If you’ve longed (and long attempted) to take advantage of the recent beard trend but are foiled by patchy or uneven growth, you may be wondering whether you have any choice but to give up on the idea of a long, luxurious beard. Fortunately, advances in medical technology have led to some options that can help quickly and naturally regrow the facial hair you’ve lost over the years (or generate facial hair you never had). Read on to learn more about the facial hair restoration options that can help you achieve a more symmetrical and masculine appearance.
What does facial hair restoration entail?
For some, the term “facial hair restoration” may call up images of the badly-done hair plugs common among some celebrities over the past few decades. However, today’s technology provides more ways than ever before to seamlessly integrate natural hair into your facial follicles, hellping you consistently grow a symmetrical beard or goatee that can stand up to shaving, swimming in chlorinated water, or even grilling over an open flame.
Two types of facial hair restoration enjoy the highest success rates — follicular unit transplant (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE).
FUT involves the extraction of multiple follicular “units” from a thin strip of donor hair — each unit containing one to four hairs along with a muscle and some sweat and oil glands that help keep this follicle healthy. By transplanting these follicular units rather than just a section of hair and scalp, your doctor can significantly reduce the odds that you’ll reject the transplant; and because only a few hairs are used in each individual unit, you should find that your new beard looks completely natural without giving off a “hair plug” vibe. For FUT of the beard area, you’ll need some healthy strips of donor hair that can be taken from an area fairly unobtrusively, like the upper neck or behind the ear.
FUE differes from FUT in that the individual follicular units are harvested one at a time rather than extracted from a strip of donor hair. This process can be longer and more expensive than FUT, but minimizes pain and permanent scarring and can provide you with a beard that will stand up to just about any abuse.
What can you expect from a facial hair restoration procedure?
The procedure itself can take four to eight hours to complete, although those seeking to fill in only a few patchy areas may enjoy a somewhat shorter visit. You’ll be able to watch movies or listen to music to relax during the process, but reading or browsing the internet may be difficult as your doctor needs to be close to your face for most of the procedure. Fortunately, the numbing agents used on both the harvest site and the transplant site should ensure you’re completely comfortable the entire time.
Once the follicular units have been inserted, you’ll need to spend two or three days healing before you attempt to do more than gently rinse your new facial hair with water, as scrubbing or shaving could irritate the area or even lead to follicle loss. Even after the area is no longer sensitive to the touch, you’ll want to avoid being too rough with your facial hair until you notice the transplanted follicles beginning to grow — sometimes this can take as long as four to six months.
You Are Ready to Take Action
For a precise diagnosis over what’s causing your hair loss, consider reaching out to an expert. Contact John Frank, MD in New York City or Columbus, Ohio to find the option that works best for you.
