Our latest study on body hair transplant involved a bald crown and a small number of grafts from the back, chest, and beard.  We transplanted 137 grafts from the back and 65 were growing at one year for a yield of (47%).  We transplanted 28 from the chest and 24 were growing at one year for a yield of (86%).  Finally, we transplanted 24 from the beard and 15 were growing at one year for a yield of (63%). The cosmetically most significant growth was with beard hair.  The patient was trimming all the body hair grafts to equal the length of hair in other regions.  This study confirms previous studies where we noted that different regions of body hair seem to grow at a higher yield than other regions when transplanted to the same individual in the same region of the balding crown.  The before photos and after photos are depicted in the following photographs.

(Click on the image to enlarge)

Body hair sometimes produces a very significant result, but often times the result is subtle. All individuals should keep this in mind when considering body hair transplants.  We continue to recommend head hair first over body hair whenever possible.

Can beard hair be removed through hair transplantation?

There are two ways to remove hair from the donor area. One is by strip method. The other is by removal of individual follicular units. The strip method is not acceptable because it will leave a permanent linear scar. Individual follicular unit removal is acceptable and does work. In fact we often employ this for transplant of beard hair to the scalp. We also use this method to remove unwanted facial hair. This can occur with some forms of face lifting where the hair from the beard is relocated behind the ear. This can be a very difficult and unnatural place to get a razor to shave the beard. We have also used this method to relocate eyebrow hair from a location well above the eyebrow and re-implant the hair into the thinner medial aspect of the eyebrow to create a natural eyebrow transplant.

You should first consider laser hair removal for unwanted facial hair. This may require more than one procedure to remove all the hair. Laser hair removal is only indicated when you have pigmented hair. If there is no pigment in the hair or the hair has turned “grey”, you laser hair removal will not work. Removal of facial hair by CIT or FIT may require more than one pass, as well, to remove all the hair.