Eminem’s signature look changed significantly around 2017. Having been clean-shaven for his entire life, Eminem suddenly appeared sporting a beard.
As Eminem never even appeared with stubble before 2017, this instantly sparked rumours about a possible beard transplant. If he had one, he wouldn’t be alone — according to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), the number of beard transplants increased by 121% from 2014 to 2019 [1].
But was Eminem’s beard transplant fact or fiction? In this article, we will explore:
Marshall Bruce Mathers III, or Eminem, was born on October 17, 1972. He’s a world-famous rapper, songwriter, and record-producer known for his controversial lyrics and raw storytelling.
He rose to fame in the late ’90s with The Slim Shady LP and went on to earn multiple Grammy Awards and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. He’s considered one of the most influential rappers of all time.
Eminem has never publicly spoken about having a beard transplant or any treatment for his facial hair. The sudden appearance of his beard would be consistent with a beard transplant, but it doesn’t guarantee he had one.
The possibility remains that he simply preferred to stay clean-shaven for many years and shaved any stubble before every public appearance. Clean-shaven faces often give a more youthful appearance, which may explain Eminem’s choice — possibly an effort to connect with his younger audience.
Eminem may have decided in 2017 that he preferred a more mature look, and switched up his style by letting his natural beard grow. It’s unusual for a man to keep stubble completely hidden for decades, but not impossible if that was Eminem’s preference.
Eminem’s beard went from nonexistent to flourishing around 2017. Here, we’ll have a quick look at his facial hair over the years.
This image shows Eminem at the world premiere of his movie 8 Mile in Los Angeles, 2002. He was 30 years old, and there was no hint of a beard in sight.
Eight years later, here’s a shot of Eminem in his 2010 Not Afraid music video. Again, there’s no evidence of any facial hair at all.
Fast-forward to 2017, and Eminem suddenly developed a flourishing beard. He was 45 years old. Many men’s beards don’t reach their full potential until their mid-thirties, but it’s possible this peak could have come later for Eminem.
If he had patchy beard growth before this point, it may have explained his reason to keep it clean-shaven before letting it loose in 2017. On the other hand, he may have had a beard transplant around 2016 or early 2017, as his beard transformation is consistent with that.
Here’s Eminem two years later, at the 50 Cent Star Ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019. His beard has thickened out further, and he’s maintained this look ever since.
A beard transplant involves moving hair follicles from areas of healthy hair growth (often the back and sides of the scalp) to areas of desired facial hair growth. The first step is a consultation with a hair transplant surgeon who can assess your facial hair and make sure you are a good candidate for a hair transplant.
Next, they select your donor area, which is usually the back or sides of your scalp. Sometimes, other areas like the chest may be a better option.
During the procedure itself, the surgeon extracts hair follicles from your donor area and then prepares them to be transplanted. The surgeon carefully implants these follicles into the beard area. This is a very skilled process but with years of practice, surgeons can create incredibly natural-looking results.
After the procedure, you’ll have mild swelling or redness for a few days, and the transplanted hairs will likely fall out after several weeks. This is called shock loss after a hair transplant, and is a normal part of the process.
Around 3 to 4 months later, you’ll start getting new beard hair growth, with final results visible around one year post-surgery.
There are two main types of beard transplants: follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT). FUE and FUT differ in the process of harvesting hair follicles.
With FUE, follicles are harvested from the hair transplant donor area using a micro punch tool. This process leaves nearly invisible scarring at the donor site.
FUT, on the other hand, involves taking a strip of skin from the donor area and harvesting hair follicles from that strip. This leaves a hair transplant scar, which may be visible if you cut your hair short, but allows surgeons to move more follicles in one go.
If Eminem had a beard transplant, he likely had FUE. However, it’s possible he could have had an FUT transplant followed by a minor FUE procedure to conceal any scarring.
The cost of a beard transplant depends on several factors, including the number of grafts needed, the surgeon’s experience, and the clinic’s location. Without knowing any of these factors for sure, or if Eminem even had a beard transplant, it’s impossible to say exactly how much it would have cost him.
However, if Eminem did have a beard transplant, he likely had it near where he lives in Detroit, Michigan. The average cost of a beard transplant in the US ranges from around $5000-$15,000, which gives a ballpark figure of what he may have paid.
If Eminem had a transplant, he likely had it at a reputable clinic with an experienced surgeon. His beard is so natural looking that it’s impossible to tell whether it was transplanted or grew on its own, but that’s generally the case with a high-quality transplant.
Eminem may have used other beard growth treatments to achieve his current look, but he has not discussed using any of these either. If Eminem did use other therapies to improve his beard growth, these may have included:
Have you always wanted a thick, healthy beard similar to the one Eminem rocks these days? The Wimpole Clinic can help, even if you currently have no facial hair.
We work with some of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK, who are highly skilled at natural-looking beard transplants. Whether you’re just looking to fill in a few patchy areas or you want a completely new look, our expert team can help.
Book a consultation at your nearest clinic location to learn how we can help you get the results you want.
One celebrity who has spoken openly about his successful beard transplant is Geordie Shore’s Gaz Beadle. It’s often hard to tell whether the celebrities have had beard transplants when the results look very natural, but there’s speculation that stars like Floyd Mayweather have undergone the procedure too.
Hair transplants are permanent, and that includes beard transplants. This means you should be able to enjoy the results of your transplant for the rest of your life. However, some people decide to have additional procedures if they want more facial hair than they get from their initial transplant.
The minimum legal age for a beard transplant in the UK is 18. However, most reputable surgeons will recommend waiting a little longer than this, often until your mid-twenties, to give your natural facial hair time to grow.
Beard transplants are relatively painless. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic so you’ll feel at most slight discomfort. Afterwards, you may have a little redness and swelling, which usually eases within several days.
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