Follicular unit extraction as a valuable method for the restoration of beard: Retrospective case series study.

BACKGROUND: Beard and mustache are important components of body image. Beard transplantation is the procedure to restore congenital absence or inefficient growth of beard and mustache.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to report our results and experience in beard transplantation.

METHODS: Patients with a demand for beard restoration who were treated with follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplantation method were included in this retrospective, case series study. Patients' birth date, race, presence of eunuchoidism, hair color, type and shaft thickness, and treatment details were retrieved from medical records. Patients were evaluated at least one year after the operation, and defect closure rates were calculated. At the follow-up examination, patients were asked to evaluate their satisfaction from the procedure.

RESULTS: Ten patients were consecutively treated between May 2007 and June 2016. The mean age of the patients was 29.6 years. Three of our patients were eunuchoid and the others wanted beard transplantation to have a more masculine look. Follow-up period was median of 39 months. Four patients were satisfied and four patients were very satisfied with the procedure with a mean 53% closure rate. Better closure rates were associated with brown and red hair color, medium and fine hair thickness, and absence of eunuchoidism. Patients with straight hair were satisfied with the procedure significantly.

CONCLUSION: Beard reconstruction by using the FUE method is a safe and effective method with high patient satisfaction rates.