Introduction
Throughout the world, having a thick and well-shaped beard is considered a sign of masculinity and maturity. Whereas some individuals are blessed enough to grow facial hair naturally and style it according to their choice, people suffering from thin hair growth or skin conditions may struggle to achieve a denser beard.
The growing trend of beard transplants has become a major solution for patchy or sparse facial hair. The procedure involves growing an individual’s facial hair by substituting hair follicles from hair-rich areas, which are mostly the back of the scalp.
Getting a Facial hair transplant holds increasing popularity among men worldwide as these procedures have the potential to boost the self-esteem of individuals trying to enhance their appearance with a fully grown beard.
It is essential to understand both the advantages and disadvantages of beard transplant before opting for the treatment to make an informed decision and have clear expectations regarding what awaits after the procedure is completed. This article delved deeper into the Pros and cons of beard transplant and more.
Understanding Beard Transplant
Before discovering the Advantages and disadvantages of beard transplant, first let’s explore what a Facial hair transplant for beard is and how is it done.
Beard transplant is donee by extracting hair follicles from your scalp and embedding them on your thin hair surrounding the beard to improve the hair growth on your face. This procedure ensures that the follicles accelerate on the same growth rate as they did on your scalp allowing for a thicker and proper beard.
The Techniques used in Facial hair transplant include FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation). An FUE harvests individual follicles from your scalp using a micropunch tool and place these grafts accurately on your recipient area.
The FUT is another technique which extracts a strip of your skin from the back of your scalp.This strip is filled with follicles which are dissected under a microscope and implant these on your recipient area.
Take a look at the overview of Facial hair transplant:
The process starts with initial Consultation with your surgeon. They will highlight all the necessary details regarding the solution, the pain management techniques and most importantly analyze your scalp for the presence of healthy area.
The donor area selection will be based on the part of your scalp which is full of healthy hair that can continue to grow the same way on your beard as well.
During the transplantation process, your surgeon will apply local anesthetic to your donor area, extract follicles depending on the procedure and precisely place the follicles in your hair growth direction to ensure you get the beard that can be style feasibly.
The post-operative care for Facial hair transplant might require extra attention. For a maximum of 1 week you need to ensure that your beard area is protected from external factors such as sunrays and sweating. You will start noticing redness and scab formation which will shed off within a few days so there is no need to worry about it.
You need to be extra precautious and resist the urge to itch the area because this can disrupt the new grafts that have been implanted.
Advantages of Beard Transplant
The Beard transplant benefits can put an end to all your worries regarding lack of facial hair and tell why investing in this procedure is the right choice you are about to make:
- Permanent Solution: The transplanted hair follicles are typically permanent, providing long-lasting results.
- This is because the grafts that are harvested for your beard areas are taken from the back area of your scalp. These areas have fewer chances of baldness as the follicles present are genetically less sensitive to the hormone dihydrotestosterone that causes male pattern baldness.
- Natural Appearance: Skilled surgeons create a natural-looking beard through the precise placement of follicles. These follicles align with the growth direction of your existing hair and make it easy for you to style the beard your way.
- Boost in Confidence: One of the significant Beard transplant benefits is enhanced self-esteem and confidence. A styled beard can foster a sense of self-love and allow you to interact with people more positively.
- Customizable Results: A Facial hair transplant is not restricted to adding new hair to your beard. Instead, individuals can choose the density, shape, and style of their beard with their surgeon. Your doctor will then create a tailored plan according to your facial features, giving you your desired results.
- Improved Facial Aesthetics: A beard transplant enhances the overall symmetry and appearance of the face, allowing you to have radiant and charming looks.
Disadvantages of Beard Transplant
The Beard restoration drawbacks that you need to know before considering the procedure include:
- Cost: A Facial hair transplant has high costs involved as the procedure requires extremely precise techniques to be successful. In this case, a surgeon will charge you according to their expertise.
- Moreover, the FUT and FUE are time-consuming procedures and the costs are often calculated per graft implanted and the advanced technology used.
- Scarring: Although there are no huge scars present, there is still potential for small scars in the donor area. However, experienced surgeons know the right ways to minimize visibility through tiny incisions and using state-of-the-art techniques.
- Recovery Period: The healing time for a Facial hair transplant is about 2 weeks. There are chances of possible discomfort post-surgery. The donor area will experience swelling, pain, itching, scab formation and loss of sensation. However, this is normal and will persist for a few days.
- Risk of Complications: Bear transplants are safe when you choose a clinic that provides the best services. However, since this is still a surgical procedure and your skin is exposed to the environment, there are chances of possible side effects like infection if proper hygienic conditions are not maintained.
- Swelling that lasts for a long time can indicate risks and poor hair graft survival can due to inadequate conservation of grafts during surgery can lead to undesirable results and no changes in the growth.
- Limited Donor Area: Challenges are present for individuals with insufficient donor hair on the scalp or body. The varying textures of hair can disrupt the hair growth patterns in the Facial hair transplant.
Comparing Beard Transplant with Other Solutions
When focusing on the Pros and cons of beard transplant, it is essential to analyze the potential a beard transplant holds as compared to other solutions. Let’s take a look at them.
Beard Transplant vs. Beard Implants
Beard Implants use synthetic fibres that are implanted in your beard area. For this procedure, there won’t be any need for a surgical incision on your donor area. This process is cost-effective as compared to the bear transplant. However, these transplants are temporary and will last a maximum of about a year.
You will eventually need to find another solution since these fibres won’t grow into new hair and will start shedding.
Comparatively, Beard transplants will range from 3 to £3000 to £15000. However, this Facial hair transplant technique offers a permanent solution with the extra advantage of transplanted hair growing for a lifetime. There are no chances of an allergic immune response since hair from your scalp is used. Beard transplants will range from 3 to £3000 to £15000.
Transplant vs. Topical Solutions
Topical solutions such as minoxidil are known to extend the anagen phase( growth phase) of hair growth. Their application also boosts the circulation to the follicles, providing them with the essential nutrients for growth. Monthly costs for these treatments are cheaper as compared to the Facial hair transplant techniques.
However, the effectiveness is only visible until they are regularly applied and longevity is not guaranteed. Shifting to these treatments will demand a long-term commitment with negative consequences in case of stopping the treatment. Comparatively, a beard transplant is a one-time investment with everlasting results and no responsibility of maintenance.
Who Should Consider a Beard Transplant?
The following individuals are eligible to get the Beard transplant benefits:
Ideal Candidates for Facial hair transplant are men with patchy or sparse facial hair seeking permanent solutions. These include individuals who suffered trauma or burns and had scarring on their face. People with extensive baldness and men battling hormonal imbalances can also seek permanent solutions with this treatment.
Medical Considerations: Factors like donor hair availability for harvesting healthy follicles and overall health factors including underlying medical conditions and age of an individual may be discussed during a detailed consultation session with the surgeon.
Lifestyle Fit: Whether the individual’s lifestyle supports the time and care required for recovery. This includes staying indoors and avoiding strenuous activities for a few weeks for proper post-transplant care.
Recovery Process and Aftercare
One of the most irritating Beard restoration drawbacks is the elongated recovery phase. But you must remind yourself that each passing day takes you closer to availing yourself of the unlimited Beard transplant benefits. Get detailed insights on the healing journey:
- What to Expect Post-Surgery: The first 5-7 days will bring you immediate facial swelling. You will experience scab formation but remember you don’t need to touch these scabs. They will disappear within some time.
The hair will fall out initially but there is no need to worry about this as the follicles would be dormant at this point. As you reach the 3rd month of your journey, you will notice new follicles successfully thriving on your beard.
It will take approximately 12 months to fully transform your looks. All you need to do is stay calm and trust the process! - Steps for Optimal Recovery: Maintain cleanness on the beard area by gentle washing techniques but avoid rough treatment. Avoid exerting physical strain through heavy exercises, which can trigger your sweat glands. Use the prescribed medications to manage the discomfort.
- Long-Term Maintenance: Once your new hair is fully grown, this is the time to gain the full Beard transplant benefits. You are free to groom your Facial hair transplant by shaving and styling it. For the long-term care of transplanted hair, use good-quality beard oils.
Cost of Beard Transplant
There are several factors Influencing the cost of a Facial hair transplant. These include the number of grafts depending on your hair growth. More grafts mean, increased costs. The surgeon may also charge according to their expertise, and geographic location of the transplant clinic.
The cost of a Facial hair transplant ranges from £3000 to £15000. The procedure may seem expensive at first but the immense Beard transplant benefits offered through this procedure make it a gold-standard cosmetic surgery for patients suffering from uneven or minimal beard growth.
As compared to other methods that require ongoing costs and responsibility of handling, Facial Hair Transplant offers a great return on investment in the form of a permanent solution to facial hair loss.
Financing Options such as monthly payment plans offered by clinics can allow you to easily go for this procedure. Moreover, if you are someone who has suffered from an injury that affected your hair growth then insurance can cover the costs of your Facial hair transplant surgery.
Common Myths About Beard Transplant
Let’s debunk some common misconceptions about the Facial hair transplant technique.
- “It Looks Artificial”
Innovative techniques such as FUE and FUT procedures have allowed surgeons to meticulously harvest the hair grafts and implant them according to the direction of hair growth, producing a natural appearance of the results. - ‘’It is painful’’
You are administered local anaesthesia during the procedure so there is only slight discomfort. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics for pain management after the procedure which will go away within a few days. - “Recovery Takes Forever”
You need to take extra care during the first week. After that, you can slowly return to your normal activities while complete recovery will be seen within 2-3 weeks. Whereas visible beard growth can be seen within 3-4 months after initial shedding.
Conclusion: Should You Get a Beard Transplant?
A Facial hair transplant is a reliable and advanced solution for individuals suffering from patchy beard growth and willing to get an aesthetically pleasing beard. However, before making a decision it is essential to get a comprehensive knowledge regarding the Advantages and disadvantages of beard transplant.
Whereas the procedure is expensive and comes with a distressful recovery period, the Beard transplant benefits are tremendous including irreversible results and natural looks according to your face structure which enhance self-assurance. However, it is essential to consult a certified surgeon to determine suitability regarding this procedure.
Facial hair transplant techniques hold the transformative potential of enhancing facial aesthetics if done from a highly reputable Beard Transplant London clinic.
At Harley St Health Care, we offer free consultation sessions explaining to you the Advantages and disadvantages of beard transplant and our team of GMC-registered surgeons have vast experience in performing Facial hair transplant procedures.
