There are many great benefits of growing a beard as well as lots of amazing reasons to grow and groom a beard. Sometimes though genetics, stress or diet can separate a man from his mane. If that’s the case, one of the options you have is to get a beard transplant. While transplants are a relatively new procedure, there’s the chance that it might be the right choice for you. If you want to learn more, we’ve put together a quick info guide here for you about beard transplants.
What is a beard transplant?
A beard transplant is a cosmetic surgery where a doctor takes hair from one part of the body - usually the scalp, back, or under the chin and transplants those hairs into your face to create a full, natural-looking beard.Â
Why would you want one?
There are a number of factors that work together that determine if a man is able to grow a beard. These include some that a man can control to give himself a better chance at growing a full, healthy beard. These are usually based on a man’s lifestyle: things like stress, diet, and sleep. There are also things outside of a man’s control: genetics and family history; spot baldness, and follicle health are usually another reason some men can’t grow a beard.
How does it work?
There’s two kinds of beard transplant procedures out there right now: Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT).Â
In FUE, single hair follicles are taken from a different part of the body and are grafted one by one onto the donor region. This is the more common procedure and its success depends on the quality of the surgeon and their team.Â
The other option is FUT, where a small strip of material is taken from a region and then that strip is transplanted onto the donor region. FUT is a longer procedure in general, but also results in a fuller, more natural looking beard.Â
What are the pros?
There are a number of pros to getting a beard transplant if you can’t grow a beard:Â
- The operation and recovery are quick. The procedure itself will probably run from just three to six hours, with only a few days for the patient to see a reduction in swelling and redness
- It’s your own hair. Since the hair is from your own body, there’s little worry about transplant complications.
- It’s a way to reap all of the benefits of having a beard. Studies have found that men with beards appear more confident, more intelligent, and more stable. Using your own hair to graft beard onto your face is a quick way to enjoy many of those benefits
And how about the cons?
- It’s expensive. Like most cosmetic surgeries, a beard transplant will cost a fair bit of money. For any medical procedure, you probably want to make sure that what you’re getting is safe and good quality, so be ready to part ways with over 5000 USD for a safe, effective procedure
- Your hair will fall out in three weeks. It’s true. A natural purging is part of the process. In about three weeks, the hair will fall out. Don’t worry too much, because the hair will grow back in a time frame given to you by your doctor
Alternatives
There are always alternatives if you’re not ready to go under the knife. Chemical products like Rogaine might be a better alternative to hair growth. If you’re looking for something more natural, consider lifestyle changes that might benefit your beard growth. Incorporating exercise into your daily life, making hair-healthy diet changes, and finding a consistent, healthy sleep schedule will also aid in promoting healthy beard growth so that you look like the man you want to be.