Most people are familiar with hair transplant surgery to treat bald spots and thinning patches on the head. However, adding hair to other places of the face, such as during a brow transplant, is less visible. “Much of this evolved from the hair transplant itself,” says facial plastic surgeon and hair restoration specialist Natalie Attenello, M.D. “As that procedure evolved from a ‘pluggy’ look to a more refined, natural result, it allowed us to make more delicate hair transplantation procedures possible.”
Even celebs are coming out about their brow implants. Chrissy Tiegen did it. Jen Atkin, the famous hairstylist and founder of Ouai, agreed as well. According to Corey S. Maas, M.D., a San Francisco facial plastic surgeon and Immediate Past President of AAFPRS, “While some celebrities are reluctant to go public with aesthetic surgeries and procedures they do, those who share their experiences make it appealing for the public to assess and understand the procedure.”
Dr. Attenello, Dr. Maas, and two more experts provide their insights on everything you should know before receiving a brow transplant.
What is an Eyebrow Transplant?
An eyebrow transplant is a relatively simple operation performed by a cosmetic surgeon (yes, this is considered plastic surgery) that restores hair to the brows, resulting in natural and stunning results. Shirley Madhère, a holistic plastic surgeon and the founder of Jet Set Beauty Rx, explains that the process involves transferring hair follicles from the scalp (or other regions) to the brows to make them look fuller.
Eyebrows have always been on the cutting edge of beauty trends, whether they are pencil-thin or thick and fluffy. “So many patients have over-tweezed their eyebrows or have less-than-desirable results from eyebrow tattooing and microblading, so the procedure is an excellent option to improve these mishaps,” Dr. Attenello explains.
How It Works.
Amir Karam, M.D., a board-certified face plastic surgeon and the founder of KaramMD Skin, explains that an eyebrow transplant is similar to any other hair transplant treatment. “It entails removing hair from a place that does not normally lose hair, such as the back of the head, and transplanting it to the eyebrows. The procedure produces the most natural-looking results because it eventually restores hair where hair once existed.”
Dr. Karam explains that the initial stage in a brow transplant is to remove individual hairs and their follicles from the scalp. Follicles ranging from 70 to 120 are then prepared and transplanted at a sharp angle into tiny holes created by a needle. “The entire process must be done artistically so that it looks natural.”
The transplanted hairs take hold instantly (after going through the standard grow-rest-shed cycle), but the final fullness and thickness of the brows do not appear for several months (more on this later).
Who is it for?
A brow transplant is ideal for anyone who has naturally thin or sparse brows, hair loss due to trauma or a scar where hair does not grow, or bald areas caused by natural ageing or years of excessive tweezing, waxing, threading, or over-plucking. Dr. Attenello says it’s for anyone who wants to reconstruct their brows with their natural hair. “Additionally, the surgery can cover up unsightly or discoloured tattoos or microblading.”
If sparse-looking brows are caused by a medical problem, surgery is usually a possible treatment option. People with trichotillomania (a compulsive disorder that causes them to pull out their brow hairs) usually respond well to the operation as long as the condition is not active. Cancer sufferers in remission love their newfound brows.
However, not everyone is a perfect candidate for the surgery. According to Madhère, persons who have alopecia areata or unstable hair loss in their brows are generally not candidates for brow transplants.
