What Is a Beard Transplant?
The term “beard transplant” can actually refer to two different procedures — either adding hair to the beard to make it look fuller or moving hair from the beard to other parts of the body or scalp.
In the first and most common sense, a beard transplant involves adding hairs into the beard area to create a thicker, more even, or more defined appearance. This can be done by:
-
Using hair follicles from the scalp and transplanting them into the beard area.
-
Or, in some cases, using hairs from under the chin, where beard hair is less cosmetically significant, and relocating them to sparse areas of the beard.
In the second meaning, the term “beard transplant” may describe using beard hair as the donor source — typically taken from beneath the chin — and transplanting it to other regions, such as the scalp or other areas where hair is thinning or missing.
In short, whether it’s enhancing your beard or using beard hair to restore other areas, a beard transplant can serve different cosmetic purposes depending on your goals.
Who Needs a Beard Transplant?
A beard transplant can be suitable for several types of candidates, depending on their goals and hair restoration needs.
1. To Achieve a Fuller Beard
Many men opt for a beard transplant simply to create a thicker, more defined beard. The desired outcome can vary — some may want a dense, full “lumberjack” beard, while others prefer a neater “low strap” beard that extends just above the jawline.
2. To Restore Hair Lost from Scarring or Trauma
A beard transplant can also be used to fill in areas affected by scarring, burns, or injuries, helping to restore natural beard growth and improve overall facial symmetry.
3. To Use Beard Hair as a Donor Source
In certain cases, beard hair can be used as a donor source for transplantation to other areas, such as the scalp. This is especially beneficial when the scalp donor area has been depleted due to previous hair transplants, making beard hair a reliable alternative.
4. Age and Beard Hair Durability
Age is generally not a major concern when considering a beard transplant. Beard hairs are resistant to the effects of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the hormone responsible for most types of hair loss, making them a stable and long-lasting donor option.
In summary, whether the goal is to enhance facial hair, repair damaged areas, or use beard hair for other transplants, a beard transplant can be a versatile and effective solution.
What Is the Procedure for a Beard Transplant?
The process of a beard transplant depends on whether hair is being transplanted into the beard or harvested from the beard to be used elsewhere.
When Beard Hair Is Used as the Donor Source
If beard hairs are being taken and transplanted to another area (such as the scalp), the only safe and effective method for harvesting is Follicular Unit Excision (FUE). This technique involves removing individual hair follicles using a small circular punch, rather than removing a strip of skin. FUE ensures minimal scarring and a more precise extraction process.
When Hair Is Transplanted into the Beard
If the goal is to make the beard fuller or more defined, the transplanted hairs are typically taken from the scalp. These donor hairs can be harvested using one of two methods:
-
Linear Strip Excision (LSE) – formerly known as Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), this involves removing a thin strip of skin from the donor area and dissecting it into individual follicular units for transplantation.
-
Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) – where individual follicles are extracted directly from the scalp without removing a strip of skin.
Both techniques are designed to ensure natural-looking results, with the choice of method depending on the patient’s goals, hair type, and the surgeon’s recommendation.
Preoperative Evaluation
Before undergoing a beard transplant, a thorough preoperative evaluation is essential to ensure that the donor and recipient areas are well matched and that the procedure will achieve a natural-looking result.
When Using Beard Hair as the Donor Source
If beard hairs are to be transplanted to another area, it is important to assess whether the texture, colour, and curl pattern of the beard hair are compatible with the recipient site. For instance, if the beard hairs are coarse, curly, and dark, while the scalp hairs are fine, straight, and light, the contrast could produce an unnatural appearance.
In cases of minor mismatch, beard hairs may still be used effectively as filler hairs between other transplanted follicles to enhance density without disrupting the overall look. Additionally, it must be confirmed that there are sufficient beard hairs available to serve as donor material for the intended transplant area.
When Enhancing Beard Fullness
If the goal is to create a fuller or more defined beard, the evaluation process will focus on donor hair suitability and availability. A beard-to-beard transplant provides an ideal match in terms of colour, texture, and growth pattern, since the donor and recipient areas are the same. The only limitation is whether there are enough viable beard hairs to achieve the desired coverage.
If scalp hairs are to be used for beard enhancement, it is vital to assess how closely the donor scalp hairs match the beard hairs in colour and thickness. The patient’s scalp condition must also be evaluated to ensure that harvesting is safe and sustainable.
For individuals with male pattern baldness, using scalp hair as a donor source can present two main drawbacks:
- Scarring: Although minimal, FUE still leaves small white punctate marks that can become visible if the head is shaved.
- Donor depletion: Removing scalp hairs may reduce the availability of follicles needed for future scalp hair restoration procedures.
Overall, a careful preoperative assessment helps ensure that the donor and recipient hairs are well matched, sufficient in quantity, and harvested safely to deliver the most natural and lasting outcome.
Harvesting Follicles
Before the follicle harvesting process begins, the donor area must be shaved, while the recipient area typically does not need to be.
When Harvesting Beard Hairs
Beard hair extraction can only be performed using the Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) technique. In this method, individual hair follicles are carefully removed using a rotary punch device, which may be manual or mechanized. Although mechanized devices rotate automatically to assist with tissue entry, the procedure always requires the precise control and skill of an experienced surgeon to ensure accuracy and minimise damage to surrounding tissues.
Harvesting from the beard area is considered more technically challenging than harvesting from the scalp. This is because beard hairs grow in multiple directions and at varying angles across different parts of the face. As a result, the procedure demands a high level of expertise and precision to achieve optimal results without causing visible scarring or damage to the donor area.
Due to these complexities, not all surgeons perform beard hair harvesting, making it a specialised procedure that should only be carried out by practitioners with significant experience in advanced FUE techniques.
FUE vs. FUT
When it comes to a
beard transplant, the choice of harvesting method depends on where the donor hairs come from.
When Harvesting Beard Hairs
If beard hairs are being used as the donor source, the Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) method is the only appropriate technique. This approach allows for the precise extraction of individual follicles without creating a linear scar, which is particularly important in visible facial areas.
When Harvesting Scalp Hairs
If the donor hairs are taken from the scalp to be transplanted into the beard, both FUE and FUT (also referred to as Linear Strip Excision, or LSE) are suitable options. FUE involves removing individual follicles, while FUT/LSE removes a narrow strip of scalp tissue from which follicles are then isolated for transplantation.
The decision between FUE and FUT/LSE ultimately depends on several factors — including the surgeon’s expertise, the patient’s hair characteristics, and the desired outcome. The choice is best determined by the surgeon’s professional judgment and tailored to the specific goals of the procedure.
How Many Beard Transplant Procedures Will I Need?
The number of procedures required for a beard transplant varies depending on individual goals, the desired density, and the availability of donor hair. Like any hair transplant, each graft must establish a blood supply to survive and grow, so while outcomes are typically very successful, no procedure can guarantee 100% graft growth in a single session.
The number of grafts needed can range from just a few hundred for small touch-ups to over 2,000 grafts for a full beard restoration. In some cases, donor hair availability may limit how dense the final result can be, especially if the donor area is already sparse or has been used for previous procedures.
A qualified and experienced surgeon will assess your individual needs, discuss the potential limitations of your donor supply, and provide an estimate of how many sessions may be required to achieve your aesthetic goals.
Implantation Process
Once the hair follicles have been harvested using either the FUE or FUT/LSE technique—or a combination of both—the next stage is implantation. During this process, the surgeon prepares the recipient sites, which are tiny incisions or openings where the grafts will be inserted later in the same procedure. These prepared openings are often referred to as pre-made sites.
Some surgeons prefer a different approach known as the stick-and-place technique, where grafts are implanted immediately as each site is created. This is done using sharp implanter devices, allowing for greater precision and reduced handling of the follicles.
There are two main methods of placing the grafts:
-
Traditional forceps placement, where follicles are manually positioned into the recipient sites.
-
Implanter pen placement, where a specialised device inserts the follicles directly into the skin.
Each technique has its advantages and drawbacks, and the choice often depends on the surgeon’s experience, the specific goals of the transplant, and the patient’s hair characteristics. A detailed discussion with your surgeon will help determine which method is most suitable for achieving a natural and successful result.
Rest and Recovery
In most cases, a beard transplant involves minimal pain, bruising, or swelling, and the overall downtime is limited. However, recovery can vary from patient to patient and also depends on the surgeon’s techniques and preferences.
Your surgeon will provide specific instructions on when it is safe to shave both the donor and recipient areas, which can differ between practitioners. Similarly, the use of bandages, ointments, or other post-operative treatments is determined by the surgeon’s protocol.
After the procedure, scabs will form in both the donor areas (where hairs were harvested) and the recipient areas (where grafts were implanted). It is important to follow your surgeon’s guidance on carefully loosening or rubbing off scabs—never picking at them—to avoid damaging the transplanted follicles.
The encouraging news is that once fully healed, the transplanted beard hairs are permanent. With proper care, they will continue to grow naturally and can last a lifetime, providing long-term results and a fuller, more defined beard.
Restore Your Facial Hair with Berkeley Hair Clinic
Facial hair can define your look and boost confidence, but patchy beards, uneven growth, or genetic limitations shouldn’t hold you back. At Berkeley Hair Clinic, our expert surgeons specialise in beard, moustache, goatee, and sideburn transplants, delivering natural-looking results tailored to your preferred style, density, and shape.
Using the minimally invasive FUE technique, we carefully extract and implant individual hair follicles for permanent, natural growth. Most patients return to normal activities within days, with full results visible in 9–12 months.
Book a consultation today with the UK’s most sought-after hair transplant surgeons and take the first step toward a fuller, more defined beard. Your confidence starts with your facial hair—and we’ll make sure it grows the way you want.
