Is the eyebrow transplant the Cinderella procedure of the hair restoration business? It certainly doesn’t seem to receive the acclaim afforded to other treatments. Compare and contrast with the miles of press coverage given over to celebrity accounts of hair transplants and micro scalp pigmentation treatment, for example. Eyebrows just don’t seem to be as cool, sexy or appreciated as other procedures.
This article is going to shine a light on the humble eyebrow transplant. We’re going to examine why you might want one and what you can expect from the procedure. Let’s see if we can get Cinderella to the ball!
Who Gets an Eyebrow Transplant?
There are various reasons for wanting an eyebrow transplant. In a few cases, people lose their eyebrows because of an accident or burns and therefore an eyebrow transplant can contribute to restoring their appearance.
More typically, people are born with thin brows while others find their brows becoming sparse as they get older. This can make a big difference to one’s appearance and can affect an individual’s self-confidence. Eyebrows are an important but underestimated feature of the human face. They frame the eyes and highlight them in a way that most people don’t understand or appreciate until their brows start to grow thin.
Limitations of alternate treatments for Thin Eyebrows
Most commonly, those with thin eyebrows deal with the problem by enhancing them with an eyebrow pencil. The skilful use of a pencil can add density, colour and shape to the brow. Overuse, however, can make the brows look artificial. This can actually draw attention to the thinning problem.
Microblading is another way of adding density. It is a semi-permanent cosmetic tattoo that fills out the sparse bits on the brow. There needs to be a decent amount of hair on your brow for this to be effective, however; too much visible tattoo highlights the lack of hair density rather than enhancing it.
Eyebrow Transplant Procedure
An eyebrow transplant provides a better, more permanent solution. It’s much the same as a hair transplant except that, instead of being placed on the scalp, transplanted hair follicles are moved to the eyebrow area. As with hair transplants, the hair transplant surgeon will engage with the client in advance of the surgery to assess their suitability for a transplant and design the shape of the new eyebrows.
The procedure can last up to five hours. It’s carried out under local anaesthetic, so there is minimal pain. Just like an FUE hair transplant, hair follicles are removed from donor sites at the back of the head (mostly back of neck here actually) and grafted onto the brow area.
Post-Op care after an Eyebrow Transplant
Post-op, you can expect a bit of swelling for two or three days. You should also expect to be slightly underwhelmed by how your new brows look in the first few days after your procedure. There may be some initial hair fall which may lead you to think the procedure has failed, but that’s part of the process. It takes about three months for the hair follicles to bed in and start growing hair. That’s when you’ll start to see your new eyebrows take shape.
As the months go past, your new brows will require slightly more maintenance than usual. That’s because the transplanted hair follicles will continue to produce hair in just the same way they would have done had they been left on your head. In other words, your eyebrows will grow long if left unmanaged. On the plus side, the growth of thick, natural hair gives you greater scope when it comes to shaping and styling your new brows.
Conclusion
An eyebrow transplant can be a life-changing experience. Not only will it provide you with a permanent solution to the problem of sparse brows, but it has the potential to transform your life by restoring your appearance and giving your self-esteem a massive boost in the process.
