The questions I am asked most about eyebrow transplants

Questions

What actually happens during an eyebrow transplant?

Grafts are taken one at a time from an area where the hair most resembles brow hair, and placed one at a time into a shape we have drawn and agreed before anything begins. Brow hair lies almost flat against the skin, so the angle of each graft matters more than the count.

Does it hurt?

Local anaesthetic is used and you are awake throughout. Most people report pressure and sound rather than pain, and find the anaesthetic itself the least pleasant part. There is usually some soreness afterwards. I will not tell you that you will feel nothing.

Is the result permanent?

A transplanted follicle is your own hair, and it grows. It is generally retained, but I do not describe any result as permanent: the hair ages with you, and if the cause of your original loss is still active it can continue to affect the area. What I can say is that it is yours and it grows.

When will I look normal in public again?

Swelling, redness and crusting are most obvious in the first days and then settle. When you feel ready to be seen is personal, so I would not plan anything that matters for immediately afterwards. The full timeline, given as approximate ranges, is on the recovery page.

The transplanted hairs are falling out. Is that normal?

Yes, and it is what I am asked in a panic more than anything else. Most transplanted hairs shed in the first weeks. What sheds is the hair shaft; the follicle stays under the skin, rests, and then regrows. On its own it does not mean a graft has failed.

Where does the donor hair come from, and will I have to trim it?

Usually from the back of the head, where I can select the fine single hairs that most closely match brow hair. That hair keeps its own habits: it may grow faster and longer than brow hair, so it needs regular trimming. Most people get used to that quickly.

I have had microblading. Can I still have a transplant?

Often yes, but it is assessed rather than assumed: pigment and scarring from repeated work change what the skin will accept. Bring photographs and tell me what was done and when. I have nothing against microblading — it simply needs to be repeated, whereas a transplant is your own hair.

My brow loss has a medical cause. Am I a candidate?

Sometimes. Alopecia areata, thyroid conditions, the after-effects of chemotherapy, trichotillomania, burns and scarring are all among the reasons people come to me, and none is as straightforward as another. Some causes need to be stable first. That assessment is what the consultation is for.

Will it leave marks?

Yes, it leaves marks. Extraction leaves very small punctate marks in the donor area, usually hidden by the surrounding hair, and the placement points heal as tiny dots that fade over time. Anyone telling you a transplant leaves nothing behind is not describing the procedure.

Will I need a second session?

Some people want more density once the first result has settled. That is a normal conversation to have once the first result has fully settled, not a promise to make today, and whether it is sensible depends on what your donor area can still give.

What does it cost?

I do not publish a price, because what is needed differs from person to person and a figure on a web page would only be a guess about you. After the consultation you get it in writing, including what is not covered. It commits you to nothing.