You've probably heard about hair transplants but did you know that eyebrow transplants are now a thing that is increasing in popularity? Eyebrows have become huge over recent years, Whether you go for high arches, fluffy hairs, thick brows, or thin brows - it's completely up to you and it's all about portraying your personality in the best way that you can. Eyebrows are the focal point of the face and when you get those right, all the other features can just kind of blend in around them. It is really hard to get your brows the way that you want though, they might not be structured that way or you could have overplucked previously. If this applies to you, an eyebrow transplant could definitely be a viable option. This is a process that basically involves transplanting hair from the scalp to the eyebrows. Some other types of people who might opt for eyebrow transplants are those who have had an accident in the eye area and whose eyebrows have suffered as a result.
What is an eyebrow transplant?
An eyebrow transplant involves taking hair from the scalp and inserting it into the face to create eyebrows. As mentioned previously, there are a few different reasons why somebody might want this type of procedure. There will either be cosmetic or reconstructive reasons to get an eyebrow transplant and more and more clinics are starting to offer it. The hairs are inserted in such a way to create the effect that you are looking for and this is at a sharper angle to create as much of a natural result as possible.
Years ago, hair transplants involved skin grafts, and while these are still used today, they are smaller than in the past and therefore allow the results to be as precise and high-quality as possible. Medical technology has evolved so much that it is not possible to transfer single hairs, which is what is going to be the most effective on such a small area as brows. In general, if you want an eyebrow transplant, you will need to pay for it yourself because it is not considered a medical procedure. However, if you need the treatment due to an accident involving your eyes, your insurance might cover it but you obviously need to check with your provider. If you are paying, you can expect it to cost anywhere between $3000 and $6000.
Although most people will be suitable for eyebrow transplants, some might not including those who suffer from alopecia, trichotillomania, or a bleeding disorder. Make sure that you discuss any such conditions during the initial consultation before going forward.
The benefits
One of the biggest benefits is obviously the fact that you will now be confident in your brows and as mentioned previously, they can literally transform your face! An eyebrow transplant also allows you to play around with the shape of your brows if your current hairs are sparse or you just don't like how they look. You should also know that once you have an eyebrow transplant, they will keep growing - which makes the procedure way more realistic than microblading or tattooing.
How to prepare for an eyebrow transplant
Once you have been booked in for the procedure with a professional, there is not a lot that you have to do in preparation at all. It is advised that you avoid using cosmetic products on your brows in the lead-up and day of the eyebrow transplant and you should also avoid anticoagulants like aspirin too.
What to expect during treatment
You are probably feeling a little nervous and that is completely natural but you need to know that an eyebrow transport will be done in a clinic or spa under local anesthesia. This will mean that you will not feel anything when the procedure is being done because you will be completely numb in that area.
If you are wondering what will be happening during the actual process, your hair follicles will be harvested and transplanted to your eyebrows to give the desired effect, which you would have discussed at length with the person performing the eyebrow transplant before the big day! If you want to know more about your particular type of eyebrow transplant (because it might be difficult to the one described), please ask your surgeon more.
There will be as many as 50 to 400 grafts per eyebrow depending on how much density you actually want/need. Each hair is transplanted carefully by the surgeon and will be checked for symmetry every step of the way. Although it is a pretty simple procedure, it can take between 3 and 4 hours to be finished.
Are there any side effects?
There are not usually side effects when it comes to eyebrow transplants but one way that you can make it even more likely that you won't have any is to choose a high-quality clinic who are skilled in this field with amazing reviews from customers. It is a delicate procedure and you could always be left with scars depending on how your body reacts to the transplant, although this is unlikely.
Some other possible side effects include nerve damage and bleeding. It is also possible that you will not get the symmetry you want with your new eyebrows and this is due to the strength and pull of surrounding muscles in that area.
What is the aftercare process?
Post-op you will have very little discomfort but you will be prescribed medication for possible pain including painkillers, antibiotics, and oral steroids. You might experience a little bit of swelling in the area which is completely normal, sometimes there might be bruising too but it shouldn't be anything major. If you think that you are suffering more than what you should be, it is best to approach this with the clinic where you had the procedure done.
There are some things that you should be doing during the aftercare process with the main thing being that you need to keep the area dry for between five and seven days. When you have only recently had the procedure, it is likely that some of the hairs transplanted will fall out due to the follicular cycle but this isn't permanent and they will regrow after a couple of months after things start to regulate. To see the full result of your eyebrow transplant, you will need to be patient and wait between eight and ten months. Some patients will need a second transplant although this isn't overly common. Something that you need to know is that experts advise you never PLUCK your eyebrows after an eyebrow transplant, they should always be trimmed instead.
Conclusion
An eyebrow transplant isn't for everyone and there are many products on the market that can give you the full eyebrows that you are looking for. However, if you have your heart set on this procedure for one reason or another, make sure that you go to a reputable place to have it done. It is not very invasive and is known to give amazing results but it is important that you have realistic expectations and you are aware of possible side effects and risks.
