An eyebrow hair transplant is a procedure that thickens and shapes the eyebrows using hair from another part of the body, commonly the scalp. The procedure can be suitable for anyone whose eyebrows are missing or thinning. Natural thinning, often due to hereditary factors or past over-plucking, is a common reason for seeking this procedure. The procedure is performed in 1 day and the recovery takes 7-10 days.
The Treatment Rooms London provides an eyebrow hair transplant using the follicular unit excision (FUE) or follicular unit transplantation (FUT) methods. These procedure can rebuild thinning or damaged eyebrows, and create new eyebrows for people with no eyebrow hair, offering a more natural look. An example of the procedure can be seen below in the gentleman who wanted added thickness and better shape to his eyebrows on both sides.
What is an eyebrow hair transplant?
An eyebrow hair transplant is a cosmetic procedure that involves transferring hair grafts from the donor area located somewhere on the body, usually above the ears and back of the scalp, to the eyebrow area. With advancements in hair transplantation, eyebrow transplants have become a popular and effective way to achieve fuller, more natural-looking eyebrows
The procedure can be performed using the FUE hair transplant or FUT hair transplant technique. Both techniques have their advantages with the FUE technique being a technique of choice as it allows specific type of hairs to be chosen to be transplanted into the eyebrows. The procedures can be performed without the need to shave much hair or any hair at all. At The Treatment Rooms London, our Surgeons are experts in performing the unshaven hair transplant technique, allowing patients to get back to work and social life quicker.
In eyebrow hair transplant surgery, your Surgeon will relocate individual hair follicles to match the natural flow and direction in the eyebrow area. Over time, new hairs grow from the grafts, resulting in new, thicker eyebrows. It is important to note that as hair is transplanted from a region where it often grows long, patients will need to trim their eyebrows after having the procedure to keep them well groomed.
Although eyebrow hair transplants are a safe and effective solution to combat a lack of eyebrow hair, some people may not be suited to the surgery, including those with conditions such as:
Prior to having an eyebrow transplant, you will attend a consultation with the surgeon to assess your suitability for the treatment.
Who is a good candidate for an eyebrow hair transplant?
The most common reasons patients undergo an eyebrow hair transplant is due to over-plucking creating uneven growth as well as physical trauma or surgery creating areas of no eyebrow hair. In these circumstances, patients tend to be good candidates for the procedure which can help significantly improve a patient's self-confidence and distress levels associated with having no eyebrows.
Some patients may also want to undergo the procedure as a way of having a permanent solution to eyebrow hair loss, unlike temporary fixes such as makeup, microblading or tattooing.
How does an FUE eyebrow transplant work?
An FUE eyebrow transplant extracts donor hair from the scalp, usually above the ears and back of the scalp. The donor hair is taken as individual hair follicles. Tiny incisions are then made by the surgeon in the brow area, according to the shape and density you wish your new eyebrows to have. This delicate process will also take into account the direction of the new hair. When the new eyebrow area is ready, hair follicles are implanted, typically using a needle with a microscope.
The procedure is carried out after administering local anaesthetic injections, so the patient should feel no discomfort. Small circular scars will be left behind in the donor area, but these will soon become unnoticeable when the surrounding hair grows long. An FUE eyebrow transplant is a minimally invasive- procedure that requires no scalpels and needs no stitches. It can be completed within one session and usually takes around 4 to 6 hours.
Serious side effects from an eyebrow transplant are rare. The most common side effects are mild bruising or swelling which are temporary and self-resolve. In assessing your suitability for the procedure, your surgeon will check your medical history and ask you about any underlying health conditions you may have. You should also disclose any medication or supplements you are taking before the procedure.
How Long Does it take to perform an eyebrow transplant?
An eyebrow hair transplant takes approximately 4-6 hours to complete. The rough outline of the day is provided below:
- Planning of the procedure (1 hour)
- Anaesthesia and incisions of the eyebrow area (1 hour)
- Extraction of hair (45 mins)
- Lunch (45 mins)
- Implantation of hair into the eyebrows (1-2 hours)
- Post-operation recovery and debrief (30 mins)
What will your eyebrows look like after the transplant?
Here is a typical timeline patients will have following their eyebrow hair transplant:
Day 1: Immediately after the eyebrow hair transplant you will have some visible scabbing and redness in your eyebrows
Day 2-4: In the next 4 days, the area will scab over and you will develop some swelling in your eyelids.
Day 5: After 5 days the swelling will have subsided, leaving with you with some redness and scabbing visible in your eyebrows
Day 6-10: The scabs present in the eyebrow area will start to wash away leaving the implanted hair behind and some mild redness present in the skin
Day 14-21: The redness subsides and the hairs that have been implanted into the eyebrows will start to shed
Month 3: The implanted hair will start to grow in the eyebrows
Month 6: Significant growth should start to appear requiring regular grooming with scissors to keep the hair in the eyebrows at the correct length
Month 12: Final result seen in the eyebrows
Eyebrow hair transplant donor area recovery
Depending on the technique you have, the donor area will heal within 7-14 days after having an eyebrow hair transplant. Patients can opt to have either the following types of donor area shaves for their eyebrow hair transplant:
- A minimal shave eyebrow FUE hair transplant- this requires a low fade haircut to access the donor area. It is primarily performed in male patients who undergo an eyebrow hair transplant as seen below.
This was a patient who had a low fade haircut to access the donor region for his eyebrow hair transplant
- A tiered or window shave eyebrow FUE or FUT hair transplant- this requires a small rectangular area to be shaved at the back of the head to access the donor area. It is commonly performed in patients with long hair such- mainly female patients. An example is seen below.
A small 8cm by 2cm rectangular area shave has been performed to access the donor area in this patient
After 2 weeks, the window shave will have been disguised entirely by the hair growing back. This is seen in the picture below.
Donor area 14 days after eyebrow hair transplant
The Treatment Rooms London Reviews
Eyebrow transplant before and after
An eyebrow hair transplant is a safe procedure and can provide satisfactory results, such as:
- Restoring over-plucked eyebrows
- Scarred areas where no eyebrow hair previously grew can be filled in
- Providing more definition to your eyebrows
Furthermore, many people find that after an eyebrow hair transplant, they need to use less make-up on their brow region.
Because the results of an eyebrow hair transplant are permanent, you won’t need to spend as long shaping them. This can save you both time and money. It can be a low-maintenance solution for people who previously had their eyebrows threaded regularly.
Eyebrow transplant cost
Eyebrow hair transplants in the UK could cost in the region of £3,000 to £5,000. The price may vary depending on factors like:
- The location of the clinic
- The reputation of the clinic
- The number of hair follicles being relocated
The price of an eyebrow transplant will be disclosed in your consultation with your surgeon, where they will be able to determine how many grafts you will need, which will indicate the cost of your eyebrow transplant.
Are eyebrow transplants permanent?
An eyebrow hair transplant utilises hair that grows permanently or for a long time (>10-20 years) from the scalp or another part of the body. When it is relocated to the eyebrows, it retains this longevity and patients can expect to have a result that lasts > 10 years or permanently.
Eyebrow transplant recovery and aftercare
After an eyebrow transplant, a short recovery period is necessary. You would normally be able to resume normal activities after five to seven days, although vigorous physical activities might need to be avoided for 2 weeks after the procedure to ensure no grafts become loose and fall out. It’s also important to keep the donor and eyebrow areas clean to avoid infection.
After 2-3 weeks, transplanted hairs will typically begin to fall out. This is entirely normal, and your new eyebrows will begin to grow over the next few months, reaching their final results in around a year's time.
There are several aftercare measures that you will be advised on after an eyebrow transplant. Here are some aftercare tips:
- Avoid touching your eyebrows at all during the first 4 after the treatment
- You will be required to spray your eyebrows with a solution we provide for the first 4 days after surgery
- After 4 days, you can wash your face and your eyebrows, but don’t rub yourself dry – gently pat, instead
- If you experience swelling, apply ice above the eyebrows for 20 minutes
- Sleep flat on your back, with your head elevated for the first week after treatment in order to avoid increasing the risk of swelling
- Wear a hat to avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks after the procedure
- Avoid swimming in a pool for 4 weeks after the procedure
For more information about the aftercare and recovery process, we recommend using our hair transplant aftercare and recovery page as guidance.
Eyebrow Hair Transplant Surgery FAQs
Eyebrow hair transplant surgery involves moving hair follicles from the donor area to the brow area.
The procedure is used to rebuild thinning or damaged eyebrows and create new eyebrows for people with no eyebrow hair offering a more natural look. Sparse eyebrows can have several causes, including:
- Genetics
- Ageing
- Scars from an injury
- Burns
- Alopecia
- Over plucking
Book your eyebrow transplant today
At The Treatment Rooms London, you can benefit from a complete eyebrow transplant that includes aftercare tailored to your requirements. Each procedure is personally conducted by our top Surgeons, Dr Fernando and Dr Vara. Put yourself in the best possible hands, with a personalised care experience that prioritises your relaxation, comfort and results.
Are you a suitable candidate for an eyebrow hair transplant? Contact our experienced surgeons to learn more about the FUE and FUT eyebrow transplant process at The Treatment Rooms London. Book a consultation today to find out more.
Authored by
Dr Roshan Vara
Full Medical Member of the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery (BAHRS) Associate Member of International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS)
Reviewed by
Dr Dilan Fernando
Royal College of Surgeons
Full Medical Member of the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery (BAHRS) Associate Member of International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS)
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