Eyebrow trends have favoured thicker, fuller brows in recent years, leading to a boom in the popularity of eyebrow transplants. Eyebrow transplants account for more than 11% of all hair transplant surgeries in women, and more than 2% in men [1].
But as with any cosmetic surgery, there are some risks involved which can lead to your eyebrow transplant going wrong.
In this article, you’ll find out all the risks of an eyebrow transplant, how to avoid bad eyebrow transplant results and read expert advice on how to get a successful eyebrow transplant.
When performed by a skilled, qualified surgeon, eyebrow transplants are relatively safe. Most patients in the UK get great results when undergoing eyebrow transplant surgery.
However, it is possible for an eyebrow transplant to go wrong. This is particularly true if your procedure takes place in an unclean environment, or it’s performed by an unqualified surgeon.
Here are some of the risks of getting an eyebrow transplant:
Book a consultation at a reputable eyebrow transplant clinic to find out if it’s safe for you to get an eyebrow transplant.
Here’s a rundown of the most common eyebrow transplant problems patients face after their procedure.
Not everyone with eyebrow hair loss is suitable for an eyebrow transplant. If you’ve lost brow hair as a result of alopecia areata, there’s a chance your eyebrows will spontaneously regrow by themselves.
If you get an eyebrow transplant in the meantime, you could end up with two sets of eyebrows, like this patient [2]:
Hair transplants for alopecia areata patients aren’t usually recommended due to this chance of spontaneous remission.
Hair transplant infection is uncommon, but it can happen, especially in clinics that don’t adhere to strict safety standards. Poor aftercare can also lead to infection.
Symptoms of an eyebrow transplant infection include:
Infection can trigger folliculitis after a hair transplant, as seen in the patient below [3]:
All surgeries carry a risk of infection. But the chance is reduced if you work with a quality transplant clinic and a top-notch surgical team.
Hair transplantation is a skill that takes many years to refine. Some surgeons lack the skill and/or experience to transplant eyebrow hairs in a way that looks natural.
This patient has unnatural-looking brow hair growth following poor graft placement [4]:
Sometimes eyebrow hair grafts fail to implant and grow successfully. This may happen as a result of:
This alopecia areata patient had an eyebrow transplant, but five years after the procedure all his transplanted eyebrow hairs fell out, leaving him with no scalp or facial hair [2]:
Permanent facial scarring is one of the more worrying ways an eyebrow transplant can go wrong, as no patient wants to be left with noticeable scars around their brows.
Scarring is rare, especially in the recipient area. But in some cases, eyebrow hair transplants can leave scars similar to those left by chickenpox or acne, as seen in the patient below [3]:
Other complications from brow transplant surgery include:
There are a few reasons why an eyebrow transplant might go wrong:
If you’re unhappy with the results of your eyebrow transplant, follow this advice from the Wimpole Clinic’s principal surgeon Dr. Michael May:
“In the first instance, contact your clinic and ask for their recommendations. Most reputable clinics will have in place a comprehensive follow-up service that can prevent or address any problems that develop after the surgery.
“Having a point of contact to keep in touch with — leading up to the surgery and post-care — is very important. Often this is the consultant and he or she should be accessible to you.”
If you can’t access aftercare at your original clinic, reach out to another reputable clinic. They can offer advice on repairing any damage and getting brows to be proud of.
Most eyebrow transplants create great results. Dr May says:
“The vast majority of hair transplants are highly successful procedures that result in patients recovering quickly and well, and being delighted with their results.”
Here’s what you can do to give your eyebrow transplant the best chance of success.
Speak to several hair restoration clinics before making a decision on who will perform your surgery. Ask about:
See more questions to ask in your hair transplant consultation so you can find the best UK hair transplant surgeon.
If possible, visit the clinic before your surgery day to check out the facilities. This may not be possible if you’re travelling overseas, which is one reason why we recommend getting a hair transplant in the UK.
Check you’re suitable for eyebrow transplantation by getting opinions from a few different qualified advisors. In general, you might not be eligible for an eyebrow transplant if you:
Follow your hair transplant aftercare instructions in the letter. This will give your grafts the best chance of healing successfully, and prevent any dislodgement.
It’s also a good idea to take a few days off work and other activities after your procedure. See how much downtime you need after a hair transplant.
At the Wimpole Clinic, our surgeons have a fantastic track record of creating excellent results for our eyebrow transplant patients. As the UK’s longest-running hair transplant clinic, we provide the highest quality service from consultation through to aftercare.
See some of our eyebrow transplant results below, then book a free consultation with our patient advisors to get started.
Learn more about preventing your eyebrow transplant from going wrong and how to get the best from your procedure.
If your eyebrow hair grafts are taken from the hair on your head, then it’s likely you’ll need to give them a trim every so often. That’s because scalp hair follicles produce longer hairs than eyebrow hair follicles.
When performed safely, eyebrow transplants are one of the best ways to regrow overplucked eyebrows, or create fullness if you have naturally thin eyebrows.
It takes around eight months to see your final results [5]. Around 60% of grafts will start to grow after 3-4 months, followed by 25% after six months. The final hairs will regrow around 7-8 months after the procedure.
If your eyebrow transplant has gone wrong, you can’t undo the damage — but you can get a repair transplant to correct it.
The Wimpole Clinic’s surgical team has performed many corrective repair transplant surgeries.
Most patients are satisfied with their hair transplant results. Those that do have hair transplant regrets tend to revolve around:
Avoid your own eyebrow transplant mishap by getting the right information, working with a reputable clinic, and taking good care of your grafts.
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