Eyebrows.

Eyebrows are a critical facial feature that helps to define the way we look. Eyebrows may be considered more important to one’s appearance than hair as they are in a more central position on the face and serve to frame the eyes. Eyebrow restoration is similar to other hair transplant procedures performed on the scalp, in that the transplanted hair is permanent, but due to their own unique attributes, they differ from scalp hair transplants in a number of important ways.

There are four distinct characteristics of eyebrow hair.

Direction

The direction of eyebrow hair changes dramatically in different parts of the brow. In the area by the nose, the hair points upward, whereas across the top of the eyebrow the hair points outwards and downwards, and in the lower part of the brow it grows outwards and upward. The crisscross pattern of growth causes the hairs in the centre of the eyebrows to converge and form a subtle natural elevation running horizontally through the middle of each eyebrow.

Growth Cycle

The fourth characteristic of eyebrow hair is the relatively short hair growth cycle. Scalp hair has a growth phase that can last 3 to 7 years, whereas the eyebrow hair will only grow for about 4 months before is enters the resting space and falls out.

Strands

The third feature is that eyebrow hair grows as individual strands, rather than groupings of 1-4 follicular units commonly seen in scalp hair.

Angle

The second distinct feature is that hairs emerge at the follicle at an acute angle so it grows flat to the surface of the skin, in contrast to scalp hair that grows at a 45 degree angle.

Some Things to Consider

Eyebrow transplantation is a safe and cosmetically elegant procedure, there are many things to consider before undergoing this type of hair restoration. In the process of healing, all wounds contract. This may slightly change the flat orientation of the hair and may result in eyebrow hair that is slightly more elevated than one would like.

As with hair transplants to the scalp, hair transplanted to the eyebrows will require trimming periodically. This will leave a cut end that is not as delicate as the fine tipped end of an untouched hair.

Hair transplanted to the eyebrow will have slightly different characteristics in regard to growth rate and appearance due to being taken from another part of the body. Over time, the transplanted hair will slowly begin to emulate the browth pattern and characteristics of the existing eyebrow hair, but may never totally match it.