This quite informative article, where you can find answers to all your questions about eyebrow transplantation, has been prepared by Dr. Hakan Doğanay, the founder of AHD Clinic. We also believe that what you are about to read will be helpful for those considering undergoing this operation in Turkey.
The hairs located between the lower part of the forehead bone and the eye socket are called eyebrows. The length of these hairs is generally between 5-10 mm, and due to their genetic structure, they do not grow longer. Thick eyebrow give an aesthetic appearance and a youthful look to the face. At the same time, they frame the eye area from above. In this way, they have an important function that is to protect the eyes from sweat caused by heat and humidity. In other words, eyebrows are important details of the facial area.
Especially women with sparse and thin eyebrows feel uncomfortable while applying makeup in front of the mirror. This also negatively affects their social lives because people with natural and thick eyebrows attract more attention. At our present time, both men and women want to see themselves as more beautiful and attractive. Due to this aesthetic concern, they seek different solutions. At this point, a natural and permanent solution like eyebrow transplantation comes to the forefront. Now, let’s examine in detail how this procedure is performed.
What is Eyebrow Transplantation?
Eyebrow transplantation is a surgical procedure in which hairs from the scalp are transplanted to the eyebrow area in cases of hair sparsity or absence. The main goal of the operation is to achieve a fuller and more aesthetically pleasing appearance permanently.
Who Are Suitable Candidates for Eyebrow Transplantation?
- There are many causes of eyebrow hair loss, and in most cases, successful results can be achieved. Now, let’s look at the causes of eyebrow loss and the surgical indications for treatment:
1.Individuals who are born without eyebrows due to genetic reasons or have naturally sparse and thin eyebrows. - Those who have experienced traumatic conditions such as surgical scars, burns, or injury marks: especially men tend to be interested in eyebrow transplantation in such cases.
- Individuals who have lost their eyebrows or whosen eyebrows became thinner later in life due to various physical reasons. For individuals in groups 1, 2, and 3, it is possible to regain full and thick eyebrows through surgical methods.
- Poorly done eyebrow tattoos and permanent makeup (microblading)
- Epilation
- Trichotillomania: People who excessively pull out their eyebrows
- Women who constantly pluck their eyebrows
- Age-Related Natural Hair Loss
- Metabolic or Hormonal Disorders: Individuals in this group should first consider medical treatment.
- Pregnancy and menopause
- Hypothyroidism
- Nutritional deficiencies, such as biotin deficiency or high doses of vitamin A (hypervitaminosis A)
- Alopecia areata
- Skin conditions on the eyebrow area, such as dermatitis, eczema, and fungal infections
- Hair Loss Due to Chemotherapy for Cancer: In most cases, this type of hair loss is temporary. Once the treatment is completed, the eyebrows grow back on their own.
While medical treatment can yield excellent results in some of the cases mentioned above, in others, eyebrow transplantation provides a perfect and permanent solution.
When you contact AHD Clinic, Dr. Hakan Doğanay will provide you with detailed information on whether you are a suitable candidate for an eyebrow transplant.
Eyebrow Line Design
In our opinion, the most crucial step before the operation is eyebrow line design. If a proper design is not created, achieving a natural appearance is hardly possible.
The area for transplantation is marked with a drawing that matches the person’s facial structure and natural eyebrow curve. At this stage, the surgeon’s artistic perspective plays a significant role.
By scheduling a free consultation with Dr. Hakan Doganay, you can create a unique, natural, and full eyebrow model tailored specifically for you.
How Is Eyebrow Transplantation Performed?
Eyebrow transplantation, a form of cosmetic surgery, has become quite popular in recent years with the advancement of DHI and FUE techniques.
Now, let’s examine how this procedure is performed in 2 stages
a) Extraction of Hair from the Donor Area: First, the necessary number of grafts is determined. Then, hair follicles are individually extracted from the nape area using the FUE method, specifically from the hair behind the ears.
It is also possible to extract grafts using the FUT method. However, we have been performing graft extraction exclusively with the FUE method since 2010.
b) Transferring the Extracted Hair to the Eyebrow Area: The collected hair follicles are implanted one by one into the previously designed eyebrow area. During the transplantation process:
- FUE method
- Stick and Place
- DHI techniques can be used.
Based on our experience, we believe that the DHI method provides more natural and successful results. For this reason, since 2010, all eyebrow transplant surgeries at AHD Clinic have been performed using the DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) technique, also known as the Implanter Pen technique.
Does Eyebrow Transplantation Cause Pain, and How Long Does the Procedure Take?
The graft extraction and transplantation stages of the operation are performed under local anesthesia. During anesthesia, there is a few minutes of pain, but afterward, the procedure will be completed comfortably without any further discomfort.
Depending on the number of hairs to be transplanted, the procedure can take between 1 to 4 hours.
5 Important Tips for Natural Results
To achieve natural-looking results in eyebrow transplantation, AHD Clinic follows 5 essential rules. These guidelines are based on Dr. Hakan Doğanay’s experience since 2003 and have become standard procedures. Now, let’s explain these 5 essential rules step by step.
1) Correct Donor Area Selection: Eyebrow hairs are naturally thin due to their genetic structure. However, the hairs from the back of the head are thicker than eyebrow hairs. Even if they are implanted correctly, they may create an unpleasant appearance due to their thickness.
In contrast, the hair above the ears is the closest in thickness to eyebrow hairs. Therefore, using the area above the ears as the donor area will be correct.
2) Single Hair Follicles: The hairs around the eyebrow area grow as single follicles genetically. Even if hair from above the ears is used, it must consist entirely of single follicles. This ensures that transplanted hairs blend seamlessly into their new location. If the grafts taken from above the ears contain multiple follicles, they must be separated into single grafts before transplantation.
3) Correct Angles and Directions: Natural eyebrow hairs grow in different directions. For instance;
- The hairs in the upper part of the eyebrow face downward.
- The hairs in the lower part grow upward.
- The hairs in the inner part of the face stand upright at a 90-degree angle. Therefore, the direction of transplanted hairs must be the same with natural growth directions as the original eyebrows.
4) Correct Angles: Natural eyebrow hairs grow almost stick to the skin, emerging at an angle of 5 to 10 degrees. Therefore, the transplanted hairs must be placed according to these angle rules to ensure a natural look.
5) Fine Incisions: The recipient area should have fine incisions with a diameter of 0.6 mm for placing the transplanted hairs. If the incisions are too wide, it becomes quite difficult to position the hair follicles correctly in terms of angle and direction.
As seen, achieving a natural-looking eyebrow transplant is not an easy task. If these five essential rules are not followed, obtaining natural results is nearly impossible. This is exactly why the Implanter Pen technique provides a significant advantage in applying these principles. We say this based on 23 years of surgical experience.
Complications
The most undesirable complication of eyebrow transplantation is unnatural and terrible results. The only reason for this is operations performed without following the five rules mentioned above. Unfortunately, there are many people who have regretted undergoing eyebrow transplantation due to incorrect design and the emergence of upright and irregular hairs. For this reason, you need to be selective before making a decision. Do not forget that correcting a poorly and incorrectly performed eyebrow transplant is a much more difficult and costly procedure. This is because incorrectly implanted follicles must be removed one by one from the eyebrow area. There is no other way to correct this terrible appearance. This is a procedure that takes a long time and requires serious surgical skill.
Post-Operative Process
After an eyebrow transplant, you can comfortably return to your home or hotel. Once the procedure is completed, the healing period will begin. During this time, there will be some simple recommendations that we will suggest to you. You need to follow these as well in order to see a successful result.
The first 10 days can be considered the healing period. Compared to other cosmetic procedures, the healing period for eyebrow transplantation is faster.
In the first few hours, the clots around the transplanted hair follicles will dry up, and pinhead-sized scabs will begin to form. Do not touch them.
Since the effect of anesthesia wears off, you may rarely feel pain. Simple painkillers will be sufficient for you.
Within the first 24 hours, swelling and bruising may occur around the eyelid area. This is due to the local anesthesia and is a normal condition. Within 5 to 6 days, the bruising and swelling will disappear.
| Time | Process |
|---|---|
| First 1 week | Swelling and bruising may occur around the eyelid area within the first 24 hours. This is due to the local anesthesia applied during the procedure and is a normal condition. The bruising andswelling will disappear within 5-6 days. You can use sunglasses to conceal this appearance. To minimize the swelling, avoid bending your head forward and drink plenty of water. After Eyebrow Transplantation, Washing: Starting from the second day, a softening cream is applied to the transplanted eyebrow area before washing. After waiting for 30 minutes, you can gently wash your face with lukewarm water and without pressure. With washing, the scabs will begin to gradually fall off. You can return to your work after 1 week. |
| 2nd week | By the 10th day, the scabs are expected to be completely gone. The clean and full appearance of your eyebrows on the 10th day will make you quite happy. Shock loss: The transplanted eyebrow hairs begin to shed, starting from the second week, Shock shedding may continue until the second month and is a normal process. There might be redness at the hair roots in the shedding area. Normally, this redness should disappear within a month. |
| 1st month | Since many of the transplanted hairs will have fallen out, there would be an uneven appearance. Small pimples which are called folliculitis may occur in the hair roots. We recommend avoiding intense activities such as saunas, steam baths, and fitness workouts for one month. After 1 month, you may swim in the pool or sea. |
| 2nd month | In people with very fair skin, redness may persist for up to 2 months. During the first two months, protect your transplanted eyebrows from sunlight. Sunlight can increase the redness. |
Eyebrow Transplant Before and After Results
The purpose of undergoing this procedure is to achieve a full and natural-looking eyebrow appearance.
For more detailed results, you can contact us. Additionally, you can follow AHD Clinic on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
When Do Transplanted Eyebrows Start to Grow?
The shed hairs begin to gradually grow back from the 3rd month onwards. However, at this stage, they are not yet at the desired level. The first emerging eyebrow hairs are very fine, like soft fuzz. By the 6th month, a 50-60% hair growth rate is generally expected. Over time, the transplanted eyebrows continue to thicken and increase in density.
It takes 1 full year to see the final results. At the end of 1 year, you will achieve a natural and fuller eyebrow appearance.
Do Transplanted Eyebrows Fall Out?
This depends on the quality of the hair taken from the donor area. If the hair in the donor area does not fall out, then it will not fall out in the eyebrow area either.
IMPORTANT: The hairs transplanted into the eyebrow area will continue to grow. Therefore, you need to trim your transplanted eyebrows with scissors every 15 days.
How much are eyebrow transplant prices in 2025?
There are several factors which influence the cost of an eyebrow transplant operation. These are;
- Brand Value of Doctor or Clinic: The fees of worldwide known doctors are higher.
- Operation Technique: The implanter pen technique is more costly but provides more natural results.
- Geographical Location: Prices may vary depending on the country and city.
In the United States and Europe, the prices range between $4,000 and $8,000 USD/Euro.
In Turkey, the cost of an eyebrow transplant in 2025 ranges between 40,000 TL and 120,000 TL. Due to the more affordable prices in Turkey compared to Europe and the United States, there is a high demand for eyebrow transplants from patients worldwide.
Reasons to Choose AHD Clinic for Eyebrow Transplant
● At AHD Clinic, eyebrow transplant operations are performed without compromising the 5 essential criteria for achieving natural results.
● We believe that our natural-looking results play a
significant role in why people from all over the world choose us.
● We do not accept patients who are not suitable for the procedure.
When you apply for an online consultation with AHD Clinic, founded by Dr. Hakan Doğanay, the following steps are followed:
● If you have any general health issues, first of all they are identified.
● You will be asked to provide several photos of your eyebrow area taken under light. These photos are strictly confidential and will never be shared without your permission.
● After our evaluation, you will be informed whether you are a suitable candidate for an eyebrow transplant.
● If you qualify, you will be given the necessary graft count and pricing details.
● Once you decide to proceed, the procedure date and other arrangements will be discussed.
AHD Clinic provides services in Antalya, one of Turkey’s most popular cities. You can reach Antalya directly by plane from many cities around the world without a transfer. In our clinic, interpreters who speak all languages, primarily English, are available.