If you're a MTF transexual, can you transplant your beard hair to your head instead of using IPL to remove it?

Question

if you have a beard and are a MTF transexual, instead of using IPL or lights for beard and body hair removal, can you instead just do an FUE procedure to move this hair to your head? I would hate ot waste the hair I do have on my body and would rather it just be moved somewhere else rather than just removed for good....

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

You can harvest hair from the beard area but you will likely have scars which would not be good if you are transitioning to female. In addition beard hair may not blend in with your scalp hair.  You need to see a doctor for an examination and better understanding.

Bernardino Arocha, MD, FISHRS · Answer

dear 647461anon:Thank you,that is a very interesting question! As colleagues  have correctly pointed out, the beard hair has some very different characteristics than scalp hair. For one the follicles usually have single and occasionally two hairs. The caliber tends to be coarser, that makes it unsuitable for transition zone of the hair line(the very front of hair line), were it is best to use single and double but finer caliber hair. The other major difference is in the shorter growth phase of the beard follicles(Anlagen) which means that at least initially they will only grow for about 12 months before entering the telogen resting phase. So in effect the transplanted beard to scalp hair will not grow for as long on the head, or grow as long in length. I find the beard hair useful to employ in the define zone or behind the hair line. In addition it can be used to transplant into scars to hide it. It should have greater volume because of the greater caliber and tendency to curl. The other potential issue with FUE of beard donor is the potential for visible scaring, but this can be mitigated by employing the smallest punches usually .75mm , .8mm but never larger than .9mm. Any punch size larger then .9mm will produce visible scaring. Best of luck,Bernardino A. Arocha,MD, Diplomate of ABHRS, Fellow ISHRS

Edward Ball, MRCS · Answer

Beard hair can be a useful source of donor hair but is pretty limited in supply and tends to be course in calibre. This means that it can have a harsh appearance and is more commonly used for adding density to the midscalp area. Although most people heal with very subtle dot scars (which are often impossible to find) we usually only extract beard hair from the "shadow area" under the chin where the small dot scarring is unlikely to be visible. If you were to remove your entire beard by FUE the scarring would almost certainly be unacceptable. The use of body hair as a donor for transplanting is controversial and many doctors feel that the hair does not produce useful growth in the recipient area. Again, scarring can be a problem.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Beard hair is not as normal as head hair for a hair transplant to the frontal hairline. If you want to create a female pattern hairline, then you should use head hair. Beard hair works well behind the leading edge of the hairline.

Omeed Memar, MD, PhD (license suspended) · Answer

Yes,  it is a very good use of hair to transplant from beard to scalp.  The donor area heals well but the hair is a different texture,  which might bother some.

If you're a MTF transexual, can you transplant your beard hair to your head instead of using IPL to remove it?

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