Beard Transplantation – What’s the Process like

Introduction

Beard is not meant for hipsters alone anymore. There are an increasing number of men sporting beard these days. Unfortunately, not every man that wants to grow a full beard can do so. Some men can simply avoid the razor and allow nature to take its course; within no time, they will have full facial hair. But for some, genetics can put a roadblock between you and your dream of rocking beautiful facial hair.

But it’s not all bad news; thanks to a healthy pinch of vanity and science, you can achieve a fuller beard with a beard transplant. It’s a surgical procedure that can restore growth and thickness to your facial hair. The procedure has gained a nice position in cosmetic surgery processes for men. You can fix patchy facial hair and achieve a stylish beard. But your doctor will have to examine your hair and skin to determine if you are a good candidate. If you are eligible for the transplant, here is what to expect.

What’s The Process Like?

Any guy can get a beard transplant as long as they have the right donor hairs on their scalp. The healthcare provider will take hair from one part of your body and transplant it whenever you want the beard to grow. They use two main approaches for the procedure: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). The doctor will take between 2,000 to 5,000 hair follicle grafts from your head. It can be more than 5,000, depending on your case’s complexity. These are the main steps involved in the procedure.

1. Harvesting

The first step involves your surgeon taking hair follicles from your head. Harvesting over 2,000 hair follicles is a lengthy procedure, but not as long as you might imagine. Your doctor will inform you how long the process might take before you begin. They will need to shave the area being harvested. That’s how the surgeon gets a clear view of the hair follicles.

The procedure is done after you receive a local anesthetic. You won’t fill the harvesting or the implantation. FUE is probably the most used hair transplant method. It’s minimally invasive and gives natural-looking results. Whether you choose FUE or FUT, the process will start with harvesting.

2. Implantation

Once the surgeon harvests the hair from your head, they will proceed with the implantation. They make small incisions throughout your beard area. The incisions determine the angle, direction, and density of your beard growth. They will implant each follicle into your skin. You will agree on the shape and everything else with the surgeon before the procedure. The quality and precision of the incisions play a significant part in the outcome. You have to choose the best-experienced doctor to perform the transplant. A skilled surgeon pays attention to detail and gives you the best-looking beard after the process is done.

3. Recovery

Recovery is the last step once the implantation is done. It will take you a day to recover from the surgery. You will normally trim and shave your new beard after a week or ten days. Be prepared for the likelihood that the transplanted hairs will fall out a couple of weeks after the procedure. Don’t panic if this happens because it’s quite normal. The hairs will grow back permanently, and you will achieve the full beard you have always wanted.

Immediately after the transplant, tiny crusts might be around the newly implanted follicles, but they will flake off after some days. Once the hair grows, you can treat it like your natural hair because it is. Feel free to style and change your beard to ride the new trends.

What Is The Cost Of Beard Transplant?

This process isn’t going to be cheap. The cost of the transplant differs depending on where you get it from and the surgeon performing it. The cost can go up to $ 15,000 or more depending on the number of grafts needed. Your initial consultation with the doctor will tell you the approximate cost you will incur. You can pay for implant surgery if you can’t grow your beard naturally.

If it’s a partial transplant to fill in your facial hair, the cost can go up to $ 7,000. These are average prices; the only way to determine the total cost is by scheduling a visit with a skilled surgeon. A Beard transplant is a cosmetic procedure, so your insurance won’t likely cover it. Find a workable payment plan before you start the process. If your doctor allows you to pay in installments, you will cover the cost over a long time.

How to Determine a Successful Beard Transplant

If you have a full, healthy beard by eight or nine months, you will know the procedure was a success. You should be able to treat the hair like it was there all along. The appearance is usually very natural; people usually can’t tell if it’s a transplant or not. Beard transplants have a high success rate with minimal risk.

However, choosing the right doctor determines success as well. When you do the procedure in the hands of an experienced surgeon, the chances of failure are very low. FUE and FUT procedures are equally successful. But FUT tends to give fuller beards; that’s something to consider when starting the process. The only thing that can cause the procedure to fail is improper harvesting from the donor site.

Possible Side Effects and Precautions

There are a few side effects that might arise from the surgery. Tightness, numbness, swelling, redness, and temporary crustiness are some of the common side effects. But all these fade away after a week or so. You may also experience scarring at the donor site, but your hair will cover it up. If any of the side effects persist longer, you should consult your doctor again.

Your healthcare provider will give you home care instructions. They might give you antibiotics for the recovery process. Avoid smoking, swimming, exposure to sunlight, using the hot tub, strenuous activities, and scrubbing or rubbing the surgical areas.

Final Thoughts

Beard implant surgery has proven to be a successful procedure for some time now. If you desire a more stylish and fuller beard than what you currently have, you can consult your doctor to see if the transplant might work for you. Consider the pros and cons of the treatment before you begin. Take the recovery process seriously, and you will soon have your desired results. Choosing an experienced surgeon is the best thing you can do.