Beard Transplant: Procedure, Cost, Side Effects, and More

Growing a full beard can be a challenge. But if your facial hair growth is patchy and uneven, a beard transplant could help you achieve a more robust look.

Like a hair transplant for a receding hairline or hair loss on the scalp, a beard transplant involves transferring hair follicles from one part of the body to your chin, cheeks, jawline, and other parts of the beard area.

While this surgery can help you grow a beard you’re happy with, it’s not for everyone.

Below, we outline what to expect from a beard transplant procedure, including the steps, costs, risks, side effects, and advice for finding a provider. We also list other options for treating hair loss and the considerations that can help you make the right choice for you.

A beard transplant involves taking healthy hair follicles from one part of your body (known as the donor area) and transferring them to your face and jawline (read: the recipient area or recipient site) as beard implants.

Your provider will likely take hair from the back of the head to create a fuller beard line.

There are two main types of techniques used during a beard transplant:

• Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). This procedure involves harvesting individual follicles. It’s typically the technique providers prefer because it’s less likely to produce noticeable scarring.

• Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). This procedure involves harvesting a strip of skin containing follicles.

You can read more about these procedures in our hair transplant guide.

Here’s a rundown of what this kind of hair transplantation procedure entails, regardless of whether you opt for FUE or FUT.

• Initial consultation. Before your provider starts harvesting hair, they’ll assess if you’re a good candidate for beard transplant surgery. The main consideration is whether you have enough hair on your head to harvest. They’ll also discuss your expectations for the procedure, including what kind of beard shape you’re looking for, along with the potential risks and recovery time. In some cases, you may need multiple hair grafts to get the results you want.

• Harvesting. Your provider will shave and clean the area where they’ll be taking hair follicles for your beard surgery. A local anesthetic will ensure you feel little to no pain during the extraction.

• Implantation. Next, your provider will inject local anesthesia in the facial area where they’ll implant the harvested hair follicles. This could be around the jawline, mouth, goatee, and sideburn areas. Implantation involves putting each follicle into your skin to form your desired beard shape.

• Recovery. You may need to take a day or two off to recover fully from your beard transplant. Dried blood and tiny crusts or scabs can appear around the implantation sites, but they should flake off in time. It’s important not to pick or scratch them as they protect you against bacteria. Doctors typically recommend waiting a week or more before you shave, trim, and style your beard. It’s important to carefully follow your provider’s instructions during the recovery period to ensure safety and optimal results.

Time to See Results

Can you get a beard transplant and see instant results?

You may actually experience some hair shedding in the weeks following your beard transplant. This is a typical part of the transplantation process, after which new beard growth should begin.

It can take several months for new hair to grow from the transplanted hair follicles, though — about eight to nine months on average.

Because facial hair transplant surgery involves cutting into the skin, infection is one of the biggest risks. Keeping the donor and recipient areas clean is crucial.

Your provider may even send you home with an antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection. They may also tell you to avoid the following:

• Swimming or going into a hot tub or sauna

• Rubbing or touching the transplant or harvest areas

• Direct sun exposure

• Washing or wetting your face in the five days after surgery

While major side effects of a beard transplant are rare, mild side effects may include:

• Swelling and redness

• Skin tightness

• Numbness

• Scabbing

You’ll also likely experience scarring at the donor site. The size of the scar will depend on whether you opt for an FUE or FUT procedure.

Similar to head hair transplants, beard transplants are an effective but costly way to address hair loss and uneven hair growth. They’re also not usually covered by insurance since they’re considered cosmetic procedures (aka plastic surgery).

The cost can range from $3,000 to over $15,000, depending on whether you want to fill in a patchy beard or create a full beard from scratch.

The first step in getting a beard transplant is finding a qualified provider certified by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgeons.

It’s important to note that a beard transplant is a more technical procedure than a hair transplant because beard hair requires more shaping consideration. The hairs in a beard also tend to grow in different directions, which can make it challenging to achieve visually appealing results.

When looking for a beard transplant provider, it’s a good idea to ask:

• Do you have any experience with beard transplantation?

• Can you show me photos of some of your work?

• How long have you been doing beard surgery?

• Do you perform both FUT and FUE?

A beard transplant can give you full-looking facial hair, but if you’re concerned about the cost or don’t want to undergo a surgical procedure, you have other options:

• Minoxidil. Also known as Rogaine®, minoxidil is an FDA-backed hair loss medication that helps promote blood flow to the scalp and stimulate the hair growth cycle. It can help thicken beard hair. It’s available as a foam and liquid solution.

• Finasteride. Finasteride is an oral medication that helps reduce levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. DHT is responsible for genetic-related hair loss, known as male pattern baldness. It can also be applied topically, like with our topical finasteride & minoxidil spray.

• Biotin gummies. A B vitamin deficiency can affect hair growth and hair health, but biotin gummies may help promote healthy hair growth if you’re deficient.

• Volumizing hair products. Hims volumizing shampoo and volumizing conditioner both contain biotin and healthy hair ingredients like caffeine.

• Saw palmetto. Research has shown that saw palmetto promotes hair density. Our hair-thickening shampoo contains saw palmetto and other hair-friendly ingredients.

Getting a beard transplant is a big decision. It’s important to weigh your options and consider the pros and cons of this procedure.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Beard transplantation can help fill in patchy or uneven facial hair. The procedure can also help you grow a beard if you weren’t previously able to grow one.

• It can be expensive. Expect to pay at least a few thousand dollars to cover up bare patches on your face and more if you want to create a full beard from scratch.

• Not everyone is a candidate for beard transplant surgery. If you’re completely bald or don’t have enough usable scalp hair, a beard transplant won’t work for you since that’s where providers typically harvest donor hair from.

• The procedure comes with potential risks and side effects. While major adverse effects are uncommon, beard transplantation can potentially cause scarring, swelling, and infection.

If you aren’t ready to move forward with a beard transplant quite yet, you can consider other effective hair loss treatments.

You can also book a free consultation with a Hims hair growth specialist to talk through your options and learn how to address facial hair loss.