Beard Transplant: Steps of the Procedure and Expected Results

Thinking about a beard transplant for a fuller, more even beard? Here’s what you need to know before deciding — how the procedure works, the results to expect, and the possible risks.

What is a beard transplant?

Also called facial hair transplantation, it’s a procedure that harvests follicles from one part of the body and implants them in the moustache, beard and sideburns. The hair is usually taken from the back of the head or the front of the neck, where it’s dense and resembles beard hair.

How it’s done

FUE (extraction)

Tiny punch incisions in the donor area at the back of the head collect hundreds or thousands of follicles to graft into the treated area — done by hand or with a device. The number of grafts depends on the beard style you want.

FUT (strip)

A single long horizontal strip is removed from the back of the head and stitched closed; follicles are extracted from the strip and grafted. FUE is more common as it leaves less visible scarring and heals more easily.

In both, you’re given a light sedative and local anaesthetic in the donor and recipient areas. The surgeon marks your face so you can approve the design, and the procedure takes two to six hours depending on the graft count — you go home the same day.

Who is a candidate?

Anyone in good health with beard-hair loss from trauma or an accident, a dense enough donor area, and realistic expectations.

Recovery

• Small dried-blood dots and tiny scabs form in the treated area as the skin heals.
• The face looks red for the first few weeks.
• Some people notice small bumps that heal within two weeks.

Results

You’ll notice the result immediately — at first it looks stubbly rather than long, but you can already gauge the outcome. Results are permanent: once the follicles are implanted they stay. You can repeat the procedure after a year if unsatisfied, though most people need only one.

Aftercare tips

• Take antihistamines in the first weeks to reduce inflammation and redness.
• Keep your face dry for the first week, then wash gently.
• Use an antibiotic cream for up to two weeks to prevent infection.
• Wait two weeks before shaving or trimming so the follicles settle.

Cost

A beard transplant is affordable next to other cosmetic procedures. Cost varies with the clinic, surgeon, graft count and sessions; in Egypt it’s low — around USD 1,500 to 2,000 — versus up to about USD 8,000 elsewhere in the region.

Side effects

• Redness.
• Mild facial swelling.
• Possible scarring in the donor area.
• Light bruising.
• Some non-growing hairs.

Ready to explore a beard transplant? Contact Dr. Sherif Hegazy’s team.