A beard transplant is when hair follicles are removed from the head and then transplanted onto the face, typically hiding scars or filling in patchy areas. The exact number of hairs needed for a transplant varies based on the site needing coverage and may be anywhere between 80 to 200 hairs. In some cases, hair samples from the patient’s head may be used to deposit on a pillowcase or scarf to add volume and texture before transplantation.
Origins
The procedure was first performed in 2002 by Dr. Richard O’Sullivan. In his first surgery, Dr. O’Sullivan transplanted hair from the back of the head onto the man’s mustache area with great success and published his findings in 2004, stating that “hair can be transplanted between areas of baldness or thinning.” Today, this technique has become more popular as it provides men with an alternative form of concealment other than simply shaving their beards off as they grow back fuller and more natural-looking.
How does it work?
The procedure begins with cleansing, inspection, and ligation (tying off) of each follicle site. The follicles are then removed from the scalp and transplanted into the desired area of the face. The hair follicles are anchored to the facial skin by utilizing a fine needle and thread. After arriving, the transplanted hair is placed into an individual grafting pattern by Dr. O’Sullivan or one of his affiliates, “generally taking vertical lengths from the side with thinner or weaker hairs,” according to Dr. O’Sullivan.
The procedure generally takes between 4-6 hours to complete and has no serious risks associated with its use. A local anesthetic may be injected while the patient is asleep during preliminary preparation (two weeks before surgery) and again on surgery day if necessary to provide more comfort during treatment.
Precautions
Like any surgical procedure, there are certain precautions associated with beard transplants. The first is that hair follicles are typically taken from the scalp, which means that any medications or substances found on the scalp may be transferred to the face. This could include shampoos, lotions, hair dyes, skin care products, and such. In addition to these materials, blood or blood-related fluids may also be introduced into the area. For this reason, anyone undergoing a beard transplant may consider abstaining from using certain substances for up to two weeks before the procedure (two weeks longer if possible). This would include any form of alcohol, tobacco products, medications that contain blood thinners (such as aspirin), and treatments for any skin conditions.
Success Rate
The success rate of a beard transplant will vary based on the area being treated and the condition of the patient’s hair. In most cases, doctors will be able to predict how much growth they can expect based on prior experiences with patients with similar hair or facial features. A higher success rate will be seen in patients with a solid and healthy head of hair instead of those balding or with less than desirable hair texture.
The Overall Effect
In most cases, the transplanted hair will grow thicker and fuller than before treatment but not as comprehensive and complete as the hair on the scalp. The density of the transplanted beard will also be slightly lower than what would be found in the donor area. This is because not all follicles may grow back, and some may die if they are taken from an unhealthy part of the scalp. In addition to this, the hair will no longer grow in the same direction and may grow unevenly over time.
However, ultimately, all of these factors heavily depend on the health of the patient’s head of hair before removal and how much it grows each year. In some cases, patients with sparse beards may be disappointed with their results as they could not achieve a full beard after transplantation. In other cases, patients who had thick and bushy beards before surgery could not reach the results they would like due to their thinner heads of hair.
When to Consider a Beard Transplant
A beard transplant may be considered by those who wish to conceal scars or fill in patchy areas of their beard. If the patient has a thinning area of hair and would like it to appear thick or complete, they may consider a transplant. Although it is not typically covered by insurance, beard transplant costs range between $6000 and-6700 (USD). Still, it may include follow-up diagnostic testing, multiple sessions for more coverage, and one year of treatment after surgery.
This procedure is performed to cover a scar on the face or fill in patchy areas of hair on the front. The transplanted hair will grow back like your regular facial hair and have characteristics similar to your facial hair.
Importance of beard transplant
1. Beards are a sign of masculinity and virility.
Beards are usually considered a sign of virility and masculinity. This is due to their role in attracting mates and signaling that the bearer is experienced and experienced sexually (Flynn, 2003). This may be why men who suffer from alopecia areola are more likely to have a beard transplant in the first place (Grossman et al., 2003).
2. Bearded men have better health than their unbearded counterparts.
Because of their role in attracting mates and signaling sexual experience, it’s easy to think that beards would only benefit men who have not been nipped by the sexual selection ax yet. Yet studies of bearded vs. unbearded men show that bearded men have better health outcomes than their unbearded counterparts (see Flynn, 2003 for a review).
3. Beards are an essential part of modern culture.
Since the first beard transplant was performed in 1975, the procedure has become a cornerstone of modern medicine. In 1975 alone, over 150 beard transplants were performed in the United States, spanning all different types of areas (suffering from alopecia). Today, that number may have doubled or even tripled due to the increased popularity of the procedure and decreased cost.
4. A beard transplant can be a man’s most excellent companion.
Although it may not be as fun and exciting as going on a vacation or spending time with one’s family, nothing can compare to the feeling you get when you look at your newly grown facial hair. The joy you feel inside when you look at your face after the procedure is genuinely one of the most rewarding feelings.
5. A beard transplant can improve psychological health.
Despite all of the qualities a beard can provide, there’s no denying that having a beard can be a bit of a curse. Growing out your beard and having unsightly hair can be very depressing. As if it wasn’t already painful enough, some men are teased by their peers about their hair loss. The feeling of being ridiculed for something you don’t have control over is not something to be taken lightly, so growing out one’s facial hair after losing it from alopecia may help create new coping mechanisms for this issue (Grossman et al., 2003).
