Procedure | Surgical
Body Hair Transplant (BHT)
Body Hair Transplant or BHT, entails the same principles of extraction as the FUE technique. However, instead of the scalp, hair is extracted from the body. One common area is the use of beard, chest, abdomen, leg, and arm hair. Recommended for patients with insufficient good scalp donor hair.
While hair from various parts of the body may be an option, the success rate is still lower as compared to using hair from a healthy scalp due to the difference in hair structure and growth rate. Which does affects the compatibility and success rate. However, by far, beard transplants have had a higher rate of success.
Prior, the hair from the donor site must be shaved 2-7 days before to allow the selection of the strongest hair to be used. In addition hair at the growing stage produces more consistent results.
Similar to a hair transplantation procedure, hair grafts are extracted from the patient’s donor area and in this case a body part (instead of the scalp). It is typically done under local anesthesia using a small tool that creates a circular incision inside the skin surrounding the graft. Extracting it out carefully and then places it in a preserving solution before transplanting it in the receiving area.
After the procedure, expect tenderness and pain which medication can be prescribed for pain relief. The area will likely be bandaged for at least a day or two. You may also be prescribed with antibiotic or an anti-inflammatory drug.
You may also require several days off work.
Hair transplanted into the scalp will fall out in about 2 weeks before it starts to regrow. The regrowth may take up to 4 months after the treatment.
Results for body hair transplantation vary from person to person and depend on performed the correct extraction of hair follicles, the growth cycle of body hair, and the compatibility of head and body hair.
Generally, after the transplanted hair has fallen, the regrowth may take 4 months and 6 months to see significant changes in hair growth. The complete results may take about 12-18 months. In most cases, hair transplant can last a lifetime because healthy hair follicles are transplanted into thinning or bald areas. However, lifestyles, genetics, age, and extent of hair loss can affect the results. In some cases, multiple procedures might be required to achieve the desired results.
As with any kind of surgery, transplants have some risks, including bleeding and infection. There’s also the chance for scarring and unnatural-looking new hair growth
