Beard Transplantation
For centuries, a beard has been an essential feature of a man’s face as it not only represents the masculinity but is also an accessory on the face. The shape, color and length of facial hair are just as important to their appearance and attractiveness as a hairstyle.
What is Beard Transplantation?
Whether the beard problem is caused by genetics or hormones, minimally invasive procedure of beard transplantation can cover a large area just like a traditional hair transplantation. In beard transplantation the hair grafts extracted from different parts of the body are transplanted into the desired area where it can fill even the smallest gaps, such as the gaps caused by scars.
FUE Method – Follicular Unit Extraction
In FUE beard transplantation, each hair follicle is removed from the scalp with very high precision and then temporarily preserved before insertion. Since this procedure is gentle and complicate and leaves no scars, it has gained a lot of attention from patients who prefer wearing short hair. In addition, the wounds occurred in this procedure heal in a short time and the transplanted hairs grown really fast.
FUT Method – Follicular Unit Transplantation
FUT method is not suitable for beard transplantation.
DHI Method – Direct Hair Implantation
In DHI method, the patient’s hairs are removed from the donor area at the back of the head, one strand at a time and immediately transplanted into the recipient area. This method leaves no incisions and scars with high survival rate of hair follicles.
Who is a Good Candidate for Beard Transplantation?
Beard transplantation is the right choice for men who the grow their beard. However, the donor area at the back of the head or the crown must be large enough to fully cover the recipient area. Your doctor may recommend using hair from another part of your body if there aren’t enough hair follicles at the back or top of your head,
Like any surgical procedure, beard transplantation also come with side effects and risks, so all patients should aware of them. When hair transplantation is performed correctly by a hair surgeon, although complications are rather rare, they can occur. Many patients experience a slight itching after a beard transplantation. Although if the risk is low, germs and bacteria can cause subsequent infections if this area is scratched too much.
In addition, some patients may experience numbness, but it usually disappears after a few weeks. In some cases, bleeding can be found at the incisions caused by beard transplantation. This leads to severe swelling and discomfort in the next days. These symptoms show no harm to the patients. Swelling should be treated in conjunction with keeping skin hygiene and avoidance of direct sunlight.
Who is a Good Candidate for Beard Transplantation?
For men who are dissatisfied with their beard, beard transplantation is a great way to achieve the desired look, However, the patient must meet certain conditions and the reasons for the lack of hair growth may not related to beard transplantation.
Whether it is due to hormonal deficiency, scarring or a genetic predisposition, anyone can get a beard transplant. However, the skin in the beard area must be healthy and free of infection or injury. In addition, the back of the head used as a donor area should be large and full of hairs.
Beard Transplantation Procedure
Many modern clinics provide beard transplantation service with the same procedure. The first step is the discussion between the hair surgeon and the patient. The objective of this step is to understand and inform about patient’s needs and ideas, the possible results and the necessary procedures.
The surgeon then determines the number of grafts required to achieve the desired result and determines the number of grafts that can be extracted from the donor area.
Beard transplantation is a minimally invasive procedure. It begins with extraction of grafts or hair follicular units from the back of a patient’s head. These hair follicular units are then selected and strength and thickness were examined This is in order to sort out any hair that is too small. Since the hairs on the head grown in clusters but the beard hairs compost of multiple single strands, the extracted hair follicular units must be separated into a single strand to achieve a natural-looking result. At the same time, the hair surgeon prepares the beard area to be transplanted by making small incisions in the skin.
Once the beard region and the donor hairs are prepared, each graft is inserted into the small incision. Beard transplantation procedure can take several hours and patients are usually able to go home immediately after the procedure is complete.
The final results of beard transplantation is visible after about 6-12 months as the transplanted hair takes time to regrow.
Beard Transplantation Post-Surgery
Patients often experience no pain during their recovery from beard transplantation and experience very few issues. There may be minor side effects such as itching, small scabs, slight bleeding, swelling, and/or bruising which are common symptoms in any procedures that require skin incisions. The transplanted hairs usually fall out within the first few weeks but new hairs will grow back a few months later so patients don’t have to worry about these side effects.
Your doctor may prescribe an oral or topical antibiotic for the patient to relieve itching and scab formation which will accelerate the healing process.
Alternatives
- Minoxidil is one of the best alternative methods to beard transplantation. This solution is effective for men suffering from advanced hair loss as it does not cause much hair growth in the balding area. However, minoxidil can stimulate hair growth and increase the density of the patient’s beard.
- Another option is taking supplements. Since hair loss can be caused by vitamin or nutrient deficiency, it is therefore very important to have a balanced diet. The hair follicles cannot grow at their full capacity without these nutrients or vitamins. Therefore, you should take supplements if these nutrients are not adequately obtained from daily diet.
- We can increase testosterone level with exercise and weight loss which will help the hair grow in the beard area by filling any patchy or thinning area. Exercise can also help reduce clogging of the pores, which can be another reason of beard growth problem. As all-natural methods are used in beard transplantation, it does not pose a risk of chemical exposure.
- Another alternative to beard transplantation is hormone therapy. In order to stimulate hair growth, hormones or injections may be prescribed to a patient. However, hormone therapy has many side effects. Therefore, before seeking any hormone therapy, you should consult a medical professional.
Is It Possible to Get Beard Transplantation and Hair Transplantation at the same time?
You can get beard transplantation and hair transplantation at the same time. However, there must be sufficient hairs to cover the recipient areas on the head and beard.