Many men nowadays tend to leave their beards and define them, as this trend has become one of the most popular among football players, musicians, artists, and others. At the same time, some may suffer from health problems that cause gaps in the chin and beard, so they go for beard transplantation to achieve the desired appearance. How is the process of beard transplantation done? You will find the answer to this question and more in this article.

 

The sparse growth of beard hair can be attributed to the following reasons:

• Genetic factors may cause a lack of beard hair growth, like any other trait, such as height or skin color.

• Hormones may affect beard hair as they do with head hair, as the conversion of testosterone in the body to dihydrotestosterone works to shrink hair follicles in the head and beard, causing hair loss.

• Some people may suffer from alopecia areata, which appears as circular bald spots in the beard and head.

• Unhealthy nutrition and lifestyles that lack the nutritional elements that increase hair density and growth can lead to hair loss and sparse growth.

 

The procedure of beard transplantation is a way to restore lost hair or obtain the desired density in the beard by removing hair follicles from the scalp using a simple technique and planting them in areas that suffer from gaps to increase the hair density, improve the appearance of the chin, or form a new beard.

 

Hair transplant surgery for the chin and beard generally depends on the presence of a donor area so that hair follicles can be extracted for transplantation in the recipient area, which is the area that needs hair transplantation.

• People who suffer from a lack of hair growth in the chin and beard for genetic reasons and want to undergo beard transplantation for cosmetic reasons.

• There are some patterns of alopecia, such as alopecia areata, that cause gaps in head and chin hair, hence there is a need for the procedure.

• Those who have suffered from accidents such as burns or wounds that have created a scar on the face that needs to be covered with hair, or the existence of a scar that prevents hair growth in this part.

• Those who have undergone radiotherapy can undergo beard transplantation only after stopping treatment.

• Avoid taking medications that cause blood thinning, such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements, at least two weeks before the procedure.

• Quit smoking completely at least two weeks before the surgery because it impairs healing.

• Avoid alcoholic beverages for a sufficient period before the surgery to prevent complications after the surgery.

• On the morning of the surgery, avoid caffeinated drinks because they may increase bleeding, raise blood pressure, and cause drug interactions.

 

• Has the doctor performed similar previous surgeries?

• How many sessions are expected?

• What are the expected results?

• How much will it cost?

• Understand possible side effects and complications and how to deal with them.

• How do maintain the results?

 

A beard hair transplant is performed through a hair transplant technique known as follicular unit extraction (FUE). It is a simple technique in which Prof. Dr. Wael Ghanem extracts hair follicles from the donor areas, usually in the back of the scalp, and transplants them in the chin. The donor area must be qualified for hair follicle extraction and not suffer from any pattern of hair loss that will cause it to fall out again. When hair is transplanted using the FUE technique, no visible scars or marks appear on the scalp or other donor areas. In cases of male baldness, hair follicles can be extracted from the stable donor area in the back of the scalp, and in cases of complete baldness, hair can be obtained from multiple areas of the body, such as the arms, legs, and chest.

 

• The procedure is performed under local anesthesia.

• After cleansing the areas of the hair transplant and the scalp, hair is taken from the donor areas.

• In the case of obtaining hair from the scalp, Dr. Wael Ghanem shaves the back of the head.

• Then, he extracts hair follicles using a specialized tool and prepares them for implantation in the beard.

• Dr. Wael Ghanem determines the areas where the hair follicles will be transplanted and prepares them by making small holes to insert the hair follicles to achieve the required density.

• He also determines the required density according to the patient's preferences and the availability of hair. He takes into account the angle and direction of hair growth. In most cases, about 2000 hair follicles will be extracted at one time in a long procedure that takes 8 hours.

The results of a beard hair transplant depend on the natural characteristics of the recipient site's hair. If the scalp hair is short and curly, the results will be good, but if the hair is smooth and soft, the results may not look natural. This contradiction will appear in the form of a difference between the nature of the beard hair and the scalp hair. Therefore, hair may be taken from areas other than the head. Therefore, it is necessary to inspect the donor area and its structural characteristics before a hair transplant.

 

Some side effects and risks may result from beard hair transplant, like any other surgical procedure, but choosing the most skilled and experienced doctor in beard hair transplant, such as Dr. Wael Ghanem, can control the results and manage complications. The risks include:

• Bruising.

• Swelling and redness.

• Scarring.

• Allergy and pain.

• Infection.

• Hair color mismatch.

 

The transplanted hair starts to fall out within two to three weeks, which is a natural process as the transplanted hair is replaced with new hair. Within three to four months, new hair can be seen growing permanently and naturally. This hair loss occurs because the body goes into shock after surgery, making the hair follicles unable to hold the hair, but they remain in their place naturally. The body accepts most of the hair follicles at a rate of 80% to 90%, and then new hair grows. Most cases do not require another session, and the maximum number of sessions should not exceed two. During the first five days after surgery, scabs will form around the newly transplanted hair. If the scabs persist for more than a week, contact the doctor immediately. During this period, antibiotics should be taken to avoid infection. Dr. Wael Ghanem may prescribe a topical antibiotic to be applied to the hair transplantation area for five days after the procedure.

The cost of a beard hair transplant depends on the doctor who will perform the surgery, the medical center, the equipment used in the transplant, and the number of grafts to be transplanted. The geographical region also affects the cost, which varies from one country to another according to the general economic situation. The cost of a beard hair transplant ranges from $5000 to $15,000.

 

Dear reader, this is the process and benefits of a beard hair transplant, and in the end, we hope that we have provided sufficient answers to your questions. If you have further questions about the cost of a beard hair transplant or the procedure and would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Wael Ghanem, plastic surgery and congenital defect repair consultant.