Do you wish you had fuller hair but don’t have enough donor areas? A body hair transplant can be the answer to your prayers!
Each day passes, and the evolving world brings new beauty trends. However, some standards are without exception, from brighter smiles to fuller hair. Having thick, dense hair is a go-to accessory to complete your looks. So, losing hair may cause a patchy, dull look and inhibit one’s confidence, which can be pretty depressing.
Thanks to the improvements in hair restoration options, achieving the desired density is feasible without anyone noticing. Hair transplant methods offer permanent and seamless results.
While hair transplants offer promising results, as with any medical procedure, it also has some qualifications. Firstly, you should have a healthy donor area to get a hair transplant. But what if you don’t have one? Keep reading to find out more about body hair transplant.
What is body hair transplant?
Body hair transplant, as the name implies, uses a suitable body part (chest, beard, leg, etc.) as a donor area and transplants healthy hair follicles to the recipient area. Body hair transplant is usually preferred when hair loss has reached an extensive level, level 6 and more on Norwood Scale.
Can body hair be used for hair transplant?
Yes, body hair can be used for hair transplants. Body hair differs from scalp hair; it’s thinner. Moreover, body hair tends to be more curlier than scalp hair. So, it can be used, but the hair follicle features are what matters to get successful results.
Partial Body Hair Transplant – Which parts of the body are suitable for body hair transplant?
When hair loss has reached an extensive point, even opting for a body hair transplant may not be sufficient with a single donor area. Usually, a single healthy donor area is chosen for a hair transplant. For body hair transplant, these areas are; the chest, back, arms, and thighs.
Chest Hair Transplant
Using chest hair as a donor area for a body hair transplant is the most preferred one due to the thickness and the similarity of the hair follicles with the scalp hair. By choosing chest hair for BHT, up to 1,000 grafts can be extracted as a donor area.
With a chest hair transplant, it’s possible to achieve coverage. However, since the chest hair is thinner and sparser compared to the scalp hair, the success rate of a chest hair transplant may range around %60.
Back of the Body Hair Transplant
The back is another common body part chosen as a donor area; it resembles chest hair structurally with its texture and density. However, compared to the viability of the donor area is higher; which may lead to up to 2,500 grafts to extract.
Although the amount of grafts to be extracted for the procedure is higher than the chest, the success rate of the back of the body hair to scalp hair transplant is moderate, as the hair follicles in this area may be robust compared to the scalp hair.
Arms Hair Transplant
Compared to the chest and back, the arms are one of the least preferred parts of the body as a donor area for BHT. Arms and armpit hair have thinner and sparser pattern which has many distinctions with scalp hair. Hence, the amount of grafts to be extracted from this area is relatively lower, with up to 400 grafts for each arm.
The access rate of arm hair transplant is quite low due to the structural differences mentioned above. However, it still can be an option when there are no available donor areas.
Thighs Hair Transplant
Thighs and the pubic area are the least chosen parts as a donor areas; they’re only preferred when there are no available body parts that can be used as donor areas. Hair on the thighs and pubic area tends to be coarser and thicker comapred to the scalp hair; which may cause structural differences with the existing hair on the scalp.
Besides these distinctions, thighs and legs can be a great source for extent hair loss. On average, up to 1,500 grafts can be extracted from per thigh.
Does body hair transplant work?
Yes, a body hair transplant works when it’s done correctly. Body hair transplant is beneficial for individuals with insufficient donor area. However, due to structural differences, the efficiency of the procedure varies for each type of body hair.
What are the typical results of a body hair to head transplant?
Although the results of the body hair transplant may not be as good as those of scalp hair, they offer significant coverage as well. As such, the viability of collected grafts may be relatively lower than that of scalp hair. Furthermore, choosing the right donor area makes it feasible to get seamless results.
What is the success rate of body hair transplants?
The success rate of body hair transplants varies depending on the method used for the procedure, the viability of the grafts, the extent of hair loss, and the surgeon’s expertise. On average, the success rate of body hair transplants ranges between 60% and 80%.
Although the success rate of body hair transplants seems lower compared to conventional hair transplant procedures, adopting a healthier lifestyle and following a nurturing aftercare routine can produce results as successful as a scalp hair transplant.
How much does body hair transplant cost?
Body hair transplant is a novel approach to conventional hair transplant with the chosen donor area. Since it requires expertise and precision, body hair transplants may be costly. On average, the cost of a body hair transplant in Turkey may range between $2,500 – $5,000, depending on the extension of the donor area, the expertise of the surgeon, and the method used.
Are there any visible scars left after a body hair transplant?
Scarring is another concern for people who opt for getting a hair transplant. Fortunately, hair transplant methods become less invasive as technology progresses. Depending on the chosen method, a body hair transplant leaves minimal scars. Moreover, body hair transplants can be used to hide linear scars caused by previous FUT hair transplants.
Popular methods like FUE and DHI are more advanced than FUT. Both of these methods involve the extraction of follicles individually, so the scarring is less likely to be seen. [1]
What is the FUE technique used in body hair transplants?
FUE is the most popular hair transplant method due to its convenience and less invasiveness. FUE is also known for its versatility; with slight adjustments, it can be performed in various ways. Altered versions of FUE for body hair transplant are:
- Sapphire FUE: Sapphire FUE is practically identical to the conventional FUE method. The difference between these two is the blade’s material used in the Sapphire FUE method. As the name implies, Sapphire blades provide more seamless and precise results for Sapphire FUE. Moreover, with minimal scars made with sapphire blades recover faster.
- Micro FUE: Micro FUE is an altered version of FUE. With micro FUE, a smaller motor targets minor damage and aids skin trauma. Using micro FUE for body hair transplants minimizes discomfort.
Both of these options are utilized to transplant body hair to the scalp. Determining which method is the best for each individual varies on their specific features as well.
Can you get a hair transplant without shaving your head?
Shaving is one of the few things that may make people second-think about getting a hair transplant. Fortunately, you can get a hair transplant even without needing to get shaved before the procedure.
Shaving only occurs in the recipient area for body hair transplants, so you don’t have to shave your head. Depending on the extent of your hair loss, you may get it partially shaved.
What is the best age for hair transplant?
Anyone above 18 with a suitable donor area can get a hair transplant. While there’s no settled age for a hair transplant, getting it while the donor area is healthy is essential. Usually, many people get hair transplants around their mid-20s to 30s. Therefore, this age range is generally chosen since the hair loss pattern becomes more visible and accessible to treat. For more detailed information about the eligibility for a hair transplant, contact our medical consultants.
What’s the best age to use body hair for hair transplant?
The best age to use body hair for a hair transplant is not defined, just like scalp hair. However, you should opt for using body hair for a hair transplant before it gets gray and loses its viability as a donor area.
FAQs About Body Hair Transplant
Is body hair transplant successful?
When performed precisely, body hair transplant gives successful results. Depending on the area used as a donor for body hair transplant, the success rate of hair transplant varies. Moreover, the success rate of body hair transplants is related to the procedure’s method and the transplantation’s angle, which all lead to the surgeon’s expertise.
When you choose a qualified expert, you not only ensure a safe experience, but you also ensure successful results. [2]
Is body hair transplant permanent?
Body hair transplant offers permanent and effective results. Although the longevity of transplanted follicles may be shorter than that of scalp hair, this isn’t an issue to worry about. Body hair follicles complete their growth cycle faster, so when the previous cycle is over, the new one begins and hair growth will continue for many years.
Does body hair transplant look natural?
Body hair transplant offers natural results when the donor area is appropriately chosen. Since hair follicles have distinct structures depending on the location, the donor area selected should be the one most resembles the scalp hair.
Does body hair transplant hurt?
Since the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, a body hair transplant doesn’t hurt. However, after the procedure, you may feel slight discomfort and pain, which can be eased with the medications our surgeon will prescribe you.
References
- Saxena K, Savant SS. Body to Scalp: Evolving Trends in Body Hair Transplantation. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2017 May-Jun;8(3):167-175. Doi: 10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_283_16. PMID: 28584752; PMCID: PMC5447335. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5447335/
- Umar S. Body Hair Transplant by Follicular Unit Extraction: My Experience With 122 Patients. Aesthet Surg J. 2016 Nov;36(10):1101-1110. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjw089. Epub 2016 May 30. PMID: 27241361; PMCID: PMC5070467. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5070467/
Article Review By: Dr. Jyothi Shenoy V
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MBBS, MD – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, MRCOG(UK)
23 Years Experience Overall
