How to Transplant The Beard Of A Transgender Man?

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Updated On : September 11, 2026 | Category : Transgender Hair Transplant | Author: Beverly Hills Hair Restoration Team

Quick Answer

A beard transplant helps transgender men grow a fuller beard by moving healthy hair follicles from the scalp to areas such as the cheeks, chin, mustache, and jawline. The surgeon places each graft carefully to follow the natural direction of beard growth and create a look that suits the patient’s face and personal style.

Introduction

For many transgender men, growing a beard is about more than appearance. Facial hair can play an important role in how they see themselves and how they want to be seen by others. However, even after taking testosterone, beard growth may remain thin, patchy, or completely absent in certain areas. The mustache may grow well while the cheeks remain sparse, or gaps may prevent the beard from looking connected.

A transgender beard transplant offers a way to improve these areas using the patient’s own healthy hair follicles. The procedure can add coverage to the mustache, chin, cheeks, jawline, and sideburns while creating a beard shape that fits the patient’s face and personal preferences.

Understanding the procedure can help you decide whether it matches your needs and expectations. In this guide, you will learn who may be a suitable candidate, how donor follicles are selected and placed, what recovery involves, and how the transplanted beard develops over time.

What Is a Transgender Beard Transplant?

A transgender beard transplant is a hair restoration procedure that helps transgender men create fuller, more even facial hair. Healthy hair follicles are usually taken from the back or sides of the patient’s scalp and placed in areas where beard growth is thin, patchy, or missing. The procedure can improve coverage across the cheeks, chin, mustache, jawline, and sideburns. Each transplant plan is based on the patient’s facial features, existing hair, available donor supply, and preferred beard shape to support a balanced, natural looking result that feels personal and appropriate.

Read More: Cost And Need Of Hairline Lowering Transplant

What Influences Facial Hair Growth in FTM Patients? 

Hormones and genetics typically control the growth of facial hair in FTM people. You'll likely be able to grow facial hair quickly after transitioning if you come from a family where both men and women have full and thick beards and mustaches. Some FTMs undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to hasten beard development. In these people, testosterone triggers a second puberty. This stimulates the growth of new hair. Some people taking testosterone may notice an increase in facial hair, but this is not the case for everyone. Facial hair growth can occur in some people without hormones, so keep that in mind.

When Might a Beard Transplant Be Considered?

A beard transplant may be considered when facial hair does not grow evenly or remains thin in areas such as the cheeks, chin, mustache, jawline, or sideburns. Some transgender men develop enough facial hair with testosterone, while others continue to have patchy or limited growth. This difference is often influenced by genetics and how the hair follicles respond to hormoneus.

The procedure may also help connect separate beard areas, cover facial scars, improve uneven growth, or create a clearer beard shape. Before recommending a transplant, the surgeon checks the patient’s current facial hair, donor hair on the scalp, skin condition, medical history, and preferred beard style. If facial hair is still developing, the surgeon may recommend waiting to better understand the natural growth pattern before planning the transplant.

Beard Transplant Procedures For Transgender Man

When performing a beard transplant, a hair restoration surgeon may choose to use either the Follicular Unit Transplantation or the Follicular Unit Extraction hair transplant techniques. The number of follicles required to achieve the patient's goals is a primary consideration in determining the procedure they will perform.

1. Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is called the "strip" method or follicular unit grafting (FUG). According to experts, when Fut Hair Transplant is used, a surgeon will cut out a strip of scalp from the back or sides of the patient's head. The width of the strip is typically between 1 and 1.5 cm. The total size is determined by the number of graft follicles required by the transplant surgeon. The surgeon will use stitches to close the incision made when the strip is removed.

A small scar will form at the incision site after it heals. Next, the surgeon will carefully implant the harvested follicles into the patient's facial skin, considering the patient's desired level of beard restoration. The bristles should be arranged in a manner that is as close to the pattern of the user's actual facial hair.

2. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) removes follicular units individually from the donor area using a small punch tool. The harvested grafts are then prepared and carefully placed in the beard area according to the planned angle, direction, and density.  However, in FUE, only a single hair follicle is removed, unlike the thousands removed in FUT. For FUE procedures, the plastic surgeon will use a tiny drill called a micro punch to remove hair follicles. The instrument punctures the skin near the follicle and gently pulls the strand out while preserving it.

Compared to FUT hair transplant, FUE may require more attention to detail because each follicle group must be removed separately. The good news is that this procedure results in minimal scarring, making it a viable option for those who prefer short hairstyles. Once the follicles have been extracted, the FUE procedure is identical to the FUT procedure. The surgeon will then transplant the hairs to the areas of the patient's face where a beard is desired. Now that you know what facial hair is and what influences its growth, plus the transplant procedures, let’s answer the question: how do transgender males get facial hair?

Source of the Donor Hair in Beard Transplants

A beard transplant uses hair taken from the patient’s own body. In most cases, the hair comes from the back or sides of the scalp because these areas often have a good supply of healthy follicles. Before the procedure, the surgeon checks the hair’s thickness, color, texture, and growth pattern to see how well it may match the existing beard hair.
If there is not enough suitable scalp hair, the surgeon may check other areas of the body as possible donor sites. However, body hair can grow differently from facial hair, so it may not work for everyone. The amount and quality of available donor hair will help determine whether a beard transplant is a suitable option.

What to Expect During a Transgender-Beard Transplant Procedure?

Discuss your desired beard and mustache style with our surgeon, Dr. John Kahen, before undergoing a beard transplant. The surgeon will draw a pattern on your face to help them place the donor follicles correctly. To complete your new beard, you and your surgeon may also discuss which donor hairs will work best. Your surgeon may recommend using hair from your scalp or other body parts, both of which will depend on the texture and color of your natural facial hair.

Once you've decided on a style and donor area, the hair transplant surgeon can begin taking hair for the new beard. The donor site will be numbed with a local anesthetic, and the patient may be given a sedative orally. After the follicles have been harvested, the surgeon will prepare them for implantation and place them in the appropriate locations on the patient's face. The beard transplant procedure can last for two to eight hours.

Recovery Timeline After a Beard Transplant

Recovery and hair growth happen gradually after a beard transplant. Although every patient heals differently, the general timeline may look like this:

• First few days: Mild redness, swelling, tenderness, and small crusts may appear around the transplanted area.
• First few weeks: The skin continues to heal, and some transplanted hairs may shed. This is a normal part of the process.
• Three to four months: Early beard growth may begin as new hairs appear in the treated areas.
• Six to nine months: The beard often develops more noticeable coverage and starts looking fuller.
• Twelve to eighteen months: Hair growth, thickness, and overall appearance may continue to improve. Results and healing times can vary between patients.

Dr. John Kahen’s Personalized Approach to Beard Transplants

At Beverly Hills Hair Restoration, Dr. John Kahen plans every transgender beard transplant according to the patient’s individual features and goals. He carefully reviews the face, existing hair growth, donor area, and preferred beard style before recommending a treatment plan.

During the consultation, Dr. Kahen discusses which areas need greater coverage and how the mustache, cheeks, chin, jawline, and sideburns should connect. He also explains the available transplant methods, recovery process, expected growth timeline, and possible limitations.

A natural looking beard depends on more than the number of grafts. Each follicle must be placed at the right angle and in the right direction to complement the patient’s face and preferred beard style.

Final Thoughts

Facial hair can be deeply personal, especially when it plays a role in how you express your identity. If your beard remains thin, uneven, or does not grow in the areas you want, a beard transplant may offer a way to develop fuller coverage that feels more like you. The goal is to create facial hair that suits your face rather than following one standard beard pattern.

A successful result depends on careful planning. Your surgeon must consider your facial shape, existing facial hair, donor hair quality, and preferred beard style. The direction and angle of every graft also matter because these details help the new beard blend naturally as it grows.

At Beverly Hills Hair Restoration, Dr. John Kahen creates a personalized treatment plan based on your needs and goals. If you are considering a transgender beard transplant, schedule a free consultation to discuss your options, ask questions, and learn what results may be possible for you.

FAQS

Do I need to take testosterone before a beard transplant?

Testosterone is not always required before a beard transplant. Some transgender men take testosterone, while others do not. Your surgeon will review your current facial hair growth, medical history, donor hair, and treatment goals.

How long does a transgender beard transplant take?

The procedure may take several hours. The exact time depends on the number of grafts required, the beard areas being treated, the harvesting method used, and the amount of detail involved in the beard design.

When will transplanted beard hair begin to grow?

Early growth may begin around three to four months after the procedure. More noticeable coverage often develops between six and nine months, while the beard’s density and appearance may continue improving for 12 to 18 months.

Does a beard transplant leave scars?

Both FUE and FUT can leave scars. FUE creates small extraction marks across the donor area, while FUT leaves a linear scar. How visible the scars become depends on healing, hair length, and the harvesting method.

How long does recovery take after a beard transplant?

Initial redness, swelling, and small crusts usually improve as the skin heals. Recovery time varies, and patients should follow their surgeon’s instructions about face washing, exercise, shaving, sun exposure, and touching the grafts.