Beard Transplant

10 Things You Need To Know About Beard Transplant

Published 10 January 2019

The mere mention of hair transplant, it would be no surprise that you would automatically think of the head on your hair. But did you know that a surgical hair restoration procedure is not limited to filling in your balding head? True, scalp restoration takes up 92% of the total statistics in 2012 according to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery 2013 Practice Census Results. However, facial hair transplant, which includes moustache and beard transplant, is also a growing trend accounting for 1.5% of the data.

The Growing Trend of Facial Hair

This could be very well tied with the fact the more and more men are embracing facial hair which has since become a global trend. Gone are the clean-shaven look replaced by the loveable hipster. In a Global News article, Allan Peterkin, a Toronto psychiatrist and author, said that “Worldwide, we are at the height of facial hair.” He even went on to say that it is a “delightful expression of masculinity.

Also according to the article, the trend seems to be more popular among young professionals who are ditching their smooth appearance to look older and more respectable. Master barber Salvador Chanza from Spain said that, “To grow a beard is to start a new life and to have more confidence in yourself. You look a little older, so people have more respect.

The growing fondness of facial hair has been linked to the hipster beard trend. Today, there is an increase of male celebrities sporting a more rugged look. Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Ryan Gosling and Tom Selleck are just some of the famous Hollywood references. And of course, it also adds a certain sex appeal to a man.

The Movember Movement

The beard has even spurned an annual event called Movember, which is a portmanteau of the Australian term “mo” for moustache and the word “November”, that encourages men to grow facial hair to raise awareness in men’s health issues. From its humble Australian beginning in Adelaide in 1999, Movember has now grown to a charity foundation, which has raised $95 million in 2012.

What You Need to Know About Beard Transplant

Growing a beard can take a long time. On an average, it takes about two to three weeks before a full beard can be styled or groomed. And for others, growing stubble can be a challenge, while there are also quite a number who cannot grow a beard at all. If you are tired of your clean-shaven look, a beard transplant may be the solution you are looking for. But before you head on to a hair restoration surgeon, here are 10 important things you need to know about beard transplant.

1. Beard transplant is no different than scalp hair transplant

The process and technique that is involved in beard transplant is essentially not any different to that of a scalp hair transplant. It involves the extraction of donor hair on the back or sides of the hair. Your hair surgeon will carefully choose which hair closely matches that of your facial hair. The donor hair will then be carefully transplanted on to the recipient site. However, smaller incisions will be needed compared to a typical hair transplant procedure on the scalp. In some cases, especially for those who have a balding head, donor hair can be extracted from body hair, usually the chest.

2. Hair growth is similar to a facial hair

If you are concerned that your new facial hair will grow like the hair on your head, you don’t need to worry. It will grow just like any facial hair with the same texture and other characteristics. Your hair restoration surgeon will extract the hair grafts that closely match your facial hair.

3. It takes time

The procedure usually takes between two to five hours to complete. This will depend on the area of coverage and the density you want to achieve.

4. Not limited to beards alone

Facial hair transplant is not limited to beards alone. You can have the procedure done to achieve a fuller beard, goatee, moustache or sideburns. Some even get it done to fill in sparse facial hair or patchiness and you can even have the growth pattern that you like. For this, your surgeon will carefully place the donor hair according to proper angle and thickness.

5. Virtually painless

Just like a regular scalp hair transplant, beard transplant is virtually painless. More often than not, beard transplants are performed using the FUE hair transplant technique, which allows the surgeon to cherry-pick the needed hair follicles for the procedure. Because of this, there is no need to make a large incision on the donor site involved in the traditional FUT technique.

6. Reason of getting it varies

While the reasons for getting beard transplant done is mainly aesthetic, it can also be performed to fill in the lack of facial hair growth due to surgical scars or injury.

7. To shave or not to shave

For the first 10 days after the surgery, patients will be advised to refrain from shaving the transplanted hair. During this period, your transplanted hair will look more like stubble and will fall out after two weeks from the date of your procedure. This is a normal stage called the shock phase which will pave the way for new hair growth to start growing through, around the third or fourth month from your surgery date. From then on, you can start growing your beard out for a fuller look or choose to shave it whenever you want.

8. Fewer hair for future hair loss

Beard transplant will involve having to sacrifice some hair on your scalp. This means that you will have less donor hair to address future hair loss in the future with a scalp hair transplant if required.

9. It’s permanent!

Good news is that hair transplant, no matter which part of the body, will yield permanent results. So you do not need to worry about losing your new facial hair.

10. A serious procedure

Just facial hair. No biggie, right? It is still important to understand that it is still a surgical procedure. While extremely rare, risks and complications like infection and scarring on the face can also occur. This can happen because of poor aftercare or choosing an inexperienced hair restoration surgeon.

If you are looking for a credible and board-certified hair transplant surgeon in Australia, Medihair Transplant Clinic will not disappoint. Our resident FUE surgeon Dr Mario Marzola will do an in-depth thorough analysis of your situation and in consultation with you, discuss the desired outcomes and most suitable technique

Please call us today on 1300 355 325 to arrange your free no-obligation consultation.

AUTHOR

Dr Mario Marzola

A renowned and skilled hair transplant surgeon with over 30 years’ experience, Dr. Mario Marzola has a kind and caring nature and takes the time to understand each patient personally. In 2018 “Dr Mazola was awarded the ‘Manfred Lucas,’ award in Hollywood by the International society of hair restoration surgeons for his talent. This award is the highest most prestigious honour and not given every year. The recipient possesses both rare and special talents in the hair transplant industry.”

Our Dr also pioneered the Trichophytic Closure – a hair transplant technique that is now used globally and in 2006 was awarded the prestigious Golden Follicle Award for his contribution to the hair restoration industry.

An active member of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) and on the Board of Governors for International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), Dr. Marzola regularly attends and presents at conferences around the world and is an international trainer and lecturer in hair transplantation.