The Basics of Eyebrow Hair Transplant Surgery: What to Expect

Robin McIntyre • April 17, 2024

Despite seeming like simple patches of hair, your eyebrows can help frame and protect your face. However, it’s possible to experience thinning eyebrows due to several reasons, like genetics or physical conditions.


In this case, you can consider an eyebrow hair transplant surgery to create or restore fullness. But you might wonder, what exactly is it?


Let’s delve into the basics of eyebrow hair restoration to help you decide if it works for you!


How Does Eyebrow Hair Transplant Work?


Eyebrow hair restoration is a cosmetic procedure that follows a similar procedure to typical hair transplant methods. Here, grafts are often taken from the area around your ears or nape and then implanted in the brow area.


These new hairs can grow and make your brows look fuller. Note that surgeons usually place these grafts in a way that makes them look natural, such as following the direction of your eyebrow.


Here’s a brief look into what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure.


Before the Procedure


You need to meet your surgeon before you get the procedure done. This allows them to brief you on the process and effects, as well as discuss your goals.


During this, they will also examine your eyebrows to check the growth and scan areas where they can take hair follicles. They might also ask about your medical or family history to ensure you’re a fit candidate.


During the Transplant


Surgeons will give you an anesthetic and put you to sleep during the procedure, so you will likely not feel any pain. By then, they will trim a part of the donor area, which is where they will take hair follicles from.


From there, they remove the grafts and carefully place them on the areas of your eyebrows that need more hair. Note that they do this by making a small incision. Both trimmed and slit areas will be stitched together after.


After the Surgery


You can head home after the eyebrow hair transplant surgery. However, you need to follow the care instructions provided by your doctor for quicker recovery. A few of those guidelines include the following:


  • Get proper amounts of rest.


  • Keep the bandages on until further advised.


  • Avoid taking part in strenuous activities for the first few days.


  • Take any medication prescribed by your doctor accordingly.


  • Be extra careful when washing or touching the surgical sites.


You can also confirm with your doctor if you need a follow-up appointment. They may set this to check the progress of your hair growth and healing or to remove any stitches.


Keep in mind that the transplanted hair will fall out after a few weeks. This happens to make room for the new hair to grow. Even so, it could take a few weeks to months before you notice any major changes.


Side Effects of Eyebrow Hair Transplant Surgery


Like with other hair transplants, eyebrow hair restoration may cause a few side effects post-procedure. Some of the risks include:


  • Swelling of surgical sites


  • Excessive bleeding


  • Damaging of nerves


  • Bruising of surgical sites


  • Temporary or permanent scarring


  • Possible infections


Be sure you get in touch with your surgeon if any of these complications seem severe or persist even after receiving advice from a professional.


How Long Do the Results Last?


Most sources explain that eyebrow hair transplant surgery provides permanent results. Even so, it’s good to note that most hair restoration solutions may or may not last for a lifetime. Moreover, there’s a chance the effectiveness of the procedure can vary from person to person.


In case the transplant results start to fade, you can get follow-up procedures done to maintain the appearance of your eyebrows. Otherwise, you want to practice proper handling and keeping up with your health to prevent them from thinning again.


How to Know If Eyebrow Restoration is For You


Eyebrow hair transplant surgery works for anyone but is especially effective for people who have thin and sparse brows, whether due to natural or medical reasons. Other possible causes may include physical trauma or excessive plucking.


Before you get eyebrow restoration, it’s best to consult a professional. In most cases, patients who experience alopecia areata or conditions of unstable eyebrow hair loss aren’t ideal candidates.


Additionally, the procedure may not work in your favor if you want to avoid invasive procedures or methods that lead to scarring or require incisions and stitches.


Where to Get Eyebrow Hair Transplant Surgery


It’s crucial to make sure you select a reliable place for an eyebrow restoration procedure. You can look up doctors or clinics that specialize in hair restoration. Otherwise, you should make sure you work with dermatologic, cosmetic, or plastic surgeons.


Many recommend doing a background check before you make your choice. This way, you can see if they have the proper qualifications, expertise, and certifications.


You can also check for patient reviews from the doctor or clinic to get an idea of how they work. Moreover, it gives you realistic insight into the process and results. As much as possible, look for feedback with before and after photos to help you picture it clearly.


Furthermore, experts suggest having a consultation with the doctor or clinic before setting an appointment. This way, you can use it as an opportunity to go through their portfolio and ask questions about your concerns about the commitment.


In Summary


Eyebrow hair transplant surgery is a popular solution to restoring hair in your brows and making it look full. Keep in mind that it works best for those who experience thinning brows or hair loss due to natural causes, medical conditions, or physical and emotional reasons.


As an invasive method, it’s crucial to make sure you know and understand how it works before committing to it. This way, you can set your expectations accordingly and prevent any issues later on.


Knowing these also helps you decide whether you want to proceed with the transplant and find a hair restoration clinic you can trust!

Regain Your Confidence with Hair Restoration – My Personal Journey

February 17, 2025
Like many of my patients, I struggled with hair loss for years. My hair began thinning in high school, and by my 20s, my confidence was at an all-time low. I tried every vitamin and hair loss remedy, and spent countless hours trying to mask my baldness, feeling self-conscious in both personal and professional settings. It wasn’t until my late 30s that I finally took action. After undergoing a successful hair restoration procedure, my life changed dramatically. Within 8 to 12 months, my hair grew back, and with it, my confidence soared. I looked 10 years younger, and I no longer had to rely on time-consuming styling tricks. People treated me differently, and I felt like the best version of myself. That transformation led me to make a major career shift—from a successful Trauma and Cancer Surgeon to a full-time hair restoration specialist. I was double board-certified by the American Board of Surgery in Trauma Surgery & Critical Care Surgery and thriving in my field, but my personal experience with hair loss gave me a new mission. I knew firsthand the emotional toll it takes, and I wanted to help others regain not just their hair, but their self-esteem and quality of life. I initially worked for a large corporate hair restoration group but quickly realized that the best results come from a physician-led practice—where the doctor is personally invested in every patient’s success. That’s why I founded Yates Hair Science Group. We specialize in advanced FUE hair restoration and cutting-edge biologic treatments to achieve the best possible results. Unlike many clinics, I personally perform every procedure—never delegating to technicians or nurses—because hair restoration is both a science and an art. Every patient I treat, whether through surgical or non-surgical solutions, I connect with on a personal level—because I’ve lived their journey. I believe a specialty as life-changing as hair restoration should never be driven by corporate interests focused solely on profit. If you're struggling with hair loss, I understand what you’re going through because I’ve been there myself. Let’s work together to find the right solution for you. Schedule a consultation today and take the first step toward restoring your hair—and your confidence.

Unlicensed Practitioners in Hair Restoration Clinics: A Call for Awareness and Action

December 18, 2024
The public should be aware of an alarming issue within the Chicago area hair restoration industry: unlicensed individuals posing as licensed physicians and performing medical procedures. This deceptive practice jeopardizes patient safety and erodes trust in qualified medical professionals. Recent reports have uncovered that patients seeking treatment at the International Hair Institute (IHI) were led to believe that their procedures were performed by Jing Liu, MD, CEO of the clinic. Upon investigation, it became evident that while Ms. Liu obtained a medical degree in China, she has neither undergone the necessary training nor acquired licensure to practice medicine in the United States. Previously employed as a lab assistant at Northwestern Hospital, she is not listed with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) as a licensed physician. Despite this, Ms. Liu is reportedly presenting herself as an American-licensed physician and performing hair restoration surgeries at IHI. In response to inquiries from discerning patients, Ms. Liu has allegedly claimed the clinic is overseen by a licensed internist, Dr. Wang, who has no known expertise in hair restoration and may not even be present onsite. This deceptive behavior not only endangers patients but also undermines the integrity of the medical profession. Unlike hospital settings—where physicians undergo rigorous vetting and credential verification to ensure they can practice their specialty safely, competently, and ethically—some hair restoration clinics operate with little to no oversight. Many patients remain unaware of the complexity and skill required for hair transplant surgery. As a former board-certified general, cancer, and trauma surgeon, I can attest that hair transplant surgery demands both mental and physical dexterity, as well as extensive training and experience, to achieve safe and excellent outcomes. Illinois law mandates that only a licensed physician may perform procedures involving incisions in the skin. In hair transplant surgery, these include FUT (follicular unit transplantation) linear scalp incisions, FUE (follicular unit extraction) punch graft harvesting, and recipient site creation for follicular grafts. Despite these clear legal guidelines, it appears that many clinics delegate these critical tasks to unqualified medical assistants or non-physician staff, putting patients at unnecessary risk. Such practices insult physicians who have undergone years of rigorous training in accredited medical schools, residency programs, and fellowships. The lack of enforced regulations in the hair restoration industry has enabled this brazen disregard for medical standards to persist. Without proper oversight and accountability, the situation will likely worsen, leaving more patients vulnerable to substandard and unsafe care. This is an urgent call for increased regulatory enforcement and public awareness to protect patients and restore trust in the medical profession.

An Open Letter from Dr. William Yates, MD FACS Unlicensed Hair Transplants: The Hidden Risks You Should Know

December 6, 2024
It’s a well-known fact that nearly 60 million Americans experience hair loss at some point in their lives. Among the many options for restoring the luster of one’s hair, hair transplantation is widely regarded as offering the most enduring results. Recent data from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) shows a clear uptick in the number of hair transplants, with procedures increasing by 20% or more annually. This surge in demand has opened the floodgates for a multitude of less-than-qualified physicians and non-physicians who claim to be experts in the field. Unlike traditional medicine, where doctors must graduate from an accredited medical school and undergo rigorous vetting by committees and other professionals to practice in hospitals or specialize in their fields, there are no comparable standards of care for hair transplants. This lack of regulation makes it difficult for patients to determine who is truly qualified to perform such procedures. Although licensed healthcare providers are held to strict medical and ethical standards, the absence of oversight in hair transplant practices has led to alarming trends. Some physicians are completing weekend courses and immediately setting up fully operational clinics, with little to no hands-on experience. Hair transplant centers are also being opened by businesspeople with no medical expertise, who hire the cheapest available physicians or technicians to perform the procedures. To make matters worse, some clinics intentionally obfuscate the qualifications of their staff—such as individuals with doctorates in unrelated fields who claim to be medical doctors—and others employ foreign-trained doctors who are not licensed to practice in the U.S. These professionals often misrepresent their credentials, degrees, and skill sets. I was recently made aware of a physician, Vinay Rawlani, who allegedly held a staff position at Northwestern University, a prestigious hospital in Chicago where I proudly attended medical school. Many patients who have visited my office mentioned that they had also consulted with him, and he claimed to be a staff member at Northwestern, with an office there. Upon further investigation, I discovered that his medical license had been revoked in 2017 and only reinstated in 2020, which would render it impossible for him to be an expert in hair transplant surgery. Rawlani was also charged with felony theft of nearly $200,000 worth of equipment from the hospital. Although the stolen property was found in his home, Rawlani pleaded not guilty to the charges. This information is a matter of public record. It is absurd that someone who has stolen from a hospital and profited from that theft is now masquerading as a faculty member at the very institution he victimized. I am shocked that Northwestern has allowed him to rent office space within the institution from which he stole. Rawlani’s deception has been so successful that he is now recognized as a medical director at other hair transplant clinics. I personally know convicted felons who are denied the privilege to vote. By no means, however, is Rawlani the only one pretending to be an expert in this field. To protect yourself, follow these steps when considering a hair transplant: First, verify the provider’s credentials to ensure they are licensed and certified by a recognized medical board. Research the clinic by looking for reviews and before-and-after videos (which can’t be manipulated like photos) and confirming the facility’s accreditation. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the provider’s experience, techniques, and safety protocols. A hair transplant is an investment in your appearance and confidence. Cutting corners by choosing an unlicensed provider can lead to devastating health complications, poor results, and significant financial and emotional costs. When it comes to your health and well-being, the best option is always the one that prioritizes safety and expertise. Make informed choices, and you’ll not only protect yourself but also achieve the lasting, natural results you deserve.

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