Hair Transplantation Expands Beyond the Scalp: Eyebrows, Beard, and Beyond

August marks Hair Loss Awareness Month, an opportunity to highlight the range of conditions that can contribute to hair loss, as well as the expanding approaches available for restoration and management. As patient needs and aesthetic goals evolve, hair transplantation has moved well beyond treating male-pattern hair loss on the scalp.¹

Growing patient interest in eyebrow enhancement, beard restoration, and procedures for women and gender-affirming care is reshaping how dermatologists approach candidacy, technique, and long-term planning.

Paul Rose, MD, JD, a board-certified dermatologist at Golden State Dermatology, spoke with Dermatology Times during Hair Loss Awareness Month about these shifts, including how follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT) compare, what makes a good candidate for eyebrow restoration, common misconceptions patients bring to consultations, and what he expects from artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and emerging biologic approaches in the years ahead.²

Dermatology Times:

How has the field of hair transplantation evolved in recent years, particularly beyond traditional treatment for male-pattern hair loss?

Rose:

The approach to hair transplantation continues to evolve. The 2 procedures that commonly remain in use include the traditional strip, or FUT, procedure and the newer FUE procedure. FUE continues to increase in popularity, but a strong case can be made for the continued use of FUT. Both procedures have advantages and disadvantages.^1,2

The field has also expanded with the use of various medications and adjunctive techniques, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and the use of exosomes, peptides, and other compounds delivered to the scalp. Scalp micropigmentation has been useful for refining some transplant results.

There is also increasing interest in hair transplantation in women and in gender-affirming hair procedures. Additionally, there is growing interest in transplanting hair to other areas of the body, such as the eyebrows, beard, and genital areas.

Dermatology Times:

What types of nonscalp hair transplants—such as eyebrow, beard, or chest hair restoration—are patients requesting most often, and what is driving that interest?

Rose:

There has been a marked increase in requests for eyebrow enhancement, as well as beard restoration or alteration. There are also requests for more unusual areas to treat, such as the chest and pubic area.

The main motivation appears to be people's desire to achieve their ideal appearance. As society increasingly links appearance with career advancement and social interaction, more people are willing to pursue these procedures.

Dermatology Times:

For patients seeking eyebrow restoration after overplucking or other forms of hair loss, what factors determine whether they are good candidates for transplantation?

Rose:

The ideal candidate is generally someone in good health who has lost a significant amount of eyebrow hair, has realistic expectations, and understands that scalp hair does not exactly replicate eyebrow hair. Scalp hair differs from eyebrow hair in caliber, growth cycle, and growth pattern.

One challenge in eyebrow reconstruction is maintaining the acute angle at which the hairs must grow. Occasionally, hairs need to be removed if they grow at an improper angle. Patients who have lost substantial eyebrow hair because of trauma can often be excellent candidates for this procedure, although a second procedure is often recommended to improve density.

It's essential for the surgeon to evaluate patients for skin disorders that may contraindicate surgery, particularly frontal fibrosing alopecia and associated ulerythema ophryogenes. These are scarring forms of hair loss, and even when the disease appears inactive, transplantation can reactivate it and lead to loss of the implanted hairs. Eyebrow patients may also benefit from micropigmentation or microblading.²

Dermatology Times:

How does the technique for transplanting hair to areas such as the eyebrows or beard differ from a traditional scalp hair transplant?

Rose:

The surgeon must understand both eyebrow aesthetics and the patient's desired appearance. Cultural preferences may also influence the ideal eyebrow shape and should be considered when planning the procedure.

Eyebrow and beard restoration typically rely primarily on single- and 2-hair grafts, and the target density differs from scalp transplantation, so graft placement must be planned accordingly. The anesthetic approach may also differ from standard scalp procedures. For eyebrow transplantation specifically, grafts must be placed at a very acute angle to achieve a natural direction of growth.

Dermatology Times:

What are some of the biggest misconceptions patients have about hair transplantation and the results they can realistically expect?

Rose:

Many misconceptions stem from unrealistic expectations. Patients may want a hairline that is too youthful for their age or not feasible given their available donor hair. They may also expect the same density they had when they were younger, but depending on the degree of hair loss, that level of density may not be achievable.

Androgenetic hair loss is progressive, so the surgeon must plan with the patient's future hair loss in mind. Using a large amount of donor hair in the currently desired areas may leave the patient with limited options as hair loss advances. The goal should be to use the fewest grafts needed to achieve an attractive result while preserving donor hair for possible future needs.

Another misconception is that a hair transplant eliminates the need for medication to prevent further hair loss. In reality, patients are often advised to use treatments such as minoxidil, finasteride, dutasteride, supplements, or adjunctive therapies such as PRP to help maintain results and limit future loss.

A further misconception is that FUE is "scarless." Although this claim may be used in advertising, both FUE and FUT create donor-area scars. FUE typically leaves small, round, dot-like scars, whereas FUT leaves a linear scar.

Some patients also believe choosing FUE prevents them from having FUT later, or that FUT rules out future FUE. In practice, many patients undergo one technique first and later switch to the other when appropriate. For example, a patient may have FUE and later proceed with FUT if needed, or undergo FUT first and later choose FUE if scalp laxity is no longer sufficient.

Dermatology Times:

How do you evaluate the underlying cause of a patient's hair loss before recommending transplantation, and when might a transplant not be appropriate?

Rose:

Before considering hair transplantation, the surgeon should obtain a thorough medical history, including prior medical and surgical conditions and current medications. When appropriate, laboratory testing may be ordered to identify possible causes of hair loss, and a scalp biopsy may be recommended.

During the examination, the surgeon should assess scalp health and evaluate hair characteristics such as caliber and density. The donor area should be examined to determine the safe harvesting zone, and scalp laxity should be assessed, which is especially important when FUT is being considered.

Contraindications to surgery may include significant underlying medical conditions, particularly scarring or inflammatory forms of hair loss. In some cases, a patient may not be an appropriate candidate if their goals or expectations are unrealistic. Many male patients request a hairline that is too low or too youthful, often without recognizing how difficult it can be to correct if the surgeon performs the procedure according to that design.^1,2

Dermatology Times:

What should patients know about the recovery process and timeline for seeing final results after a hair transplant?

Rose:

Recovery is generally uneventful. There can be some mild discomfort for a day or 2, and there may be significant swelling in the forehead area for 4 to 5 days. If it occurs, it simply needs to take its course.

Patients are advised to avoid strenuous exercise for 10 to 14 days and to avoid direct sun exposure to the implanted area for a couple of months. Patients can usually wear a hat right after the procedure, and postoperative care is straightforward.

The implanted hairs will usually fall out over a few weeks. It takes 3 to 4 months to notice new hair growth. By 6 to 9 months, there should be substantial growth, and by 12 to 14 months, the growth will have reached its end point. This is often when a patient will assess the results and consider adding refinements to increase density or address new areas of hair loss.

Dermatology Times:

Looking ahead, where do you see hair restoration heading? Are there techniques, technologies, or patient populations you expect to shape the field over the next several years?

Rose:

The future will likely involve continued refinement of surgical techniques, along with advances in devices and medications. New medications and biologic therapies are also likely to emerge. Current areas of interest include PRP, exosomes, peptides, and compounded formulations delivered to the scalp. The introduction of long-acting minoxidil may make treatment easier and improve patient adherence.

Robotic surgery may continue to improve, and AI may play a growing role in supporting these procedures. AI will likely be used to assess hair loss more precisely and support more personalized treatment planning. Quantifying hair characteristics and donor-hair availability may help surgeons plan more effectively, especially given the progressive nature of hair loss.

Molecular techniques may eventually allow for better predictive models and earlier intervention, and CRISPR could theoretically provide a genetic approach to treating hair loss.

These procedures are also likely to become more common among women and in gender-affirming care. Patients often ask about stem cells and hair cloning, but current technology cannot yet produce new hairs from stem cells or truly clone hair. Hair cloning remains beyond current capabilities.

References

1. American Academy of Dermatology. Hair Loss Awareness Month. AAD Impact. Accessed August 25, 2026. https://www.aad.org/member/publications/impact/2024-issue-3/hair-loss-awareness-month
2. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Hair transplants. Accessed August 25, 2026. https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/hair-transplants