The average cost of a beard transplant is $8,956, according to 70 reviews from RealSelf community members. However, beard transplant costs can range from $3,599 to $16,000, depending on a few key factors.
Facial hair transplants involve harvesting hair follicles from the back of the scalp and implanting them into the mustache, beard, and sideburns, to create the look of a full beard. The procedure is considered a permanent solution (the transplanted hair will grow like a regular beard), with many patients not needing any touch-ups.
Read on to find out whether actual patients think it's worth the investment and why the cost can vary so widely.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About a Beard Transplant
RealSelf members give beard transplants a 82% Worth It Rating. So while most people who reviewed it think the results are worth the money, not everyone agrees.
Many of those who say it was "Worth It" cite natural-looking results and a positive experience with their surgeon, while those who rated it "Not Worth It" weren't satisfied with their provider's level of skill and pointed to unwanted side effects, like visible scarring.
To help ensure that you'll get the best results for your money, find an experienced, board-certified hair transplant surgeon who specializes in facial hair transplants using the FUE method (which has a lower risk of leaving a visible scar). During your consultation, start with a discussion about whether you're a good candidate for this type of hair transplant surgery, and ask them to walk you through all the potential side effects of a beard transplant.
The price you'll pay for a beard transplant will depending on:
Major metro areas in the U.S. have a higher cost of living that makes everything more expensive—including beard transplants. If you live in NYC or LA but are willing to travel for the sake of savings, consider qualified hair transplant surgeons in outlying areas or more affordable cities, like Houston or Atlanta.
Providers often offer complimentary consultations (virtually or in-person), which are the best way to get a personalized treatment plan recommendation and price quote.
It's also common for people to travel overseas for beard transplant surgery, and some countries, like Turkey and Thailand, are especially well-known destinations. A 2017 report found that about 60,000 people go to Turkey for hair transplants every year.
Beard transplants performed in places like Turkey and India are often significantly cheaper than in the U.S. That said, it's absolutely vital to thoroughly research any overseas provider.
Many RealSelf members who said their beard transplant was "Not Worth It" had their procedures in places like Turkey. They reported untrustworthy before and after pictures and inexperienced providers, who left them with unwanted side effects and poor results.
Your desired beard style and current hair growth patterns will have a big impact on the cost of your facial hair transplant procedure.
Some people have sparse areas only along their cheeks or sideburns, so they may need only a few hundred hair grafts to create the fullness they want.
Others want to fill in a full beard, which could require more than 1,000 grafts.
Surgeons often charge by the hair graft. “The cost of each graft can range wildly, from $2 to $12,” says Dr. Jae Pak, a hair restoration surgeon in Los Angeles.
During your consultations, the surgeon should provide an estimate of how many grafts you'll need to reach your goals, how much they charge per graft, and the total cost of your procedure.
Board-certified hair transplant surgeons with years (or decades) of experience and facial hair expertise can charge more for a beard transplant procedure.
Results of this surgery are permanent and very visible, so it's essential to find a reputable doctor who will take the time to ensure that you'll end up with a natural-looking, full beard (without the downside of an obvious scar at the donor site).
It can be tempting to go with the surgeon who quotes you the lowest price, but if they aren't attentive to details (like ensuring the hair follicles point in a similar direction), you may end up paying more for an additional procedure to correct their shoddy work.
There are two donor hair harvesting techniques: follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT).
The FUE method is considered the gold standard and leaves less noticeable scars, so it’s performed more often. But harvesting individual hairs instead of a strip takes more time, so an FUE beard transplant usually costs more.
A study conducted by the Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America determined that patients who needed a large number of grafts for their beard transplant must be “made aware of the possibility of undergoing secondary procedures after around one year, if further density is desired.”
During your initial consultation, ask your provider if they charge a fee for any necessary touch-up procedures.
A beard transplant is considered an elective cosmetic procedure, so insurance plans don't cover the procedure.
If cost is a barrier, ask your surgeon if they offer monthly payment plans or accept financing options.
Other hair loss options, like Rogaine (or minoxidil) which only costs about $175, are much cheaper and have a high satisfaction rate.
Some providers also say that PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections can stimulate facial hair growth. PRP for hair loss costs $2,075 on average, and has an 82% Worth It Rating, higher than beard transplant surgery.
Since both of these options are less expensive than a beard transplant, it may be worth considering them before springing for surgery.