to grow at their full capacity. Another option is to take supplements if you are not receiving all the nutrients you need from your diet.
  • Working out and losing weight can boost testosterone levels. These in turn, will help men grow hair in the beard area and fill in patchy or thin spots. Working out can also help you unclog your pores which might be another reason your beard is not growing. The benefit of this method is there is no need to put any chemicals in your body, it is an all-natural solution.
  • Finally, hormone therapy can be used as an alternative solution to grow facial hair. A doctor is able to prescribe a patient hormone pills, ointments, or injections to stimulate hair growth. The disadvantage of this method is there are many associated side effects which can be caused by hormone therapy. It is important to be cleared by a medical professional before using hormone therapy.
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Beard transplantation and hair transplantation together?

A combination of beard transplantation and hair transplantation is possible. However, an important prerequisite is that there is sufficient donor hair available to cover the desired areas on both the head and beard.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost for a beard transplant?

Do beard transplants work?

Do beard transplants last forever?

How long does the transplantation of beard hair take?

Is a beard hair transplantation dangerous?

Sources

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