Using Body Hair for Hair Transplant -

Deciding on a hair transplant is a big decision to make. With many aspects that need to be considered. How good a candidate are you in the first place? Almost everyone can have at least one hair transplant. What if more are needed. What if there is not enough hair to continue to treat the hair loss? Using body hair for a hair transplant hair restoration is becoming more common. BHFUE, as it is also known, allows hair to be used from other areas of the body.

Body hair is growing in using for hair transplant hair restoration. This offers many hair loss sufferers the opportunity to continue their hair restoration. These candidates may need to use body hair for a number of reasons. Some may naturally have a weak traditional donor area. The traditional donor area is the hair around the back and sides of the head. Genetically not affected by the hair loss gene. Not everyone has strong hair in this area. As a result, not everyone is a good hair transplant candidate. Body hair can add to the traditional donor hair as a resource. Increasing the amount of hair available to start or continue hair restoration. Using body hair for hair transplant hair restoration (BHFUE) can help a good candidate.

Candidates that have undergone previous hair transplants may use body hair. With repair surgery more often than not the donor area has been impaired by previous operations. Multiple scars, sometimes old plug grafting, scalp lifts etc. BHFUE has now given the repair patient renewed hope in being able to achieve a more natural result. Body hair expands the donor to help increase hair coverage and density. Hair can be placed into the scar tissue to hide and camouflage unsightly scars.

Body Hair Characteristics

This technique is known by a number of names. Known as BH or BHFUE has been practised for a number of years with varying degrees of success. The FUE hair transplant technique is used to remove the Body Hair grafts. It is important to appreciate that because of genetic variants, hair characteristics and growth rate, body hair will behave differently to scalp hair. Body hair is mainly made up of single hair follicular units as opposed to the average with scalp hair of 2.2 hairs per follicular unit. As a result, a graft with scalp hair can contain over twice the number of hairs compared to body hair. Meaning body hair will give less hair coverage than scalp hair. Potentially needing twice the number of grafts to get close to the same hair coverage and or hair density.

BHFUE in certain special instances may be the answer to repair or restore hair, but only after an extensive consultation period. But ironically may not be able to be used if the patient is on DHT blockers. Medications such as finasteride can cause body hair to thin and fall out. If this is the case body hair cannot be advised to be used as the potential for the hair to survive could be minimal.

Are You BHFUE Compatible?

The compatibility of scalp and body hair is very important. It is known through studies. That body hair has a very short anagen phase and a very long telogen phase. As a result, the length can be different from scalp hair. In addition, the hair colour and curl must be compatible, usually, the colour is rarely a limitation, but the curl can sometimes differ. There must be a satisfactory degree of compatibility for the body hair to be a viable resource.

Smaller sessions seem to be the optimum way to go, healing is better, trauma to the skin and surrounding hairs minimised and yield improved; obviously this takes longer to gain the desired result, but as the result is the goal it is prudent to go slower if required to achieve the best result possible, in the recipient and donor areas.

Best Body Hair Donor Zones

Beard hair is very prominent on the face. If any visible scarring occurred it would easily be noticeable, especially if clean-shaven; the last thing a reputable doctor wants to do is leave someone scarred on the face. Chest hair scarring, for example if living an outdoor lifestyle, again can be visible. The signs of small white dot scarring on the chest could be unsightly and hard to explain.

Different areas of the beard make extraction harder, as the skin laxity and bone structure change around the face. In some areas it will cause potentially high transection when extracting the hair follicles. Respectable doctors that understand BHFUE will do smaller beard sessions initially to ensure healing is good then increase the size of the session. Even so, space has to be left between each punch to “design” a natural-looking beard and with different genres, skin healing will vary. Some, for example, are more prone to keloid formation.

Pros and Cons To BHFUE

Like most things, there are pros and cons to using body hair for hair transplant hair restoration. When researching discuss your options with a number of doctors. Get a varied opinion as to their recommendations. An online consultation can be a good place to start your research. Sending clear images of both your hair loss and donor zones. Planning your hair restoration is important for a number of reasons. Often if body hair is required something may have not gone well in the past. It is therefore important to make the correct decision now to ensure your long-term happiness.