Whether you want a Van Dyke or Abe Lincoln, contrary to popular opinion growing a perfect beard is not a matter of sitting back and waiting for the results to happen. There are all sorts of issues that one can encounter, not least the problem of patchy growth. That’s right, the dreaded bald bit in your beard that makes your otherwise excellent facial hair look plain wrong. Then there’s that patch right in the middle of your mustache that won’t join up no matter what you do! The truth is that any part of the facial hair can grow on, can also create problems for those looking to quaff the perfect crumb catcher. Happily, for those who find ourselves somewhat challenged in the facial hair department, there is a solution. That solution is a beard transplant, a subject you can read all about below.
What is a Beard Transplant?
A beard transplant or Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a procedure where hairs from other parts of your body are transplants to your face. The hairs can be sourced from many viable sites. However, the most common are from under your chin, or at the base of your scalp.
Each hair is transplanted one by one, and sometimes two by two. The latter being a process that procedures an even more natural look to the beard. In a typical procedure, between 4000 and 7000 hairs can be used, which means that a transplant can last up to 5 hours. Don’t worry, though, because you can expect anesthesia and, in some cases, sedation that will keep you comfortable and calm.
It is essential to stay calm and still during a beard transplant as it requires considerable skill on the surgeon performing them. The reason being that they have to get all 4000-7000 of those hairs facing the same way for the best result.
Who Is It For?
Traditionally, men with facial scarring have opted for facial hair transplants. The reason is that the scar tissue can be a difficult site to grow a beard naturally. However, beard hair transplants are no longer limited to scarring victims. In fact, there is an increasing number of men looking to improve their bristles by using this procedure.
Of course, before you decide to go ahead, you must first ascertain whether you are a good candidate for a facial hair transplant. Unfortunately, if you also suffer from baldness on the top of your head, you may struggle. However, for those guys with plenty of hair up top, a beard transplant is usually a viable option.
Benefits and Risks
Before you decide to proceed with a facial hair transplant, it is also crucial to address what risks and benefits are involved.
1. Benefits
When it comes to the positives, you will be pleased to discover there are many.
Benefit #1: More Style Choices
The first of these is that with the transplant procedure, you can choose any style you want. After all, you won’t be limited to what your natural beard growth is! Therefore if you want a goatee, sideburns, or designer stubble, they are all within your reach.
Benefit #2: Boost in Masculinity & Attractiveness
Next, having a healthy beard can help you in your romantic life too. A fact that seems pretty obvious by how many celebrities still choose to sport chin hair in 2020! However, if you are looking for evidence that is a little more concrete than Jason Momma’s fur muzzle, then check out the study linked here.
Yes, that’s right; this study, along with several others, shows that good facial hair affects women’s perception of men in four pretty essential ways. Those were:
- attractiveness
- health
- masculinity, and
- parenting abilities.
Therefore if you are looking for love or romantic adventures, having a healthy beard is one of the best things to maximize your chances.
Benefit #3: Minimal Down-/ Recovery Time
Another benefit of choosing a beard transplant is that it takes little time to recover from and only involves very minimal pain. You can expect only a few days of swelling after the procedure. At the same time, the transplant itself is comparable to a slight pinching sensation.
Benefit #4: Close Match of A Natural Beard
Finally, once your facial hair transplant has healed, it will look and behave exactly like a natural beard. That means you can shave and trim as anyone else in the world. No special care needed.
2. Risks or Downsides
Just like any other medical procedure, there are some downsides to beard transplants. It is, of course, vital that you educate yourself on these before you decide to go ahead. Therefore, remember to always consult with your medical or healthcare professional first.
Next, aside from the cost factor, here are two of the main risks or downsides important to consider:
The first downside in getting a full and luscious beard is that the hair needs to be sourced from elsewhere on your body. That means you will have less hair at that location. The good news is that your surgeon won’t pick an area bald for your transplant. Instead, they will carefully remove one in every five hairs, which should barely make a difference.
Another downside of a facial hair transplant is that it is not an instant beard. Yes, you will have hair there for the first three weeks or so. However, part of the process is that this will fall out to be replaced by natural growth back. Now, this is no problem in the long term. However, if you are looking for a beard for a specific occasion, you may want to consider the time scales involved carefully.
The Cost Factor
Another critical factor to consider is how much a beard transplant will cost you. You can expect a reliable clinic to charge you between $5,000 and $15,000 for the procedure. Some clinics charge on a per-graft-basis, which, if you need less, can work out more reasonably.
It is worth noting that beard transplants are usually not covered by medical insurance. The reason for this is that they are classed as a cosmetic procedure.
Additionally, some doctors will charge for a consultation before they agree to do the process. Although, this can often work out in a patient’s favor as they may find out that there is an alternative way to grow a full bush beard that does not require surgery.
Alternatives To Beard Transplants
On the subject of alternatives to beard transplants, there are several options for you to consider below.
Alternative #1: Change In Lifestyle
The first is to make changes to your lifestyle. This alternative is probably the most obvious, but that doesn’t mean it’s not effective. After all, if you are struggling with your health in other areas, it could be reflected in your beard problems.
Therefore you need to attend to things such as your sleep schedule, what you are eating, exercise, and your stress too. In truth, more shut-eye, weight loss, and hitting the gym on the regular are useful for hair growth because they all promote testosterone production. The crucial hormone that will help you grow a thicker fuller beard.
Alternative #2: Facial Hair Growth Supplements
Alternatively, you may wish to boost your beard growing abilities by taking supplements. Many of the ones currently on the market contain a substance called biotin, which is particularly effective at promoting beard growth. Additionally, vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A and Zinc can also aid you in your beard growing goals.
Prime Beard’s Growth Vitamins Supplement for Men by NutraChamps is a readers’ favorite. It’s a scientifically designed hair growth supplement that helps you achieve the beard of your dreams – whether it is a mustache, goatee, sideburns, or hair on your head. With 20 essential proteins, vitamins, minerals, and herbs for facial hair health, you’ll be going prime in no time.
Alternative #3: Rogaine (Minoxidil)
Another alternative option for a facial hair transplant is a medication known as Rogaine (Minoxidil). This stuff was first developed as a treatment for high blood pressure. Still, one of the unexpected yet remarkable side effects is that it promotes hair growth!
The good news is that Minoxidil is fully approved by the FDA, and there are plenty of guys that will testify to its hair restoring effects. Minoxidil works by stimulating blood flow in your follicles. It also lengthens the all-important Anagen phase of hair growth, meaning that your hair has the maximum time to mature.
Of course, no treatment is perfect, and many Minoxidil users hate that, unlike a beard transplant, it must be applied twice a day for it to work. Some of the side effects of using Minoxidil also include weight gain, dry skin, and low blood pressure, which makes it unsuitable treatment in many cases.
Alternative #4: Hormone Therapy
Finally, concerning beard transplant alternatives, there is one more to consider – hormone therapy. Compelling because it is testosterone that largely controls hair growth in the male body.
Unfortunately, hormonal treatment can be a complicated process to get right, taking considerable trial and error to see the results you want. Additionally, any hormone therapy you do must be under strict medical supervision. After all, hormones are incredibly powerful and cause many other things to occur in the body – some of which can be unwanted or even dangerous.
Final Thoughts
In summary, in the post above, we have learned that trouble growing a full, lush beard is not uncommon among all kinds of men. We have also learned that there are some serious, scientifically proven benefits to being beardy!
The good news is that if you are struggling with your beard growing goals, all is not lost. There are even several options available to you, from changing your diet to taking medication. However, if you are looking for a permanent and effective solution to your whisker-woes, then a facial hair transplant may be your best bet.
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