An eyebrow hair transplant is a plastic surgery for people who experience hair loss on their eyebrows. It is a similar process to other hair transplant operations but a quick one.
Here are some of the key points from the article:
- EYEBROW TRANSPLANTS ARE AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO YOUR EYEBROW HAIR LOSS.
- IT IS NOT A PAINFUL PROCEDURE, THANKS TO LOCAL ANESTHESIA.
- THE PROCEDURE METHODS ARE NEW AND YOU WON’T HAVE ANY SCAR MARKS AFTER THE RECOVERY.
- DHI METHOD IS USUALLY THE METHOD DOCTORS GO FOR.
- YOU WILL SEE THE FULL RESULT AFTER 6 TO 8 MONTHS.
- EYEBROW TRANSPLANTS ARE A REALISTIC CHOICE COMPARED TO MICROBLADING.
- IT HELPS PEOPLE GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE WITH THEIR APPEARANCE.
What You Should Know About Eyebrow Transplant?
Eyebrow transplant surgeries, just like other hair transplant surgeries, developed immensely in the late 90’s. With the new technologies, it is now considered a simple cosmetic procedure for people who have eyebrow loss.
Things to know before undergoing an eyebrow transplant are:
- What Is An Eyebrow Transplant?
- Is Getting An Eyebrow Transplant Painful?
- Does Eyebrow Transplant Leave Scars?
- Do Eyebrow Transplant Hairs Grow Long?
- How Long Does An Eyebrow Transplant Last?
- What Is The Eyebrow Transplant Success Rate?
- Is Eyebrow Transplant Worth It?
What Is An Eyebrow Transplant?
An eyebrow transplant is a part of a hair transplant that goes under cosmetic surgery. Researchers say that it is a long-lasting solution and provides you a lifetime convenience.
Is Getting An Eyebrow Transplant Painful?
No, it is not painful to get an eyebrow transplant. You won’t feel a thing because the eyebrow area is completely numb during the surgery, thanks to local anesthesia.
Does Eyebrow Transplant Leave Scars?
After the procedure is done and the recovery time passes, you won’t be left with any scars because of the newer surgery methods such as FUE and DHI.
Do Eyebrow Transplant Hairs Grow Long?
It might grow longer than a normal eyebrow, but it’s not a problem if you just give them a trim regularly.
In eyebrow transplant surgery, the hairs come from your hair usually from the nape area (the back of the head) to be used as the donor site. Since the hair follicles are different on top of our hair, the growing process of the transplanted eyebrows is also similar to that.
How Long Does An Eyebrow Transplant Last?
Once you get an eyebrow hair transplant done correctly by a professional, it lasts for a lifetime. Aging and some disorders developed after the transplant might affect how long it’ll last, but in a healthy condition, you will be with your new eyebrows for a long time.
What Is The Eyebrow Transplant Success Rate?
It is stated that with the latest methods, the success rate is about 90%. On the 8 to 10-month mark, you will start seeing the full result.
Is Eyebrow Transplant Worth It?
Eyebrow transplantations are the most effective and realistic solution to your eyebrow loss. After the procedure, you will most likely meet all your expectations.
How Is An Eyebrow Transplant Procedure Done?
The process includes 4 parts. Here we can see it step by step:
1. Consultation with the professional
- You will discuss your interests and concerns about the surgery.
- Your doctor will present you the steps.
- You will discuss the eyebrow shape. Most people show their old photographs to ensure that it looks natural and suited for their face.
- You will get checked for allergens for the procedure.
- Your donor area will be chosen.
2. Graft extraction
- After your preparation for the procedure is done, hair grafts from the donor site will be picked up with special pen tools. It will be important to choose single hair follicles since the eyebrows usually grow that way.
- The extracted grafts will be kept in an optimal place to be used after.
3. Transplantation
- The harvested hair grafts will be installed one by one to their new spots on the recipient area.
- The eyebrows get filled in similar to a herringbone pattern to increase the density.
- To achieve a natural result, the doctor works precisely on the direction and the angle of the eyebrows.
4. Post operation
- After the local anesthesia wears off, you might need to use some painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication for a few days.
- The doctor will cover up the area to make sure it is protected from any friction.
- You will get checked if any medical complications happen on the same day and then you are good to go.
After explaining how does an eyebrow transplant work and its steps, let’s look at the methods that are on the line.
Which Techniques Are Used For Eyebrow Transplants?
The methods used for this operation are FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and mainly DHI (Direct Hair Implantation). The FUT method is usually not an active choice by doctors anymore.
Some measuring tools are used for defining the desired eyebrow shape. For the actual transplantation process depending on the method, different implanter pens are used for the surgery. The DHI method uses an implanter pen called the choi pen.
Which Technique Do We Prefer?
At Dr. Serkan Aygın Clinic, we prefer the DHI method, as it represents an overall upgraded and advanced take on the FUE.
With DHI, single hair follicles are extracted with the implanter pen, making the eyebrow transplantation procedure an easy process. This way, the donor area (mostly the back of the head) won’t look disrupted in any way, because only a small amount of hair graft is needed for the operation.
How Many Grafts Are Used For Eyebrow Transplants?
It differs between male and female patients but usually around 300 to 600 grafts are more than enough for an eyebrow transplantation. The follicles extracted from the donor site only require a small area, if the patient’s hair is long enough it won’t even be visible.
Why Do You Need To Trim Your Eyebrows After Transplant?
You will need to trim and shape your eyebrows to sit in the exact direction you want them to grow.
This is important because, with time, your eyebrow can grow longer than you expected. The grafts used from the donor site are different from a natural eyebrow. With time and correct shaping, the tissue will get used to the new hairs. You can get help from your doctor for this stage.
Who Can Get An Eyebrow Transplant?
Both men and women can get an eyebrow transplant if they experience hair loss on their eyebrows.
Here are some situations that indicate you could be a candidate for an eyebrow transplant:
- If you have thermal or acid burns on your eyebrows.
- If you have alopecia areata or frontal fibrosing alopecia.
- If you have trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder).
- If you experienced Hanson’s disease results on your eyebrows.
- If you have trauma that affects losing hair on your eyebrows.
- If you have hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
- If you have an overall madarosis resulting from an autoimmune disorder or a medical condition.
There can be multiple reasons for eyebrow loss, including congenital, immunological, psychological, or traumatic. You need to make sure you are not in the middle of another recovery such as chemotherapy.
What Is The Youngest Age For An Eyebrow Hair Transplant?
You can get this surgery done if you are over 18 years old. You just need to know if your hair loss is a permanent one.
Can I Get An Eyebrow Transplant With Curly Hair?
Yes, you can get an eyebrow transplant with curly hair. It doesn’t matter what your hair type is, your doctor will make sure that you have what you desire.
What Are The Potential Issues?
Eyebrow transplants have become an easy operation with a few days of recovery and good care afterward. However, there are potential side effects and risks to be aware of:
- Scarring
- Bruising
- Mild swelling (Edema)
- Loss of feeling
- Bleeding
After your procedure is done, the points listed above are expected on a lower level. If you experience these side effects, you can contact your surgeon. We advise you not to wait if it causes you any pain.
Eyebrow Transplant Results: What To Expect?
With eyebrow restoration surgeries, results can be seen in approximately 6 to 8 months. While caucasian people have thicker eyebrows and thinner hair, Asian and African descendant people tend to have thinner eyebrows and thicker hair. However, this racial difference does not affect the healing and growing process.
After a month or so, patients can experience hair loss on the eyebrows due to shock loss. This opens the way to new growth because the transplanted hairs are now fully intact in the area. We inform you to not worry about it. After 3 to 6 months you will see new growth and results will gradually enhance up until 12 months.
Eyebrow Transplant Recovery & Aftercare
First day of recovery
- After the anesthesia wears off you’ll experience some sensitivity around your forehead. Day by day, this sensitivity will fade and you’ll feel more comfortable.
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The first week of recovery
- This first week is so important for improving the healing process. Do not pick at the scabs and maintain good hygiene.
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The first month of recovery
- You might experience the transplanted hairs falling out. Don’t fret, this means the operation is going under control and the tissue is preparing itself to form new hairs to grow.
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Six months into the recovery
- After 3 months up until 6 months, you’ll start seeing the new growth on the eyebrows.
- By this time, the donor area at the back of your head must be healed and closed up.
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Tips for Recovery & Aftercare
- For the healing and growing process, you can use some ointments to massage the area. Ask your doctor and get information about which ointments to use. It can be helpful for your eyebrows’ growing direction.
- Avoid direct sunlight and try to create shadows for the eyebrows with hats and such.
- Don’t be too expressive with your eyebrows for the first month or so, try to avoid frowning as this can be people’s resting face sometimes.
- Do not use any makeup products such as eyebrow pencil or gel for a few months. If you are someone who wears makeup every day, try to avoid clogging your eyebrows with foundation.
- For a few months, avoid using acidic serums around your eyebrows.
- Try not to sleep on your side as this can create a possibility to irritate the eyebrows.
- Don’t forget to take care of the donor site as it needs time to heal too. If it comes from the back of your hair, protect the area with a breathable hat. If the donor site is your body hair, avoid wearing too stiff and uncomfortable clothing around it for a few weeks.
Are There Any Alternatives To The Eyebrow Transplant?
Microblading tattoos are a semi-permanent alternative for eyebrow loss. It can last up to 5-9 months depending on where and how you get them done. Some people find microblading unrealistic and far from being natural, as it looks two-dimensional from any angle.
Which One Is Better? Eyebrow Transplant vs Microblading
Both procedures are to improve one’s appearance. When we compare microblading and eyebrow hair transplants, there are several details to point out:
Microblading tattoo | Eyebrow hair transplant |
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An eyebrow transplant surgery costs a higher price but it lasts for a lifetime and brings such convenience without any touch-ups, so it has a lot more advantages.
References:
Klingbeil, Kyle D, and Raymond Fertig. “Eyebrow and Eyelash Hair Transplantation: A Systematic Review.” The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology vol. 11,6 (2018): 21-30.
Park, Jae Hyun et al. “Eyebrow Transplantation Using Long Hair Follicular Unit Excision Technique.” Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open vol. 9,5 e3598. 25 May. 2021, doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000003598
Starace, Michela et al. “Impact and Management of Loss of Eyebrows and Eyelashes.” Dermatology and therapy vol. 13,6 (2023): 1243-1253. doi:10.1007/s13555-023-00925-z
Chen, Jian et al. “Natural Reconstruction: A Comprehensive Standardized Operating Procedure for Restoring Eyebrow Loss Due to Scarring.” Plastic and reconstructive surgery vol. 150,4 (2022): 877-886. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000009564
Audickaite, Aiste et al. “Eyebrow Hair Transplantation in Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: Pitfalls of Short- and Long-Term Results.” Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.] vol. 46,7 (2020): 922-925. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000002207
Sabanciogullarindan, Serkan, and Suphan Tunc. “Cicatricial eyebrow restoration using the follicular unit extraction technique.” Journal of cosmetic dermatology vol. 21,3 (2022): 1098-1105. doi:10.1111/jocd.14226
