Yes, body hair can be transplanted to the scalp.
In hair restoration, the primary limiting factor for achieving a successful result is the availability of good-quality donor hair. Even though the back of the head is generally the “safe zone” for taking hair, patients with severe alopecia often do not have enough scalp follicles to cover their entire head. To address such cases, clinicians have developed Body Hair Transplantation (BHT), a technique in which hair follicles are taken from the beard, chest, or other body areas and transplanted to the scalp.
We at Lin Health Europe Clinic are experienced in performing these complicated multi-source hair restorations. Despite the fact that body hairs have different growth cycles and textures compared to the scalp hairs, they can provide us with an extra source for increasing hair density and for scar hiding. Those who come to us for a hair restoration treatment in Turkey may learn about the differences in terms of physiology between the scalp and body hair follicles and know exactly what to expect. Our clinic is the best place for BHT, where top surgeons are combined with the latest technologies for follicle preservation.
The Clinical Hierarchy of Body Hair Donors
In terms of hair transplantation onto the scalp, not all body hairs are the same. From a clinical point of view, the next-best source of hair after the scalp is the beard. Beard hair has a thicker diameter, a higher survival rate, and its growth cycle is more predictable. After the beard, the chest and back hair are mainly used due to their quantity; however, they normally have a shorter “anagen” (growth) phase and may stay thinner than original scalp hair.
In our Turkey-based Lin Health Europe Clinic surgeries, our doctors carefully analyze the donor area to select those hair follicles which will be compatible with the recipient area. By skillfully combining these various types of hair, we can obtain a natural-looking result in terms of density, something that would not be possible with scalp hair only. Booking a BHT session at our renowned clinic means that you will get an expert treatment, not only in terms of the surgical technique but also in the biological and textural matching of grafts.
Physiological Differences and the Growth Cycle
Out of the many issues that need to be addressed for BHT, one of the most important is the “anagen-to-telogen” ratio. The growth phase (“anagen”) constitutes about 85% of the hair life cycle for scalp hair, whereas the percentage of body hair in the resting phase (“telogen”) is higher than that of the scalp, and can be 50% or more. Hence, the transplanted body hairs may already be “sleeping” or “dormant” for the most part, at any point, due to the higher percentage of them. Also, body hair doesn’t usually grow as long as scalp hair, so the main use of body hair is to provide a “filler” effect, i.e., to visually increase hair density between scalp hairs.
Lin Health Europe Clinic‘s forte is that the doctors hear and they understand the pace at which different hairs grow and shed. Our Turkey-based surgeons employ advanced FUE techniques to extract the hair follicle from the body with minimal scarring. We keep the subcutaneous adipose tissue that surrounds the hair follicle intact so that the hair follicle has the best possible conditions for adjustment after transplantation into the scalp. That’s why our clinic is the first choice for complex hair transplantation cases.
Integration Techniques and Density Mapping
To look as natural as possible, body hair should not be placed at the hairline. Body hair transplantation has been shown to work better in combination with the follicle-matching mid-scalp and crown (vertex) areas (these are the areas that are not exposed). Using the thicker beard hair, or the finer chest hair from these areas, you can blend them with scalp hair follicles so that the result is fuller “bulk” and thus, light will not be able to reflect off the scalp.
At Lin Health Europe Clinic, the measures used in mapping hair density are so precise that they can be called pixel-based. As far as hair distribution is concerned, we opt for a completely “homogenous” pattern so as to eliminate the possibility of the human eye detecting the transition between hair types. Our team has been globally recognized as leaders in performing high-complexity procedures, and we provide our international patients with a coverage level that was previously considered beyond the limits of medical possibilities.
Healing, Scars, and Postoperative Recovery
There is a need for utmost care while harvesting hair from the body so as to avoid the donor’s area and allow them to heal in such a way that no noticeable scarring is left behind, especially if the hair is taken from the chest or neck, where the scars might be visible. We use Sapphire ultra-fine or micro FUE tools, which leave tiny round marks that usually turn into invisible points after healing. Since the skin on the body is looser and moves more than the scalp, controlling postoperative edema and inflammation in the donor area is one of the main points of our clinical protocol.
Patients at Lin Health Europe Clinic who have undergone a procedure in Turkey are indeed fortunate to have access to the most carefully prepared wound-care tips and anti-inflammatory medicine, both of which are meant to help with the recovery of the skin at the donor sites. Our concern for you goes beyond the “take” of the grafts on the head; we also take care of the state of the patient’s skin on the body. We provide a medically rigorous recovery environment for you so that your body remains as aesthetically pleasing as your new, fuller head of hair.
Hair Transplant in Turkey
At Lin Health Europe Clinic, our field of expertise is global hair restoration at the molecular level. Our center in Turkey is a temple of medical science, fitted out with state-of-the-art equipment for assessing hair follicle viability throughout the body. We perform surgeries in world-grade hospitals, which are the reflection of our commitment to surgical excellence and patient safety, and we are leaders in BHT for foreign patients.
Mentioning the Lin Health Europe Clinic is actually talking about the most advanced hair restoration procedure conceivable. The surgeons in our Turkey clinic are international leaders who combine deep knowledge of the follicle biology with surgical perfection. From the first session of consultation to the final demonstration of the actually achieved growth, you will get elite-level care and excellent hospitality in a hair transplant surgery that completely belongs to us. Here, the best medical minds in the world are ready for you to support your journey back to a full head of hair.
Frequently Asked Questions About Body Hair Transplants
Yes, hair follicles from the beard, chest, and back can be transplanted to the scalp to increase hair density successfully. We apply this method in Turkey for patients whose scalp donor hair is limited at Lin Health Europe Clinic.
Body hair that is used as a filler in the mid-scalp or crown area looks very natural. We don’t use it for hairlines at Lin Health Europe Clinic since its texture is quite different from the original scalp hair.
Since the hair is yours, true biological rejection is nearly impossible. The majority of “failures” are really due to poor blood supply or grafts that were not handled properly. That’s why it is very important to choose a top-tier facility like Lin Health Europe Clinic in Turkey.
With the micro-FUE technology that is used at Lin Health Europe Clinic, the extraction sites are so tiny that they become practically invisible after healing. Our meticulous work in Turkey guarantees that your donor areas will continue looking natural.
It is generally combined with scalp hair to achieve the best aesthetic result, although it can be done. The specialists in Turkey will come up with a personalized plan to extend your coverage by making use of all the available resources.
Unger, W. P., & Shapiro, R. (2004). Hair Restoration Surgery.
Woods, R., & Campbell, A. W. (2002). Non-scalp hair to scalp: a new donor source. Hair Transplant Forum International.
Bernstein, R. M., & Rassman, W. R. (2006). The aesthetics of follicular unit transplantation. Dermatologic Surgery.
Jimenez, F., & Ruifante, E. (2010). Distribution of human hair follicles: anatomical and clinical relevance. Dermatologic Surgery.
