# Beard Transplant

> Citation bundle for Beard Transplant on The Treatment Registry.
> URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/procedures/beard-transplant
> Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/procedures/beard-transplant

- Category: hair-transplant

## Description

Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that removes hair follicles from one part of the body, called the 'donor site', to a bald or balding part of the body known as the 'recipient site'. The technique is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness.

## Overview

A beard transplant is an application of hair transplantation, a surgical technique in which hair follicles are moved from a donor site to a recipient site, here the areas of the face where beard growth is absent, patchy or thin. The grafts are usually taken from hair that is genetically resistant to balding, such as the back of the head, and placed into the beard, moustache, cheek or jaw region. Because hair naturally grows in follicular units of one to four hairs, modern technique harvests and places these natural groupings and angles the grafts to match the direction of the surrounding facial hair, so that the result blends in and looks natural. Donor follicles can be obtained either by strip harvesting, known as follicular unit transplantation (FUT), or by follicular unit extraction (FUE), in which individual units are removed one at a time. The operation is typically performed on an outpatient basis under injected local anaesthesia, with optional mild sedation; the donor scalp is shampooed and treated with an antibacterial agent before harvesting. Careful, minimally traumatic extraction is important to avoid transecting (cutting) the follicle and to keep the transplanted hair viable, and post-operative antibiotics are commonly prescribed to help prevent infection. Beforehand, the surgeon assesses the donor and recipient areas, discusses the patient's expectations, and plans whether one or several sessions will be needed to reach the desired beard density.

## Common risks

- Temporary shock loss (shedding) of transplanted hairs
- Follicle transection during extraction, reducing graft viability
- Wound or graft infection, which post-operative antibiotics are used to help prevent
- Poor graft survival, which alcohol and smoking can contribute to

## FAQs

### What is a beard transplant?

It is hair transplantation applied to the face. Hair follicles are moved from a donor area to the beard region to add or restore facial hair. Hair transplantation can be used to restore beard hair as well as scalp hair, eyebrows and eyelashes.

### Where does the transplanted hair come from?

The grafts are usually taken from hair that is genetically resistant to balding, such as the back of the head. These follicles are moved to the beard area while keeping the characteristics of their donor site.

### What is the difference between FUT and FUE?

Both are methods of harvesting follicles. FUT (follicular unit transplantation) uses strip harvesting, while FUE (follicular unit extraction) removes individual follicular units one at a time. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

### Will a beard transplant look natural?

Because hair grows in natural groupings of one to four hairs, modern technique transplants these follicular units and places them at angles that mimic the natural orientation of the surrounding hair, which helps achieve a natural appearance.

### How many sessions will I need?

This varies between patients. At an initial consultation the surgeon assesses the donor and recipient areas and advises whether the result is better achieved in a single session or several, based on the density that is being aimed for.

### Is the result permanent?

The grafts are taken from hair that is genetically resistant to balding, so the transplanted follicles are expected to persist in their new location. Some temporary shedding, known as shock loss, is common in the period after the procedure.