Eyebrow transplant: how it works, results, risks and what to check first

What is an eyebrow transplant?

An eyebrow transplant is a small hair transplant performed on the brow. A surgeon removes hair follicles from a donor area, most often the back of the scalp, and places them one at a time into the brow following its natural shape and direction. Grafts can be harvested by FUE, where follicles are taken out one by one, or by strip harvesting (FUT), which leaves a fine linear scar hidden in the hair at the back of the head.

The largest review of the evidence so far, a 2018 systematic review in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, pooled 67 published articles covering 354 eyebrow and eyelash transplant patients from 18 countries (Klingbeil and Fertig, 2018). Most published cases are small series, so results from any single clinic should be judged on its own healed photos and track record.

Who considers an eyebrow transplant?

In the 2018 systematic review, burns were the most common reason, at 57.6% of cases. Other reasons included injury, surgery near the brow, and loss from years of plucking or laser hair removal (Klingbeil and Fertig, 2018). People also seek a transplant for brows that have always been sparse or for gaps in an otherwise full brow.

A good candidate generally has a stable cause of loss, healthy skin at the brow, enough donor hair, and realistic expectations about density and upkeep.

Check the cause before you book

Most eyebrow transplant guides start with the procedure. The more useful first question is why the brows thinned, because some causes are medical and a transplant won't fix them.

• Thyroid problems. Thinning of the outer third of the eyebrow is a classic sign associated with an underactive thyroid. The systematic review lists hypothyroidism and alopecia areata as causes that should be ruled out or corrected before transplantation (Klingbeil and Fertig, 2018).
• Alopecia areata. This autoimmune condition can cause smooth, patchy loss in the brows as well as the scalp. The review reported recurrence and poor growth in some transplanted patients (Klingbeil and Fertig, 2018). See our alopecia areata guide.
• Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). This scarring condition mainly affects the frontal hairline, and a 2026 review notes eyebrow involvement in up to 96% of cases, sometimes before the scalp is affected. The same review says transplantation may be considered only once inflammation has stabilized, and in one cited series 8 of 10 patients initially regrew hair, but most lost the transplanted hair after three to four years (Nelson and Friedman, J Drugs Dermatol, 2026). The American Academy of Dermatology lists menopause, family history, rosacea, thyroid disease and type 2 diabetes among FFA risk factors (AAD).
• Ongoing plucking or pulling. If brows are still being plucked, waxed or pulled, new grafts face the same pressure. A dermatologist can help with habits that are hard to stop.

If your brows are thinning without an obvious reason, especially if your hairline is also moving back, see a dermatologist first. Any medication for brow or hair loss is a prescription-level decision; talk to a doctor or dermatologist.

How the procedure works

1. Design. You and the surgeon agree on the brow shape, often drawn on the skin, matching both sides as closely as possible.
2. Anesthesia. The procedure is done under local anesthetic. The review notes that uneven anesthetic wear-off can cause asymmetry, and recommends limiting doses and treating both brows equally if more is needed (Klingbeil and Fertig, 2018).
3. Harvesting. Grafts are taken from the donor area, usually the back of the scalp, by FUE or strip harvesting.
4. Placement. Grafts are placed to match the orientation of each part of the brow, with single-hair units at the head and tail and two-hair units in the body (Klingbeil and Fertig, 2018). Angle and direction matter more here than almost anywhere else, because eyebrow hairs lie very flat.

Ask for the planned number of grafts per brow in writing. It makes quotes from different clinics easier to compare.

Results and graft survival

For follicular unit grafts, the systematic review found that almost all patients had a mean graft survival above 75%, with lower survival mainly in burned or heavily scarred skin. One report of two burn patients found about 60% survival. In a 31-patient comparison, mean survival at six months was 85.13% with one harvesting variant (DE-FUT) and 69.91% with standard FUT (Klingbeil and Fertig, 2018).

Density usually peaks 8 to 14 months after surgery, so the review suggests spacing any further session at least eight months apart (Klingbeil and Fertig, 2018). Like other transplants, many grafted hairs shed in the first weeks before regrowing; our hair transplant recovery guide explains the general timeline.

Living with transplanted brows

This is the part that surprises people. Hair taken from the scalp keeps behaving like scalp hair. The review notes it tends to be straight, grows quickly, and needs more frequent trimming than natural brow hair (Klingbeil and Fertig, 2018). In practice that means:

• regular trimming once growth is established;
• using a brow gel or brushing to keep straighter hairs lying in the right direction;
• a slightly different texture from any remaining natural brow hairs, which skilled placement can minimize but not erase.

If you aren't willing to trim regularly, raise it with the surgeon before surgery rather than after.

Risks and side effects

The review reported these issues after eyebrow and eyelash transplants (Klingbeil and Fertig, 2018):

• Swelling and bruising around the eyes, which usually settle on their own;
• Folliculitis (infected follicles), which resolved with treatment;
• Asymmetry between the two brows;
• Lower graft survival in scarred or burned skin;
• Recurrence of alopecia areata with poor growth in some patients.

Unnatural angles are hard to correct later, which is why surgeon experience with facial work matters. See our guide to hair transplant repair for what correction involves.

Non-surgical options to consider

Not everyone needs surgery. Brow pencils, powders and tinting are reversible. Cosmetic tattooing such as microblading adds the look of hair strokes without adding hair, and it fades over time. These can be a good choice if your cause of loss is still active or if you'd rather not trim. For medical treatments, talk to a doctor or dermatologist.

How much does an eyebrow transplant cost?

Eyebrow transplants are usually priced per session or per graft, so the total depends on how many grafts you need, where the clinic is, and the surgeon's experience. For general price ranges and the extras quotes leave out, see our hair transplant cost guide. If you're comparing clinics abroad, read our guide to hair transplants in Turkey first.

Questions to ask at your consultation

1. What do you think caused my brow loss, and should I see a dermatologist first?
2. How many grafts per brow do you plan, and will I likely need a second session?
3. Who designs the brows and places the grafts: the licensed physician or a technician?
4. How will you choose donor hairs to match the fineness of brow hair?
5. Can I see healed eyebrow results at 12 months, including close-ups?

Bring your answers to the consultation builder to compare clinics side by side. If you're also considering facial hair, see our beard transplant guide.

FAQ