Eyebrow Transplant in Turkey

This informative article, where you can find answers to all your questions about eyebrow transplant, has been prepared by Dr. Hakan Doğanay, the founder of AHD Clinic. In this comprehensive guide, you will find everything you need to know – from how eyebrow transplantation is performed to pricing, recovery time, and the natural results that follow. We therefore believe that what you read here will also be helpful for those considering eyebrow transplantat Turkey.

The hairs located between the lower edge of the brow bone and the eye socket are called eyebrows. These hairs are typically 5 to 10 mm in length and, due to their genetic structure, do not grow longer. Full eyebrows frame the eye area from above and lend the face an aesthetic appearance. In doing so, they serve an important function by protecting the eyes from sweat caused by heat and humidity. In short, eyebrows are a significant detail of the facial region.

What Is Eyebrow Transplant?

Eyebrow transplant is the surgical transfer of hair follicles from the patient’s own scalp to the eyebrow region, in cases where the hairs in this area are sparse or entirely absent. The primary goal of the procedure is to create a fuller, more aesthetically pleasing appearance. Also known as eyebrow restoration, this method has become a permanent solution for eyebrow loss with the advancement of modern medicine.

Causes of Eyebrow Loss

There are many conditions that can lead to eyebrow loss. In most of these cases, successful results can be achieved with eyebrow transplant. Furthermore, eyebrow and hair loss share many common causes. Let us now briefly examine the factors that lead to eyebrow loss.

1. Individuals born with absent, sparse, or thin eyebrows due to genetic factors
2. Traumatic conditions such as surgical, burn, or wound scars: Men, in particular, tend to seek eyebrow transplantation in such cases, because hair does not grow back in the damaged area.
3. Individuals who experience eyebrow thinning or loss later in life due to various physical causes
   • Poorly performed eyebrow tattoos and permanent makeup (microblading)
   • Epilation
   • Trichotillomania: In individuals who excessively pull out their eyebrows, a condition known as “eyebrow shock” may occur, leading to thinning or gaps in the brows.
   • Women who frequently pluck or shape their eyebrows
4. Normal age‑related hair loss: In this group, medical treatment should be considered first.
   • Metabolic or hormonal disorders: Hypothyroidism
   • Pregnancy and menopause
   • Hypothyroidism
   • Nutritional deficiencies: Such as biotin deficiency or excessive vitamin A intake (hypervitaminosis A).
   • Alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease)
   • Dermatitis, eczema, and fungal infections in the eyebrow area
   • Hair loss due to cancer chemotherapy: Eyebrow loss is usually temporary. Once treatment ends, the eyebrows typically grow back on their own.

Who Is a Suitable Candidate for Eyebrow Transplant?

For some of the conditions listed above, medical treatment yields excellent results, while for others, eyebrow transplant offers a perfect and permanent solution. For example, individuals in groups 1, 2, and 3 are highly suitable candidates. In both men and women who have a sufficient number of hair follicles in the donor area, successful outcomes can be achieved with eyebrow transplantat These can be summarised as follows:

1. Individuals born with completely absent or sparse eyebrows
2. Eyebrow loss due to trauma, such as surgical scars or burns
3. Eyebrow deficiency caused by compulsive pulling (trichotillomania)
4. Those who wish to permanently thicken their eyebrows

When you contact AHD Clinic, you will receive detailed information about whether you are a suitable candidate for eyebrow transplantation.

Planning and Eyebrow Design

In our view, the most important step before the procedure is eyebrow design. Without a proper design, achieving a natural look is virtually impossible.

The recipient area is marked with a drawing that matches the patient’s facial structure and natural brow curve, and the ideal eyebrow shape is determined. Here, the surgeon’s artistic perspective plays a crucial role. Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Hakan Doğanay, and together we can create a natural, full eyebrow transplant design tailored specifically to you.

How Is Eyebrow Transplantation Performed?

Eyebrow transplantation, a form of cosmetic surgery, has become increasingly popular in recent years with the advancement of DHI and FUE techniques.

This procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and typically takes between 2 and 4 hours. Let us now look at how it is carried out in 5 stages.

1.  Preliminary Preparation: Blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C must be performed before the procedure. These are carried out to rule out the risk of infectious diseases. No other blood tests are required. An intravenous line is placed, and a small area of the donor region is shaved.
2. Eyebrow Design: The patient should communicate their desired eyebrow shape to the doctor. The patient’s preferences are then taken into account, and the doctor designs an eyebrow shape that suits your facial structure.
3. Local Anaesthesia: Local anaesthesia is administered to both the donor and recipient areas. This ensures a painless and comfortable procedure.
4. Harvesting Hair from the Donor Area: First, the required number of grafts is determined. Then, hair follicles from behind the ears are collected one by one using the FUE method. Since the number of grafts needed is usually small, unshaven harvesting is ideal. Grafts can also be harvested using the FUT method. However, we have been performing graft harvesting exclusively with the FUE technique since 2010.
5. Transferring the Harvested Hair to the Eyebrow Area: The collected hair follicles are implanted one by one into the eyebrow area, which was previously marked during the design phase. Three methods can be used for eyebrow transplant:
   • FUE Method: Tiny incisions are made at very small angles. The grafts collected from the donor area are placed into these incisions one by one.
   • Stick and Place: A hole is made in the eyebrow area with a needle, and immediately afterward, a single hair follicle is placed into the opening.
   • DHI Technique for Eyebrow Transplantat: Based on our experience, we believe that the DHI method yields more natural and successful results in eyebrow transplant. Therefore, at AHD Clinic, all eyebrow transplant procedures have been performed using the DHI technique – that is, the implanter pen method – since 2010.

How Many Grafts Are Needed for Eyebrow Transplant?

The number of grafts can range from 100 to 800, depending on the type of procedure. To give an example:

1. Complete absence of eyebrows: A total of 800 grafts can be implanted – 400 for each eyebrow.
2. Eyebrow thickening: A total of 400 to 500 grafts to fill in sparse eyebrows and make them fuller.
3. Eyebrow transplant over wound or burn scars: 100 to 200 grafts may be required.

5 Essential Tips for Natural‑Looking Eyebrows

At AHD Clinic, we adhere to five fundamental rules in order to achieve natural outcomes in eyebrow transplant. These principles have been established through the clinical experience that Dr. Hakan Doğanay has accumulated since 2003. We shall now outline the five essential rules to be followed in eyebrow transplant.

1) Choosing the correct donor area: The first priority should be the hair above the ears. Eyebrow hairs are naturally shorter and finer due to their genetic structure, whereas the hair at the back of the head is thicker than eyebrow hair. Even if grafts taken from this area are implanted correctly, they may appear too coarse and create an unnatural look. In contrast, the hair above the ears is anatomically the closest match to eyebrow hair. Therefore, using the hair above the ears as the donor area is the more appropriate choice.

Beard, pubic, and chest hair are not preferred for eyebrow transplant. This is because they fail to create a natural appearance and, since they tend to grow curly, they are also difficult to manage.

2) Single‑hair follicles: Eyebrow hairs are genetically composed of single‑hair grafts. Therefore, even when using hair from above the ears, the grafts must consist entirely of single follicles. This way, the implanted hairs will blend more harmoniously into their new location. If the grafts harvested from above the ears contain multiple follicles, they must be separated into single follicles before eyebrow transplantation.

3) Correct directions: Natural eyebrow hairs grow in different directions. For example:

• The hairs on the upper part of the eyebrow grow in a downward direction.
• The hairs on the lower part grow in an upward direction.
• The hairs on the inner side of the face stand upright at a 90‑degree angle. Therefore, the direction of the implanted hairs must be parallel to the natural growth direction of the original eyebrow hairs.

4) Correct angles: Natural eyebrow hairs emerge at an angle of 5 to 10 degrees, sitting almost flush against the skin. Therefore, the hairs to be implanted must also be placed in accordance with these angulation rules. In other words, eyebrow transplantation must replicate the exit angle of natural eyebrow hairs exactly.

5) Fine incisions: Thin incisions with a diameter of 0.6 mm should be created for the grafts to be placed. If the incisions are too wide, it becomes considerably more difficult to position the hair follicles at the correct angle and direction. With the FUE technique, achieving the correct angles and directions is more challenging. However, with the DHI technique, this can be done much more easily.

As you can see, achieving a natural eyebrow transplant result is not that simple. If these 5 rules are not followed, natural results are simply unattainable. This is where the implanter pen method offers us a significant advantage in applying these rules. We say this based on our 23 years of surgical experience.

Complications, Drawbacks, and Risks Associated with Eyebrow Transplantation

Eyebrow transplantation is a microsurgical procedure that requires a higher level of expertise and artistic skill compared to hair transplant. Therefore, you should be aware of the potential negative outcomes that may arise if the procedure is performed in an inexperienced setting.

• Unnatural Appearance: The most undesirable complication of eyebrow transplant is an unnatural, disastrous result. The sole cause of this is procedures performed without adhering to the 5 rules mentioned above. Unfortunately, many people regret having had an eyebrow transplant due to poorly designed eyebrow lines and hairs that grow straight and irregularly. For this reason, you need to be selective before making a decision. Remember: correcting a poorly performed eyebrow transplant is a far more difficult and costly procedure, because the incorrectly implanted follicles must be individually removed from the eyebrow area. There is no other way to fix the bad appearance. Correcting a failed eyebrow transplant is a lengthy process that requires serious surgical skill. Therefore, choosing the right doctor for eyebrow transplant is crucial. Unnatural appearances:
  • Colour and texture mismatch
  • Curly eyebrows
  • Unnatural eyebrow hairs growing in different directions
  • Sparse appearance: This may occur due to insufficient graft survival, resulting in an unnatural look. A second session of eyebrow transplant can be performed after 1 year to increase density.
• Cyst Formation: During the creation of incisions in the eyebrow area using the FUE technique, sebaceous glands may inadvertently be severed. Consequently, cyst formation may occur in the eyebrow region.
• Infection: Moreover, failure to adhere to strict sterilisation protocols during eyebrow transplantation significantly increases the risk of infection, which may compromise the final outcome.
• Paraesthesia (Numbness): Nerve injury may result from anaesthesia and the incisions created. In most cases, the numbness is transient.

Post‑Transplant Process and Timeline for Eyebrow Transplant

After an eyebrow transplant, you can comfortably return to your home or hotel. Once the procedure is complete, the recovery period begins. During this time, we will offer some simple recommendations, as following them is essential for achieving a successful result.

The first 10 days following eyebrow transplant can be considered the recovery period. Compared to other cosmetic procedures, the recovery period for eyebrow transplantation is relatively quicker. In the image below, you can compare the before‑transplant appearance with the 2‑day post‑procedure view.

Within the first few hours, the clots around the implanted hair follicles dry up, and pinhead‑sized scabbing begins to form. Do not touch these under any circumstances. As the anaesthetic wears off, you may rarely experience some pain, but simple painkillers will be sufficient. We can summarise the post‑eyebrow transplant process as follows:

• First Week (Swelling, Redness, and Scabbing): Within the first 2–3 days, swelling and bruising may occur around the eyelids. This is caused by the local anaesthesia and is completely normal. The bruising and swelling typically subside within 5–6 days. You can conceal them by wearing sunglasses. To minimise swelling, sleep with your head elevated (use 2 pillows). Avoid bending your head forward and drink plenty of water. In addition, a compression bandage can be applied beneath the brow (above the eyelid) to prevent swelling from spreading to the eyes. Applying PRP to the eyebrow area may also accelerate healing.
• Washing: After eyebrow transplant, we recommend having the first wash done at the clinic where the procedure was performed. From the second day onward, apply a softening cream to the transplanted area before washing. After waiting 30 minutes, gently wash the transplanted eyebrows with lukewarm water at low pressure. Do not rub the scabs vigorously. Adjust your sleeping position to avoid friction against the pillow. The scabs will gradually begin to fall off with each wash. You may also apply clean water as a spray 10–15 times a day.
• Day 10: The scabs are expected to have completely fallen off. The clean, full appearance of your eyebrows on day 10 will make you very happy. You can return to work one week later.
• Weeks 2–4 (Shock Loss and Redness Phase): Shock Loss: From the second week onward, the hairs implanted in the eyebrow area begin to shed. This shock phase may continue until the second month and is a normal part of the process. Redness may appear at the follicle bases in the shedding area. It normally disappears within 1 month.
• Month 1: Since most of the hairs have shed, the appearance is somewhat irregular. Small pimples known as folliculitis may appear at the follicle bases. After eyebrow transplantation, we recommend avoiding heavy activities such as Turkish baths, saunas, and fitness for 1 month. After the first month, you may swim in a pool or the sea.
• Month 2: In individuals with very fair skin, redness may persist for up to 2 months. Protect your transplanted eyebrows from sunlight during the first two months, as sun exposure can increase redness.
• Months 3–6: The transplanted eyebrows begin to grow after 3–4 months. The initial growth is thin, sparse, and irregular.
• Months 6–12 (Visible Permanent Results): From the 6th month onward, the thickness and density of the growing eyebrows increase. For the final result, 10–12 months must pass. You will need to be a little patient.

Eyebrow Transplant Before and After Results

The primary objective of undergoing this procedure is to attain fuller and more natural‑appearing eyebrows. Upon reviewing before‑and‑after photographs, the change in the patient’s facial expression is readily discernible.

For more detailed results, you can contact us. You can also find more information about our eyebrow transplant results on our social media accounts, such as Instagram and Facebook.

Eyebrow Transplant Prices in Turkey

It is quite difficult to give a definitive answer to the question of what an eyebrow transplant costs, because several factors determine the cost of this procedure. These include:

• The brand value of the doctor or clinic: Doctors who are internationally recognised charge higher fees. In eyebrow transplantation, too, surgeons with strong brand value and a solid reputation command higher prices.
• The surgical technique: The implanter pen technique is more costly, but it delivers more successful results in terms of naturalness.
• Geographical location: Prices can vary from country to country and from city to city.

In Turkey, eyebrow transplant prices range between 750 and 3,000 USD. The exact quote you receive may vary depending on the cost factors outlined above.

In the United States and Europe, average eyebrow transplant prices range between 4,000 and 10,000 USD/Euro.

Compared to Europe and the United States, prices in Turkey are considerably more affordable. This is why there is such high demand for eyebrow transplants in Turkey from all over the world. For precise pricing information, we recommend contacting the clinic you are considering directly.

Choosing the Right Doctor and Clinic for Eyebrow Transplant

Choosing the right clinic and doctor is crucial for achieving a successful and natural result in eyebrow transplantation. Therefore, when researching clinics that perform this procedure, you should take the following points into consideration.

• Experience and Reputation of the Doctor and Clinic: Eyebrow transplant requires a higher level of expertise and experience compared to hair transplantation. To achieve a natural result, the 5 essential rules we mentioned earlier must be strictly followed. If an eyebrow transplant is performed haphazardly by someone unfamiliar with these rules, the likelihood of disappointment is extremely high.
• Photos and Videos Showing Before‑and‑After Results: Be sure to research the before‑and‑after results of the clinic you are considering. If possible, it’s even better to see these results live and in person.
• Patient Reviews, Recommendations, and Complaints: Some people who have had eyebrow transplants share their experiences on forum websites. Their reviews and recommendations are an invaluable resource for you. You can also find complaints online from many people who had poor results and regret their decision. From the reviews of those who have had eyebrow transplants, we understand that this procedure is not just a physical change – it also has a psychological effect that boosts the person’s self‑confidence.
• Equipment and Technique Used: Remember, for natural and successful results in eyebrow transplant, the DHI method is one of the most suitable techniques.

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