Beard transplant (facial hair transplant)

What is a beard transplant?

A beard transplant, also called a facial hair transplant, is a procedure in which we take hair follicles (grafts) one by one and place them in sparse or empty areas of the beard. As in a hair transplant, we take the grafts using the FUE method; the difference is that we place them on your face. That is why the direction and angle of the hairs and the shape of the beard line are particularly important in planning.

Where do we take the grafts from?

We usually take the grafts from the back and sides of the scalp, that is, from the donor area. During the examination, we compare the thickness, color and curl of the hair in this area with your beard hair. In some cases, beard hair from under the chin can also be used; however, only a small number of grafts can be taken from this area.

The donor area is a limited resource. During the examination, we decide together which area to use and to what extent, also bearing in mind that you may need a hair transplant in the future.

When do we consider it?

• If your beard grows sparse or patchy
• If there are areas on your cheeks, chin, sideburns or mustache where no hair grows
• If there are hairless areas in your beard caused by scars from wounds, burns or acne
• If you want to define or reshape your beard line

Whether it suits you becomes clear during the examination. For a transplant into a scar, the cause of the scar, whether it has matured, its texture and its blood supply are decisive; we explain this separately on the hair transplant into scars page.

Situations in which it may not be suitable

• If the donor area does not provide enough grafts, or grafts that suit your beard
• If the gaps in your beard are caused by a condition such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata)
• If the cause of the sparseness or hair loss is not yet clear
• If there is an active skin condition or inflammation in your beard area
• If your beard is still developing
• If there is a large gap between your expectations and the result that is possible

In these cases, we may postpone the transplant or suggest a different approach. Patchy hair loss can become active again after a period in which it seems to have settled; that is why a transplant is often not the right option in such a case. You can also consult a dermatologist about the cause of the hair loss and its treatment.

We plan your beard line together with you

A beard has a direct effect on how your face looks. That is why we base the plan on your facial features, the direction and density of your existing beard hair, and the kind of beard you want to wear. We decide on the cheek line and the borders of the chin and mustache areas together with you, and draw them on your face before the procedure.

It is not easy to make a transplanted area smaller later: you can shave the transplanted hairs, but removing them from that area completely is difficult. That is why we suggest a line that you can wear comfortably for years to come, not just one based on today’s beard trends.

Single-hair grafts, angle and direction

Beard hairs emerge from the skin at a shallow angle, and their direction changes from area to area: it is different on the cheeks, chin, neck and mustache. In the beard, we work mainly with single-hair grafts. We place each graft individually, making sure its angle and direction match the surrounding hairs. This care matters even more at the edges of the beard line and in the mustache.

What happens on the day of the procedure?

The day of the procedure generally follows this order. We share your personal schedule for the day with you in advance.

1. Final check of the drawing

   Before the procedure, we check the planned beard line on your face together once more.

2. Harvesting the grafts

   We numb the donor area with local anesthesia and take the grafts one by one using the FUE method. Whether the hair in this area will be cut short is something we discuss during planning.

3. Placement

   We also numb the beard area with local anesthesia and place the grafts either into fine channels opened beforehand or with an implanter pen (DHI). An authorized physician opens the channels.

How long the procedure takes depends on the size of the area to be transplanted; we tell you the approximate duration for your case during planning.

Healing and shaving

The healing process varies from person to person. After the procedure, we give you written aftercare instructions; always follow those instructions rather than the general information on this page.

The first few days

In the first few days, you may notice redness and mild swelling on your face and small scabs where the grafts were placed; the donor area may also be tender and scabbed for a while. The scabs fall off on their own over time; do not pick them off. We state in your instructions when and how to wash your face.

When can I shave?

We state clearly in your written instructions when you can trim your beard with clippers and when you can shave with a razor. Shaving before the recipient area has healed can damage the grafts, so wait until the time given in your instructions.

Shock loss and new hairs

In the weeks after the procedure, some of the transplanted hairs or the beard hair around them may fall out temporarily; this is called shock loss. Even if a transplanted hair falls out, its root usually stays in the skin. New hairs take months to grow; seeing the result takes time, and how long varies from person to person. We review your progress together at follow-up appointments.

When to contact us straight away

If you notice any of the following, contact us without waiting for your follow-up appointment:

• Increasing pain, redness or swelling
• Discharge, pus or a bad smell in the recipient area or the donor area
• Fever
• Bleeding that does not stop or keeps coming back
• Painful or growing pimple-like bumps in the recipient area

Our opening hours are every day, 09:00–18:00. In an emergency, or if you cannot reach us outside these hours, go to the nearest healthcare facility without delay.

How do transplanted hairs behave?

Transplanted hairs keep the characteristics of the area they were taken from. A graft taken from the scalp continues to behave like scalp hair in the beard too, in terms of thickness, color and curl. That is why transplanted hairs may look slightly different from the beard hair around them. We discuss before the procedure how noticeable this difference might be in your case.

Once healing is complete, you can trim, style and shave the transplanted hairs just like the rest of your beard.

Limitations and realistic expectations

A beard transplant has some limitations, and we want you to know them from the start:

• The density that can be achieved may stay lower than that of a beard that grows full naturally.
• How many of the transplanted hairs take hold varies from person to person.
• Sometimes a second session may be needed to reach the density you want. We decide on this together with you after we have seen the result of the first transplant.
• Small, dot-like scars remain in the area where we take the grafts. They may be noticeable if the hair in that area is very short.

During the examination, we talk openly about what is possible for you, and to what extent.

Frequently asked questions