A Guide to Beard Transplant Surgery

The popularity of beard transplant surgery has been steadily rising throughout recent years. This type of plastic surgery is ideal for men who are striving for a denser or more voluminous beard, moustache, sideburns, or goatee. The treatment uses a lot of the same techniques as seen in other hair transplant procedures, with the most common method being follicular unit extraction (FUE).

Undergoing a facial hair transplant can be done for both cosmetic and medical reasons, however they’re less common than a typical hair transplant treatment. As Qunomedical CEO and co-founder Dr. Sophie Chung explained, “about 10% of all hair transplants are, in fact, beard transplants. Most people who undergo such treatment do not really look for a full, long beard but rather for an attractive, denser 3-day beard.”

Whether you’re interested in beard transplant surgery for medical reasons, or are just looking to get prepared for this year's Movember, Qunomedical is here to help. Below, we’ve outlined a quick guide to explain how it works, as well as some options for treatment abroad and at home.

What Is Beard Transplant Surgery?

Similarly to a traditional hair restoration treatment, beard transplant surgery involves the transplantation of hair from one part of the body — known as the recipient site — to a bald or thinning area — known as the donor site. If carried out effectively, this treatment can permanently restore previously lost hair. It’s also minimally-invasive and is usually an outpatient procedure, meaning that patients are able to return home the same day.

How Does a Beard Transplant Work?

As with other types of hair transplants, there are a few different methods that can be used for beard restoration surgery. The most popular choice is follicular unit extraction (FUE), however there are other viable options such as follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and platelet-rich plasma treatment (PRP). You’ll discuss these methods with both your doctor and your Qunomedical Patient Manager to decide which one is best for you. This will be dependent on a few factors, including your general health and your expectations for the treatment.

Before undergoing a facial hair transplant, your doctor will need to evaluate the consistency of the hair in your recipient area and match it to an area of your body that could be used as a suitable donor site. This will help to achieve the most natural-looking results and means that hair may be extracted from your head, chest, armpits, or other areas, depending on what is most suitable.

Looking at the FUE method, the procedure itself involves harvesting groups of hair follicles — known as grafts — from the donor site, one by one. These are then placed in a special solution to maintain their vitality. Once all of the grafts have been extracted, they’re then transplanted into the recipient site. All in all, the procedure takes around 4-8 hours, depending on the number of grafts that are being transplanted.

Following a beard transplant surgery, patients typically return to work and resume their daily activities after 2-3 days. It’s common to notice some swelling and redness for the first couple of weeks in both your donor and the recipient areas, but you should begin to notice some initial signs of growth after around three months. In most cases, it takes 12 months for the final results to appear, however, it’s also not uncommon for it to take up to 18 months for the final results to show.

Why Should I Undergo Beard Transplant Surgery?

As previously mentioned, a beard restoration treatment can be undertaken for both cosmetic and medical reasons. The former is the most common reason for patients choosing to have this procedure, as it has the ability to gain or regain natural-looking hair in their beard area and solve any patchiness.

On the other hand, a facial hair transplant is also a viable option for patients looking for concealment in the beard area. The treatment can be undertaken to conceal things such as birth marks or acne, or to solve issues related to genetics, surgery, or previous injuries.

Beard Transplant Costs: How Much Is the Treatment? Abroad or at Home?

Undergoing any form of hair transplant surgery in the UK can be fairly expensive, with average prices coming in at around €10,000. That’s why there has been an increasing number of patients choosing to travel abroad for treatment in recent years.

Beard transplants in Turkey are one of the most popular options abroad. The country is home to high-quality facilities and a number of highly-experienced hair transplant doctors. A beard transplant in Turkey can cost as little as €1,600, which highlights the significant savings that can be made by travelling overseas.

Lower costs don’t have to mean lower quality either. World renowned specialists like Dr. Ziya Yavuz, MD are on hand in Turkey to provide high-quality care. Dr. Yavuz has been practising since 2003 and has performed over 5000 treatments since then. He’s multi-lingual, speaking Turkish and English, and is a member of the World FUE Institute.

Finding the Right Doctor Together

At Qunomedical, we’ll work with you to create a beard transplant surgery plan that works for you. Contact us and one of our Patient Managers will be in touch to get you started. Our patient first approach to healthcare means that we’ll never provide you with treatment options that aren’t right for you, as your needs and priorities will always come before that of a clinic or doctor. We also employ a strict vetting process when it comes to evaluating doctors. This process is always carried out with high-quality and affordability in mind, allowing you to rest assured knowing that you’ll be receiving high standards of care at a fair price.

Disclaimer

The information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult your doctor before starting any treatments.