Hair loss is considered a factor that causes significant appearance-related insecurity. While obesity, skin problems, and similar concerns can be improved through exercise, diet, or procedures, once hair has already been lost, there is no solution other than a hair transplant.
The problem is that even the hair transplant process is by no means easy. Even when a person wishes to undergo a hair transplant, it can be quite a predicament if there is not even enough hair to transplant to the scalp. As hair loss progresses significantly, many people face difficulties because little hair remains on the temporal and occipital regions.
Hair transplants are divided into incision hair transplants, in which scalp tissue is harvested from the back and sides of the head and transplanted, and non-incision hair transplants, in which hair follicles are harvested directly in follicular units without an incision and implanted into the area of hair loss.
If there is no hair available for harvesting in the temporal and occipital regions, a body hair transplant, in which hair follicles are moved from areas other than the head using the non-incision hair transplant method, may be considered. Beard, chest hair, and leg hair are typical examples of what is used.
In the case of beard hair, hair follicles located on the chin can be harvested and used for transplantation to the crown area. Above all, beard hair has a density comparable to that of scalp hair, making it very helpful for male hair transplants.
Body hair transplants can be used not only for the scalp but also for eyebrow hair transplants. When occipital hair follicles are used for eyebrow hair transplants, there is the problem of the hair growing excessively long. In contrast, transplanting leg body hair can not only produce more natural-looking eyebrows but also minimize the need for trimming.
The problem is that body hair grows more slowly than existing scalp hair, and because many of its follicles contain a single hair, it is less effective at creating full volume. In such cases, it is common to compensate for these limitations by mixing it into the front hairline during transplantation or by transplanting it into less visible areas such as the crown or sides of the head.
However, body hair transplantation is a difficult method in which hair follicles are harvested from the skin of the face, chest, legs, and other areas rather than from the firm scalp. In the case of beard hair in particular, caution is required, as scarring may remain after harvesting due to the characteristic direction of the hair follicles.
To overcome such issues, it is essential to choose a medical team with extensive know-how and clinical experience in non-incision hair transplants. It is also important to choose a medical institution with thorough aftercare that regularly checks the hair survival rate.
Director Yoo Hwa-jung of Modi Hair Plant Clinic advised, "Body hair transplantation requires a detailed understanding of the direction of body hair and the characteristics of the skin in each area, and because anesthesia is not easy, it is classified as a highly difficult surgery," adding, "You should meet a medical team that can respond flexibly to problem situations, such as mixing the hair into the front hairline when the amount available for transplantation is insufficient, or increasing the number of transplant sessions to enhance volume."
Source: Segye Biz │ Published 2020.12.15