Eyebrow hair loss can completely alter a person’s appearance, but with an eyebrow transplant procedure, patients can greatly diminish any apparent loss.

The procedure itself is referred to as follicular hair transplantation. Hair follicles are found naturally on all areas of the body except for the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. In the case of hair transplantation, the follicles are harvested from the back of the patient’s head, as these hair follicles are more resistant to baldness than hair follicles on other areas of the scalp.

Causes of Eyebrow Hair Loss

There are many causes of hair loss in the eyebrow area. Some causes can be controlled, some can not. When it comes to diseases that cause hair loss, Alopecia Areata is the most common. Alopecia Areata comes on without warning, bringing with it patchy hair loss that sometimes resolves on its own and at other times never does. The medical profession is not sure what causes this disease, so they speculate that it could be due to genetics, autoimmune disorders, chemicals in the immune system inhibiting the hair growth, the hair just dying off, or it could possibly be stress related. Thyroid problems can play a big part in hair loss as can Diabetes and Lupus. Not all hair loss comes from diseases. Over plucking, electrolysis, scarring from surgery, burns or accidents and hormonal imbalances can all contribute to eyebrow hair loss.

The Eyebrow Hair Transplant

The procedure itself is designed to implant between 50 and 350 hair follicles, which have been obtained from the back of the scalp, into each eyebrow area. The area on the scalp from which these follicles are removed is called the donor area. Once enough follicles have been removed the area is then sutured. The follicles that have been harvested from the donor area are then cleaned and divided into individual hair grafts. The surgeon’s skill is very important when it comes to eyebrow transplants. The smallest of microscopic incisions must be made in the area to be transplanted in a bid to minimize scarring. Each graft is then meticulously placed to make sure that the proper angle has been achieved. This type of hair transplant is much more difficult than other types, because eyebrow hair grows in different directions and at odd angles; so it is very important that proper placement of each graft be precise. This procedure takes approximately two hours to complete and is done in an out patient setting. The pain from this technique is minimal and normally requires only the use of a mild oral sedative.

What to Expect

Some crusting around the implant sites will occur within two to four days after implant. Between three and five days, any redness or mild inflammation from the procedure will subside. At one week the sutures are removed from the donor site. Surprisingly, the implants will begin to fall out at about two weeks, but will begin to re-grow about 12 weeks later and become permanent. Due to the fact that scalp hair is used, the hair will grow on the eyebrows just as it would on the head; as a result periodic trimmings will be needed to keep the eyebrows looking natural.

A laser is a light. Objects absorb and reflect light to varying degrees. The darker the object, the more light it absorbs.  Consequently, the more light an object absorbs, the warmer that object becomes. This heat damages the hair follicle.

Melanin is the naturally occurring pigment-creating compound found in skin and hair. Due to the absorption properties of light, the best results for laser hair removal are seen in people with dark hair and fair skin. When laser hair removal first became available to the public, only people with dark hair and light skin were able to take advantage of the virtually painless hair removal technique. Technology has advanced since then, and there are now lasers that can help people with darker skin tones remove unwanted hair.

Laser hair removal is called “permanent” and some consumers will remove unwanted hair forever. Some consumers will experience long term hair removal, meaning after several successful treatments the consumer should enjoy months or years of limited or no hair growth. The consumer’s hair type and skin type will affect the outcome. A consultation with a laser hair removal professional can provide realistic outcome expectations.

Regardless of the skin type and hair color, laser hair removal will usually take four to six treatments to achieve optimum results. Laser hair removal is virtually painless; however, some consumers report a stinging sensation at the time of treatment. A cooling tip on the handheld laser device, cooling sprays, cooling gels, and/or local anesthetic help reduce this stinging, but most consumers tolerate the sensations of treatment very well.

There are minimal risks to laser hair removal, and it is considered a safe procedure. Eye protection is used during the treatment as a precaution. Some hairs and hair follicles may prove to be resistant to treatment. This can result in incomplete hair removal. Hair that grows back is typically finer and lighter in color and can usually be treated again. Darkening or lightening of the skin at the treatment site is a small risk and is typically temporary. Scarring and blistering of the skin occur very rarely and typically at the hands of a poorly trained technician. The risk of scarring associated with proper laser hair removal is lower than the risk of scarring seen with tweezers or electrolysis. Often there is some temporary redness at the site of the procedure that will fade in twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Before and after the treatment, it’s best to avoid tanning. A properly trained professional can help reduce all these risks.

Laser hair removal can be a relatively inexpensive and highly effective way of getting rid of “bad hair.”  Examining options and researching providers will lead to great results.