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Beard Transplant

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A beard transplant is an outpatient surgical procedure in which the patient’s capillary density is increased in the beard, moustache and sideburns area if desired, in order to improve the volume, define and enhance facial appearance when there is uneven hair growth.

In recent years, it has become so popular that even famous soccer player Lionel Messi had a beard transplant.

  • THE SUCCESS RATE FOR A BEARD TRANSPLANT IS OVER 90%.
  • THE DONOR AREA FOR THIS PROCEDURE IS USUALLY THE BACK OF THE HEAD. 
  • ALOPECIA BARBAE AND SCARS ARE COMMON INDICATIONS FOR A BEARD TRANSPLANT. 
  • IF NOT IN A SEVERE CONDITION, A BEARD TRANSPLANT AND ANOTHER HAIR TRANSPLANT CAN BE PERFORMED AT THE SAME TIME. 
  • PROS OF BEARD TRANSPLANT ARE NATURAL-LOOKING RESULTS, A SAFE PROCEDURE, AND AFFORDABLE PRICES
  • THE HEALING PERIOD IS 7-10 DAYS. NEW HAIR STARTS TO GROW 3-4 MONTHS FOLLOWING THE SURGERY.

What is a Beard Transplant?

A beard transplant involves getting hairs from the donor areas and implanting them into the beard area to achieve a fuller facial hair look. It has become popular among men because of its guaranteed results. 

Here are the frequently asked questions about beard transplantation:

  1. HOW DOES A BEARD TRANSPLANT WORK?
  2. WHAT DOES A BEARD TRANSPLANT LOOK LIKE?
  3. IS BEARD TRANSPLANT PERMANENT?
  4. DOES A BEARD TRANSPLANT LOOK NATURAL?
  5. IS BEARD TRANSPLANT SAFE?
  6. ARE BEARD TREATMENTS SUCCESSFUL?
  7. DOES THE PROCEDURE INVOLVE THE MUSTACHE TOO?


Let’s answer them one-by-one

How Does a Beard Transplant Work?

The process is similar to a hair transplant but in this case, the donor hairs are applied to the beard area. It is usually a shorter operation because most patients generally demand a filling on the sparse areas. After the recovery, around the 6-month mark, patients start seeing the full result.

Is Beard Transplant Permanent?

Yes, beard transplants are permanent solution, lasting a lifetime when the postoperative process is properly followed. It is the most effective solution for people who want to have their beard hair look fuller or fill in the patchy hair loss on their beard area.

Does a Beard Transplant Look Natural?

If the operation is done in the best way possible, it will look like a naturally dense beard. The transplant should be done by a well-educated team and a skilled doctor to achieve this natural look. We advise you to pick a clinic that has good reviews since a good clinic is experienced and well-established.

Is Beard Transplant Safe?

Yes, if it is done in a well-established clinic it is completely safe. So many people, including celebrities, get this procedure done frequently.

Are Beard Treatments Successful?

The success rate for a beard transplant is around 90-95%. The hair transplant procedures have certainly become a smooth operation over the years. That’s why there is a low chance for a beard transplant to go wrong.

Does The Procedure Involve The Mustache Too?

Yes, beard hair transplants involve the mustache area. It is separated into two parts the frontal and the lateral zone.

Let’s look at the sections:

Frontal zone:

  • Mustache
  • Goatee 

Lateral zone:

  • Sideburns
  • Cheek beard
  • Jawline beard 


You can get this procedure done for these sections involved.

What Are The Advantages Of A Beard Transplant?

There are several advantages to a beard hair transplant procedure such as:

  • Natural-looking results
  • A short recovery process
  • Quick healing period
  • Permanent and lifelong results
  • Individual beard-style design
  • Safe procedure
  • Covering scars
  • non-invasive and painless procedure
  • Pocket-friendly surgery
  • Boosts self-image and confidence

Are There Any Risks Associated With Beard Transplants?

Yes, beard transplants can be associated with risks even though they are extremely rare. The potential risks can include:

  • Post-op infection
  • Scarring
  • Poor results
  • Damage to the nerves in the site
  • Folliculitis


These risks should not be mistaken for common beard transplant side effects, such as swelling, pain, scab formation, and redness. Just like any other surgical procedure, hair transplantation is followed by some side effects during the recovery and healing process.

What Is The Beard Transplant Procedure Stages?

It begins with the consultation and continues with the actual operation day, which consists of anesthesia, graft harvesting, and implantation. Let’s look at these phases chronically.

Consultation

After finding out what is the reason for your hair loss, your doctor will plan out the process according to your needs. You will discuss your medical history and any special requests regarding the operation. The consultation part usually happens before the surgery day.

Anesthesia

You will get local anesthesia before starting the surgery. It must be applied carefully since the facial muscles are highly vascular. You might feel a strange sensation and sting during this process but after its effect, the whole procedure will go smoothly and you won’t feel any pain.

Graft Harvesting

The hair grafts will be collected from the donor area to be prepared. The doctor will get the exact calculated graft number. These hair grafts get split and are kept in an optimal space.

Implantation

The doctor will open up where the hairs will go in the recipient area. He will be using a special punch-like device to make the holes. The prepared grafts get implanted into their new places.

Which Techniques Are Used for Beard Implantation?

For a beard transplantation, the FUE and the DHI methods are usually the choice. In recent years, the DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) technique has become the number one choice due to its newer technology use.

At Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic, this procedure is only performed with the DHI technique in order to obtain optimal results.

In the DHI (Direct Hair Implantation), thanks to the use of a medical instrument called an “implanter”, the follicles are placed one by one directly into the treatment area, without the need to open micro-channels so as with the FUE method.

Where Do They Get the Hair for a Beard Transplant?

The donor area for a beard transplant is usually the back of the head(the nape area). Just like a scalp hair transplant, hair grafts are taken from the lower back of the head where the androgen-resistant hairs exist.

Can I Transplant Hairs from My Neck Beard to My Mustache?

If the doctor examines the neck area and finds it eligible as a donor site, the part can be used for the operation. You can get further information from your clinic.

How Many Grafts Are Needed for a Beard Transplant?

It depends on the area. If the beard needs to be reconstructed with hair and needs much more help, the graft number can go up to 3000 on average. If the area just needs a boost and further density, the graft number is a lot lower. 

In your case, after the consultation and examination with your doctor, the graft number will be calculated for the desired look.

How Much Area Will 1000 Graphs Cover In A Beard Transplant?

The best 1000 beard grafts can give you is a full goatee. To achieve a full beard appearance you need an average of 2000-3000 grafts. The number of grafts required for each person varies based on several factors:

  • THEIR DESIRED BEARD DESIGN
  •  DONOR HAIR DENSITY
  • THE PRE-EXISTING BEARD DENSITY 

The table below shows the average number of grafts needed for each beard region:

THE AREA

NUMBER OF GRAFTS

Full goatee

600-1100

Mustache

350-500

Sideburn 

200-300 Grafts/side

Cheek beard

500- 1000 Grafts/side

Full beard transplantation

2000-3000

Usually, one session is enough to achieve the appearance you have always wanted. During the pre-operation consultation, your doctor will tell you about the number of grafts for your facial hair restoration.

If someone wishes to have a thicker beard with more density they can think about having a second session. Discuss this concern with your doctor and ask for their opinion. 

Can you get a beard transplant?

You can get a beard transplant if you have these indications:

  • Scars, trauma, or burns around the beard area.
  • Post-acne scarring.
  • Alopecia barbae or traction alopecia.
  • Frontal fibrosing alopecia in the sideburn part. 
  • Congenital hypotrichia or atrichia.
  • Mustache reconstruction in case of a cleft lip repair, along with other surgery marks.
  • Just want an enhancement on the density of the beard. 
  • After transitioning, for a dense beard.

Can You Get A Beard Hair Transplant From Another Person?

No, the hair transplants only use the person’s existing donor hair for the procedure. The body accumulates the hairs that come from its own. We advise you to do your research about the clinics and go with the ones that have good reviews.

Can You Get A Beard And Hair Transplant At The Same Time?

Yes, it is possible to undergo the two procedures at the same time.

However, there needs to be enough donor hair for both of the recipient areas and the recovery would require extra care since two different parts faced an operation. You need to check in with your doctor to see if you have the capacity to have them both.

What About A Beard And Eyebrow Transplant At The Same Time?

Yes, just like the beard and hair transplant combination, it is possible to have eyebrow transplant and beard transplant simultaneously. The same rules apply as we mentioned above.

Beard Transplant Recovery Timeline

The recovery is usually quick and painless. You need to rest and give time to your face to fully accept the grafts for a few days after the surgery. In 2 to 3 weeks, the grafts will fall out. This is an inevitable yet normal occurrence after a beard hair transplant called shock loss. There is no need to worry, as new hair grows 3 months post-operation.

Here we talk about the average timeline of a beard restoration recovery: 

  • The healing process starts 2-3 days following the procedure and takes around 7 days.
  • The scabs will fall out 10 days after the surgery.
  • You can start shaving your face after 1-2 weeks if there are no visible side effects. 
  • You might need to take anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers for a few days.
  • You should be able to use saline water to ease and moisturize the area after 3 days.  
  • You should use “Betadine” in the treated areas and follow the doctor’s instructions.


The recovery timeline can vary from person to person based on how fast their body heals, the quality of post-op care, and the method of hair transplants they had. 

When To Shave After Beard Transplant

You can begin to trim your beard 10-15 days following this facial hair transplant procedure. However, we suggest you wait for 3 months to shave until the follicles take hold in their place.

When Can I Wash My Face After Beard Transplant?

You should wash your face or get the transplanted area wet for the first 72 hours. 3 to 5 days after the operation you can begin to gently wash your face with the special soaps or cleansers prescribed for you.

Do not rub your face with your hands while washing it. After rinsing with water, you can dry the area by applying gauze to dab the wetness instead of rubbing a towel. This is to protect the newly implanted hairs.

How To Sleep After Beard Transplant?

Sleep on your back with your head elevated at a higher level than your heart.

This is to prevent swelling from increasing. Also, this sleeping position protects the transplanted area against rubbing to any surface or accidents and dislodging the follicles. Sleeping on your back is required for at least the first post-op week.

Beard Transplant Results

You can expect to see the final result 10-12 months after the operation. Following the shock loss, transplanted hair is settled in the 3rd-month post-op, and permanent hair starts to grow. Within 4-7 months you can see significant growth. By the end of one year after beard transplantation, you get to see the optimal beard density.

hair grow animation

What Does a Beard Transplant Look Like?

A transplanted beard, if done by an experienced doctor, looks just like a natural one. Here we can see the before-after photos from Serkan Aygın’s clinic, with the full result. 

How To Handle A Beard Transplant If You Have Trypophobia?

If you are considering getting a beard transplant but suffer from trypophobia (or fear of holes), here are some tips that can help you:

  • COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
  • MEDICATIONS
  • EXPOSURE THERAPY
  • STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

Yaseen, Ummer et al. “Beard Reconstruction.” International journal of trichology vol. 13,6 (2021): 4-8. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_40_19

Dua, Kapil et al. “Beard and Moustache Reconstruction.” Indian journal of plastic surgery : official publication of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India vol. 54,4 483-488. 20 Dec. 2021, doi:10.1055/s-0041-1739248

Bared, Anthony. “Beard Hair Transplantation.” Facial plastic surgery clinics of North America vol. 28,2 (2020): 237-241. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2020.01.010