Hair Transplant
Beard Transplant
A beard transplant places individual hair follicles taken from the back of the head into sparse areas of the cheeks, chin, moustache and sideburns under local anaesthesia.
- Method Individual grafts by FUE or DHI
- Anaesthesia Local
- Procedure time Usually 3–6 hours
- Stay in Istanbul Usually 2–3 nights
- Back to work Usually 2–4 days
The method
What Is a Beard Transplant?
A beard transplant places hair follicles taken from the back of the head one by one into sparse or bare areas of the cheeks, chin, moustache and sideburns. Genetic sparseness, patchy gaps, scars from injuries or burns, permanent hair loss after illness or medication, and uneven shape are all addressed with this method.
The follicles are extracted with the FUE technique, exactly as in a hair transplant. Placement is done either into channels opened with sapphire blades or directly with an implanter pen (DHI), depending on the doctor’s preference. Because the angle and direction of facial hair change from one area to another, each graft is placed following the exit direction of the neighbouring hairs; doctors often favour DHI here for its angle control, while FUE allows more grafts over larger areas.
Single- and two-hair grafts are generally used in the beard; thicker multi-hair groups create an unnatural texture. The transplanted follicles grow like the hair of the area they are placed in, and can be shaved and styled. Beard, moustache and sideburns are usually planned in the same session.
The procedure is shorter than a hair transplant and needs fewer grafts; on the other hand, it is performed on a highly visible part of the face, so design and angle precision matter more. The drawing stage and the doctor’s experience directly determine the result.
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and you leave the clinic the same day. JSH does not perform treatment; it coordinates the journey planned by the doctor at licensed partner clinics in Istanbul.
Design
The Beard Line Is Drawn to Your Face
Before the procedure, the cheek line, the neck line and the transition to the moustache are drawn according to your facial features. Symmetry, the density of your existing hair and the beard style you want (short beard, full beard, goatee) all shape the plan. The drawing is reviewed with you; implantation does not start until you approve it.
In a natural beard the hairs point downwards on the chin, slightly diagonally on the cheeks and towards the lip on the moustache. The doctor opens the channels or applies the pen preserving these directions in every area; as the beard grows, the transplanted hairs lie in the same direction as the existing ones.
Hair from the back of the head can be slightly finer and straighter than beard hair. The doctor selects follicles whose thickness is closest to beard hair; in some people the beard area under the chin can also serve as an extra donor source.
The number of grafts depends on the area and the goal; the doctor decides at the consultation and sends the plan to you in writing before the procedure.
Assessment
Strengths and Limits of a Beard Transplant
Every method has strengths and limits; the doctor chooses based on this balance and your individual situation.
Strengths
- A permanent answer to permanent sparseness: the transplanted follicles grow like the hair of their new area and can be shaved
- Areas where no hair grows, such as scars from injuries, burns or acne, can be covered
- Shorter procedure and shorter recovery than a hair transplant
- Beard, moustache and sideburns can be planned in the same session
- No incision or stitches, so no linear scar in the donor area
Points to Consider
- Redness and dot-like scabs are visible on the face for the first 1–2 weeks; plan social commitments accordingly
- Shaving with a razor usually waits 4 weeks
- Hair from the back of the head may differ in thickness from beard hair; the doctor balances this through graft selection
- Beard growth may continue into the mid-twenties; the doctor may prefer to wait until the area has settled
- The result depends on the team’s experience and on following aftercare instructions
Every Hair in the Direction of Its Neighbours
The angle of facial hair changes from area to area. Each direction is followed one by one during placement, so the transplanted area cannot be told apart once the beard grows.
Suitability
Who Is It for?
A beard transplant is considered for adults with a sufficient donor area at the back of the head whose facial hair loss is permanent. Because beard growth can continue into early adulthood, doctors usually wait until the area has reached its final state; where sparseness has a hormonal cause, that cause may need to be assessed first.
Suitability is decided solely by the doctor after assessing donor capacity, skin type, any scar tissue and general health. No plan is made for a procedure that is not suitable.
Planning
How Many Grafts Are Needed?
The number of grafts depends on the area and the goal. A moustache alone usually takes a few hundred grafts, each cheek a few hundred to a thousand, the sideburns and the jawline a few hundred per area. A full beard usually needs 1,000–2,500 grafts in total, while small patchy gaps can be closed with far fewer.
The density target is set to match your existing beard: a very dense patch inside a sparse beard does not look natural. The doctor measures the density of your existing hair and plans the areas to be transplanted against that measure.
At the assessment you receive an estimated range based on front and side photos of your face; the exact number is confirmed at the clinic and sent to you in writing before the procedure.
The process
How Does the Procedure Work?
From your first message to your follow-up, the journey runs through a single coordinator. The procedure day has five stages and is usually shorter than a hair transplant.
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01
Assessment
Front and side photos of your face are used to evaluate the sparse areas and the number of grafts needed. The plan is confirmed at the clinic with a doctor’s examination and blood tests.
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02
Beard Design
The cheek line, neck line and moustache transition are drawn to your facial features, and the shape is approved together with you.
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03
Graft Extraction
Under local anaesthesia, single- and two-hair grafts are extracted from the back of the head with micro punches; follicles closest in thickness to beard hair are selected under magnification and kept in a protective solution.
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04
Channel Opening and Placement
In every area, channels are opened or the implanter pen is applied following the natural angle of the hair. The procedure usually takes 3–6 hours.
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05
Check-up and First Wash
You return the next morning for a check-up; the first wash is done at the clinic and aftercare instructions are given in writing.
Where it takes place
At Partner Clinics, Planned by Your Doctor
The procedure is performed at licensed partner clinics in Istanbul by the clinic’s authorised doctor. Medical assessment, choice of method, graft numbers and the procedure itself are the doctor’s decisions; JSH does not influence them, it organises everything around them.
Our job is the rest of the journey: choosing the clinic and doctor that fit your needs, passing your assessment photos to the doctor, arranging appointments around your flights, airport and clinic transfers, accommodation and follow-up after the procedure.
We communicate in English, Turkish and Polish. Every step (schedule, length of stay, hours at the clinic, aftercare instructions) is sent to you in writing, and you stay in touch with the same coordinator after you return home.
Preparation and aftercare
What to Do Before and After the Procedure
This list is for guidance only; the written instructions your doctor gives you at the clinic take precedence. Your coordinator is available for any question.
Before the Procedure
- Stop blood thinners, aspirin and similar medication at least 7 days before the procedure, in consultation with your doctor.
- No alcohol for 3 days and no smoking for 24 hours before the procedure; both affect bleeding and healing.
- Reduce caffeine the day before; have a light breakfast on the morning of the procedure.
- Tell us about chronic conditions and regular medication during the assessment; blood tests are done at the clinic on the morning of the procedure.
- Do not start, stop or change the dose of any medication without your doctor’s approval.
- Do not trim your beard before the procedure; the doctor wants to see it as it is for the design and density plan.
After the Procedure
- Do not wash your face or touch the grafted area for the first 3 days; the first wash is done at the clinic.
- Sleep on your back with your head slightly raised for the first 3–4 nights; do not bury your face in the pillow.
- Keep the grafted area dry and clean for 10 days; avoid pools, the sea, saunas, sunbeds and direct sun.
- No heavy exercise or anything that makes you sweat for the first 2 weeks; no chemical products on the face for 1–2 months.
- Do not pick the scabs; wash exactly as shown and take the medication you were given regularly.
- Trimming with scissors usually waits 2 weeks and shaving with a razor usually 4 weeks; your doctor confirms the exact timing at the check-up.
- Keep your follow-up appointments and message your coordinator straight away if you notice unusual pain, redness or discharge.
Recovery
Recovery After the Procedure
Timings are given for guidance only; recovery varies from person to person and is followed up by your doctor.
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First 3 Days
Redness and small dot-like scabs appear in the grafted area. The face is not washed and the area is not touched; medication continues as instructed.
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1–2 Weeks
The scabs fall off and the redness fades. Trimming with scissors is usually allowed after the second week; most people return to social life in this period.
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2–4 Weeks
Some of the transplanted hairs may shed temporarily; this is expected and the roots stay in place. Shaving with a razor is usually allowed after the fourth week with the doctor’s approval.
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3–6 Months
New hair begins to grow; the beard starts to take shape and its density increases gradually.
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6–9 Months
The hair thickens and the transplanted area blends with the existing beard, ready for regular shaving and styling.
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9–12 Months
Recovery is largely complete. Results vary from person to person and are followed up by your doctor.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Beard Transplants
From the hair follicles at the back of the head and above the ears. This hair is the closest in structure to beard hair and is resistant to loss. In some people the beard area under the chin can also serve as an extra donor source; the doctor decides.
The transplanted follicles keep their own characteristics; being scalp hair they may grow slightly faster, with the same colour and thickness as your hair at the back of the head. With regular shaving and styling they blend with your existing beard.
Both are used. Because angle and direction are critical, doctors often prefer the implanter pen (DHI) for beard, moustache and eyebrows; FUE allows more grafts over large cheek areas. The decision is made at the consultation.
It is performed under local anaesthesia. Apart from brief sensitivity while the anaesthetic is applied, no pain is expected during the procedure. Afterwards, the painkillers your doctor recommends are usually enough.
The channels are very fine, so no permanent scarring is expected. The dot-like scabs of the first days fall off within two weeks, and the extraction points in the donor area become invisible among the hair.
Yes, beard, moustache and sideburns are usually planned together. The total number of grafts and the duration depend on the size of the areas.
The grafted area is left untouched in the first weeks. Trimming with scissors is usually allowed after the second week and shaving with a razor after the fourth, with the doctor’s approval; the exact timing is confirmed at the check-up.
It depends on the area and the goal: usually a few hundred for a moustache alone, a few hundred to a thousand per cheek, and 1,000–2,500 in total for a full beard. The exact number is decided by the doctor at the consultation.
The follicles carry the characteristics of the area they come from; if the hair at the back of your head greys over time, the transplanted hairs will grey at the same time. This does not affect how they blend with your beard.
Usually 2–3 nights: consultation and the procedure, a check-up and the first wash the next day. The schedule is built around your flights.
Let’s Assess Your Suitability Together
Share your questions and, if you have them, your photos. Our team will complete a preliminary assessment with the partner clinic’s doctor and get back to you.