Beard hair transplant - donor scarring

[alotdonealready]

I have only found positive experiences for ht transplants using only beard hair on forums like this and that the donor area heals extremely well and scarring is not noticable.

 

But I admit I am not a frequent visitor to this or other forums.

 

While getting some plug removal and other work with Dr Cole about 16 months ago (which I had very good results with) he did a small test area of 22 grafts taken from the lower left area underneath the chin as I have very depleted donor head hair.

 

We decided to take all the grafts from basically one area so I could better tell how the test area healed.

 

The donor beard area healed very fast and very well from what I saw. In addition, all the grafts grew, as confirmed by another doctor through his viewing loops.

 

So recently, I was thinking about undergoing a bigger beard area transplant with Dr Umar to fill in my crown area with about 1000 beard hair grafts.

 

Now understand, I never noticed before any scarring in the area where the 22 grafts were removed by Dr. Cole. But then as I was pretty much set to go to have the procedure with Dr Umar, I looked more closely at the area where the test extractions were done.

 

Which is then I noticed when I pinch the donor area or tilt my head to the left to make the skin have slack and protude forward (not taut against my neck), that there was some scarring.

 

I then started getting scared thinking this doesn't look like much scarring - but it was only 22 extractions.

 

I thought to myself this isn't much and I didn't notice it until now - but multiply this amount of scarring by 45 - and the beard area scarring could end up very bad.

 

I was also thinking as I get older and my skin starts to sag, this type of scarring would be more noticable.

 

I also was thinking, this is just not healthy for the skin and could lead to premature aging of the skin. I have heard before that men with a lot beard hair age better as beard hair has a natural moisturizing effect on the face. (I read this why often women's face age more quickly than men).

 

So I basically got scared and canceled my procedure with Dr Umar (who was, along with his staff extremely responsive and nice - even when canceling. I did lose my down payment but I do think that was fair and have no complaints about that).

 

So I was real upset that I couldn't let myself do the procedure, as I knew as far as the recipient area, the results would be what I want. And also that my beard is a monster and I have thicker and more beard hair than anyone I know.

 

So I was just wondering for other people how the scarring of their beard area transplant turned out (have they looked at it when its not taut against the neck?).

 

Or anyone else's opinions about beard donor hair scarring or what they have read or heard.

 

Thanks.

[the B spot]

Beard hair is so intriguing to me. I know it grows. It is a robust and hardy source of donor.

 

However, there are texture issues in addition to the facial scarring. that lead me to be more cautious, like yourself.

 

I think for me, under the jawline would work but only to get 4-500 grafts at most. I would not want to be on my face or too far down my neck due to the scarring aspect.

 

Those who have had beard hair taken have reported very little scarring, as you have but you have to wonder with 1000-2000 grafts being taken out of the face region, what the future holds.

 

I think your right to back out...I would take it slow and really think about what you want and why you are doing this.

 

Take Care,

Jason

[alotdonealready]

Thanks for the reply B-spot.

 

I too, think I made the right decision.

 

The texture of beard hair is not really a concern for my situation as the beard grafts would have been to the crown and I have had a lot of hair from prior strip procedures transplanted already into the crown.

 

So there is a decent amount of hair there, but my white scalp against my black hair still shows through too much.

 

But it did blend in so well that until I had another ht doc look through his loops, I never knew for sure that the 22 grafts grew in (and Dr Cole put the 22 grafts into one area to better be able to tell the growth outcome).

 

But the donor scarring issue, is what made me stop.

[alotdonealready]

Hmmm, in re-reading B-spot's reply he stated I think for me, under the jawline would work but only to get 4-500 grafts at most. I would not want to be on my face or too far down my neck due to the scarring aspect.

 

The test extractions were done on my neck and not directly under the jawline.

 

Maybe there would be a difference in healing and/or visibility if it was just underneath the jawline? (Alway second questioning myself on this stuff...ugh)

[Bill - Seemiller]

Alotdonealready,

 

However, there are texture issues in addition to the facial scarring. that lead me to be more cautious, like yourself.

 

Thiis is precisely why I'd be extremely cautious if you decide to proceed with beard hair.

 

Let me ask you though...

 

Is there any reason why you don't want to do scalp FUE or even strip for that matter?

 

It still remains my opinion that before considering any facial or body hair, one should utilize their scalp donor supply, which for many is quite abundant. Or is your name "alotdonealready" an indication that you've pretty much utilized your entire scalp donor hair supply?

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

[Raphael84]

I was not even aware, that this was possible. I would also therefore imagine, that you are not indefenitaly limited to any part of the body so long as you have thick hair there, and are not overly concerned regarding possible scarring. Would this be correct?

 

If so, thoughts immediately direct toward the pubic region. What is the medical philosophy of this?

 

Interesting!

[alotdonealready]

Trust me Bill, I agree use the head hair first. But I have had numberous strip procedures and 2 FUE procedures.

 

If I do have head hair left, I would want to save for other areas. My hairline needs work as well.

 

So I felt in the crown, the beard hair would work well there especially in my situation.

 

So the texture issue didn't stop me, but the scarring worries did.

[alotdonealready]

Raphael what Bill & B-spot said is an issue with body hair transplants and beard transplants.

 

Poor growth, different texture, the angel or curveyness the hair grows out, and scarring are issues.

 

Though with beard hair, growth seems to be much better than body hair.

 

But if you have a lot of scarring on your beard if you use it as a donor area - even if its below the jawline - that could kind of suck.

 

There's no fixing that.

[Drew35]

Originally posted by alotdonealready:

Hmmm, in re-reading B-spot's reply he stated I think for me, under the jawline would work but only to get 4-500 grafts at most. I would not want to be on my face or too far down my neck due to the scarring aspect.

 

The test extractions were done on my neck and not directly under the jawline.

 

Maybe there would be a difference in healing and/or visibility if it was just underneath the jawline? (Alway second questioning myself on this stuff...ugh)

 

 

I would have had Dr Umar take beard hair from under your jaw line to the neck line

and also ask him to get as many head hairs via FUE as possible.

 

 

I think you would have been ok with that plan.

[alotdonealready]

Originally posted by Drew35:

I would have had Dr Umar take beard hair from under your jaw line to the neck line.

 

Drew, are you saying I should have a smaller number of grafts taken from the beard?

[Shyguy]

i'm curious as to what the growth rate of beard hair is compared to scalp hair. any idea?

thanks

[Drew35]

Originally posted by alotdonealready:

Originally posted by Drew35:

I would have had Dr Umar take beard hair from under your jaw line to the neck line.

 

Drew, are you saying I should have a smaller number of grafts taken from the beard?

 

 

Yes. Ask Dr Umar to not go down your neck if you are worried about scarring.

 

It will help increase your density in the Crown and you can save more head hair for any future procedures.

[alotdonealready]

Yes. Ask Dr Umar to not go down your neck if you are worried about scarring.

 

It will help increase your density in the Crown and you can save more head hair for any future procedures.

 

Drew, are you suggeting just directly under the jaw because it heals better or because it's harder to see?

 

I wonder if I would then be able to get the necessary amount of grafts I need. In addition, I would like to have where the grafts are taken evenly spread out and not thin out just one area (ie, directly under the jaw).

[Drew35]

Originally posted by alotdonealready:

Yes. Ask Dr Umar to not go down your neck if you are worried about scarring.

 

It will help increase your density in the Crown and you can save more head hair for any future procedures.

 

 

 

Drew, are you suggeting just directly under the jaw because it heals better or because it's harder to see?

 

I wonder if I would then be able to get the necessary amount of grafts I need. In addition, I would like to have where the grafts are taken evenly spread out and not thin out just one area (ie, directly under the jaw).

 

 

 

I am talking about the area below your mandible area to the top of your neck. The area where noone can see it unless they were to bend their knees and look under your chin.

 

 

It would also be a good way to test if you do scar.

 

 

If you have maxed out your strip surgeries then this seems like an option to me.

 

However, I am not sure how many beard hair grafts this could yield for you.

 

 

Did Dr Umar say he could use chest or leg hair for your crown, also?

 

I read that body hair's growth cycle is 50% compared to head hair's 90%, but I am sure you are already aware of this.

 

 

I still believe it's a good option, for your Crown, for someone in your position who has maxed out their strip donor.

[JJ09]

Apparently beard hair is right up there with the scalp growth cycle.

[alotdonealready]

I don't think body hair would provide much coverage in the crown.

 

I don't know...I would like to hear from someone who has had a transplant using beard hair and see how their healing resulted.

 

How does the skin look when its not taut against the neck?

[Shyguy]

Originally posted by JJ09:

Apparently beard hair is right up there with the scalp growth cycle.

 

sweet. thanks. how many grafts are typically needed to cover one square inch?

 

the doctor says i have 'ideal' rope like hair (coarse black wavy) which helps mask my scalp a little better but on the flip side when my scalp shows it looks odd.

[ej]

Would be great to see some detailed pictures from patients and clinics before afters of beard hair used as filler hair and if possible grafted into donor scar and donor area after removal , be good to hear from anyone who has had this done , my donor is depleted hence the interest .

cheers

ej

[Julius]

Why not try chest or armpit hair if you have dark hair and texture really doesn't matter? I know the growth yields aren't as good, but you probably wouldn't have to worry about scaring in those areas.

[alotdonealready]

Ok.

 

1.) Beard hair does grow very well - but there is scarring issue which no one on this thread seems to address. Every is so excited but they skip past the question/concern of this thread.

 

2.) BHT also scars as well but its not on the face. But the % of BHT graft does not grow nearly as high as head or beard hair. In addition, if it does grow, it grows a lot shorter, thinner and often curly. Body hair wouldn't help my situation.

[Sparky]

I know someone who had 600 taken from his beard and I couldnt see any sign of surgery at all.

[alotdonealready]

Originally posted by Sparky:

I know someone who had 800 taken from his beard and I couldnt see any sign of surgery at all.

 

Who did the surgery? When you looked at your friend, was he clean shaven or had hair on his face?

[Sparky]

Dr Bisanga did the surgery, I've seen him clean shaven and with stubble, he had hair taken from the neck and from his actual face including sideburns.

 

All of this hair has been put into his crown.

[the B spot]

Yeah, Dr. Bisanga seems to be doing some realistic beard hair transplants. 800 is about the max I could expect...I do have a fairly dense beard, but my beard hair is only slightly more coarse than my scalp donor so in my case, I think it will look good spread into my existing work...I would not want a whole section of beard hair however.

 

Jason

[alotdonealready]

Bisanga

 

hmm, never even heard of that doctor