What You Need to Know About Body-to-Scalp Hair Transplants

Hair loss affects millions of people, and for anyone looking to restore a full head of hair, transplants can be a promising solution. In some cases, though, traditional hair transplant methods may not provide enough donor hair to achieve the results you want. This is where body-to-scalp hair transplants come in. This is a newer kind of technique where we use hair that’s been donated from areas of the body other than the scalp. Here’s more information about exactly what it is, how it works, and how it may be able to work for you. The good news is that Houston Hair Transplant Center (HHTC) offers body-to-scalp hair transplants, a procedure that the vast majority of hair transplant clinics around the country are unable to or ill-equipped to offer.

What Is a Body-to-Scalp Hair Transplant?

A body-to-scalp hair transplant, also commonly called body hair transplantation (BHT), is a minor surgical procedure where our doctors and clinicians take hair from different areas of the body like the chest, back, arms, abdomen, legs or beard, and then transplant it to your scalp. In a traditional hair transplant, we’ll use donor hair from the back or sides of your scalp where it’s more resistant to thinning, but if we can’t get enough hair grafts from those areas, we can now look elsewhere on the body to get the hair we need.

It’s safe to say that body hair isn’t going to be our first choice for every patient, but it can make a big difference if you have extensive hair loss or limited donor hair. It may allow you to still get the hair transplant you’ve been dreaming of to help change your quality of life.

Where Does the Hair Come From?

Body hair transplants can use hair from several parts of the body. The hair from different areas has its own unique characteristics, although there is limited research suggesting that they may acclimate to the characteristics of the region in which they are implanted, the verdict is still out. The key is to use body hair to augment a transplant using the donor that’s available or to add density to an existing foundation of hair. Here’s more information:

Beard Hair

Beard hair is usually thicker and more robust than hair from other areas of the body, so it’s one of the first places we’ll check. The texture and diameter of the hair is often different from scalp hair, but we can help add volume and density to areas that require additional thickness.

Chest Hair

For patients with thicker chest hair, this area may be useful as an additional donor source. While chest hair is not as thick as beard hair, it can work well in specific areas of the scalp, such as the crown, where differences in texture are less noticeable.

Back Hair

We can use back hair for transplants, but it’s usually finer than scalp hair, which makes it more effective as a supplement and not a primary donor source. Back hair can be useful for smaller areas that need coverage or for filling in some spaces that don’t require more dense hair grafts.

The clinical team can also tap into other areas of the body such as the legs and abdomen.

Each potential body donor source offers different benefits and possible challenges, so it’s essential to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jezic or one of our expert hair transplant clinicians that specialize in body-to-scalp hair transplants. Our hair restoration clinicians will assess your unique hair loss pattern and texture to help determine the best approach.

How Effective Are Body-to-Scalp Hair Transplants?

Body-to-scalp hair transplants can be effective, but the results can vary based on your hair type, the placement, and various factors. Here are some things that may affect the success of this type of transplant:

Hair Texture and Compatibility

Body hair is often thicker or coarser than scalp hair, which can impact the final look of the transplant. For instance, beard hair tends to be thicker and may not blend with scalp hair as seamlessly as we’d like. On the other side, this added thickness is ideal if the goal is to create volume in areas like the crown, where you’d want a fuller look.

Growth Cycles

The reality is that body hair has a different growth cycle than scalp hair. While scalp hair grows in longer cycles, body hair has shorter, quicker cycles, so it won’t be as long as scalp hair. This difference can be a limitation in some cases, but body hair transplants can still be effective for adding density and filling patches.

Transplant Survival Rate

Body hair has a different structure than scalp hair, which means the survival rate of transplanted grafts can vary. Our hair transplant surgeons can account for these differences, which improves the chances of each graft taking root and growing.

Natural Appearance

A natural-looking result depends on correctly placing body hair in areas where it will blend effectively. Because body hair differs from scalp hair in appearance, careful planning is needed to avoid noticeable textural mismatches. Strategically placing the body hair can seamlessly integrate with your scalp hair, creating a full, natural look that boosts the overall density.

If you have limited scalp donor hair, body-to-scalp hair transplants can be an effective alternative that delivers results.

The Procedure: What to Expect

Body-to-scalp hair transplants follow a similar process to traditional hair transplants, but they require additional steps because of the nature of body hair. Here’s an overview of what the procedure typically involves:

Initial Consultation and Planning

Your first step will be a complimentary consultation with one of our hair transplant specialists. During the consultation, we will assess the extent of your hair loss, examine all potential donor areas, and discuss your goals. This meeting helps us determine if body hair will be needed and, if so, where the hair will come from.

The Extraction Process

Our method of extracting your body hair is called follicular unit extraction (FUE). This technique involves removing individual hair follicles one by one using a small punch tool, which minimizes damage and scarring and maintains the natural appearance of the donor area.

Graft Preparation and Placement

Once the follicles are harvested, they’ll be prepared for transplantation. Each follicle is carefully placed into the scalp in the targeted areas, with the surgeon paying close attention to each graft’s angle, direction, and depth. This can be a tedious process, but it is crucial for creating a natural, blended look that complements your existing hair.

Recovery and Aftercare

Body-to-scalp hair transplants usually have a recovery period similar to traditional transplants. You can expect mild swelling, redness, or discomfort at the donor and recipient sites, but this usually improves within a few days. It’s also important to note that the transplanted hair will likely shed before new growth begins, a normal part of the hair transplant process.

Who’s a Good Candidate for Body-to-Scalp Hair Transplants?

Body-to-scalp hair transplants aren’t suitable for everyone, but they can be an excellent option for some people. Here’s who might benefit most:

People with Limited Scalp Donor Hair

If you don’t have enough hair on the back or sides of your scalp to meet your goals, body hair can serve as an alternative. If you have advanced hair loss, you’ll likely fall into this category.

If You Need Extra Density

If your goal is to increase the density of the hair on your scalp, then body hair can help provide extra thickness. Beard or chest hair can make a noticeable difference in areas that are noticeably thin.

If You’re Willing to Accept Some Textural Differences

Because body hair has different characteristics than scalp hair, you should be comfortable with slight texture variations. Our surgeon can help minimize these differences, but it may not be possible to have a completely uniform look.

During your free consultation, we’ll take you through a variety of scenarios and recommend which type of transplant we feel will give you the best chance of success.

Benefits and Limitations of Body-to-Scalp Hair Transplants

Here are some of the benefits you can expect from body-to-scalp hair transplants:

Here are some of the potential limitations of body-to-scalp hair transplants:

Choosing a Skilled Hair Transplant Surgeon & Team

Finding an experienced surgeon and team that can successfully handle body-to-scalp transplants is the most critical part of the process. Not every clinic or surgeon is equipped to perform them with consistent success, but you can feel confident that we will be able to provide you with the best possible results.

These procedures require special anesthesia and two providers/clinicians and additional Techs.

At the Houston Hair Transplant Center (HHTC), our hair transplant surgeon Dr. Jezic and his team offer a range of different hair restoration procedures, including body-to-scalp hair transplants, beard hair transplants, and conventional hair transplants. Dr. Jezic is double-board certified, with thousands of successful procedures on his resume over the past two decades.

You can find real-life reviews and testimonials with before-and-after photos, and our consultation process is straightforward and in-depth, so nothing is left to chance. We also offer 0% financing options through a handful of reputable financing companies, so you can still get the treatment you want, even if it doesn’t currently fit with your budget.

Is a Body-to-Scalp Transplant Right for You?

If you have advanced hair loss or limited scalp donor hair, body-to-scalp hair transplants offer an intriguing alternative to the normal way of doing things. And while it has some limitations, body hair can make a significant difference in achieving a fuller, natural look and improving your self-confidence and quality of life. Reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation to find out if a body-to-scalp hair transplant is right for you.

References

1. Savant S, Saxena K. Body to scalp: Evolving trends in body hair transplantation. Indian Dermatology Online Journal. 2017;8(3):167. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/idoj.idoj_283_16
2. Dr. Goran Jezic. Body-to-Scalp Hair Transplants. Jezic, Goran (hairphysician.com). Published September 23, 2024. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://www.hairphysician.com/body-to-scalp-hair-transplants/#benefits-of-bht
3. Umar S. Body Hair Transplant by Follicular Unit Extraction: My Experience With 122 Patients. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2016;36(10):1101-1110. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjw089
4. Can Hair Be Transplanted From the Body to the Scalp? Root Hair Institute. Published 2024. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://roothair.com/2023/08/31/can-hair-be-transplanted-from-the-body-to-the-scalp/