Dr. Gökay Bilgin, hair transplant surgeon in Istanbul

Written by Dr. Gökay Bilgin, MDHair transplant surgeon · Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine · Co-founder of Smile Hair Clinic (2018) · 5,000+ proceduresLast updated: November 2026 · More about me

Key Takeaways

✓An eyebrow transplant moves single hairs, usually from behind the ears or the back of the scalp, into the brows. They grow for life.
✓Most cases need a few hundred grafts in total; the number depends on whether you are filling gaps or rebuilding the whole brow.
✓A natural result depends on design: hairs at the head of the brow point upwards, hairs in the body and tail lie almost flat and point outwards.
✓Transplanted hair keeps some of the behaviour of scalp hair, so it needs regular trimming. Knowing this in advance prevents most regrets.
✓Some causes of brow loss, such as alopecia areata or frontal fibrosing alopecia, need a diagnosis first, because a transplant may not last in them.

Eyebrows frame the face more than almost any other feature, and losing them, whether through years of over-plucking, an injury, a scar or a medical condition, changes how people see themselves. Pencils, tattoos and microblading can draw a brow on. An eyebrow transplant grows one back, from your own hair.

It is also one of the most delicate procedures I perform. A few hundred hairs, each placed at the right angle and direction, decide whether the brows look natural for decades or look transplanted. On this page I explain who it suits, how many grafts you need, how I design the brows, why some transplants disappoint and how to avoid that, what recovery and trimming involve, how it compares with microblading, and what it costs. If you are also thinking about facial hair, my moustache transplant and sideburn transplant pages cover those areas, and my hair transplant treatments page compares them all. For scalp hair loss, my hair transplant guide is the place to start.

What Is an Eyebrow Transplant?

An eyebrow transplant is a hair transplant for the brows. Single hairs are taken one by one with FUE (follicular unit excision), usually from behind the ears or the lower back of the scalp, and placed into tiny channels in the brow at the angle and direction of natural eyebrow hair. Because the follicles are your own, they keep growing for life.

In this video I walk through the whole process, from consultation and design to extraction, implantation and aftercare.

Video: the full eyebrow transplant journey with Dr. Gökay Bilgin.

Who Is a Good Candidate for an Eyebrow Transplant?

Usually a good fit

  • Brows thinned by years of plucking, waxing or threading that no longer grow back.
  • Gaps or scars from injury, burns, surgery or acne.
  • Naturally thin, short or uneven brows.
  • Patients who want to stop relying on make-up, tattoos or microblading.
  • Men who want fuller or more defined brows, and women who want to restore shape.

When a diagnosis comes first

Not every brow loss is suitable for a transplant. Some conditions can attack transplanted hair in the same way they attacked the original brows, so I want them diagnosed and stable first:

  • Alopecia areata: patchy, autoimmune hair loss. Transplanting into active disease is usually not recommended.
  • Frontal fibrosing alopecia: a scarring condition that often begins with loss of the outer brows in women. It needs a dermatologist’s assessment and a long period of stability.
  • Thyroid problems: thinning of the outer third of the brows can be a sign. Treating the cause may bring hair back without surgery.
  • Trichotillomania (hair pulling): the pulling should be under control first.
  • Recent chemotherapy: brows often regrow on their own, so it is worth waiting.

I also check for active skin conditions around the brows, a tendency to keloid scars and medical conditions that affect healing.

How Many Grafts Do You Need for an Eyebrow Transplant?

Eyebrows need far fewer grafts than the scalp, but every one of them counts. These are typical ranges:

Filling gaps in an existing browTypical grafts50–200 for both browsApproachSingle hairs between existing hairs
Over-plucked or thin browsTypical grafts300–500 for both browsApproachSingle hairs, density highest in the body of the brow
Rebuilding a brow almost from scratchTypical grafts400–700 for both browsApproachSingle hairs, full design
One brow or a scarTypical grafts50–350ApproachMatched to the other brow
Male browsTypical graftsUsually towards the higher endApproachStraighter, fuller shape

Ranges for guidance only. Your number depends on your face, your existing brows and the shape we agree.

Every eyebrow graft should be a single hair. Natural brows grow as single hairs, and two- or three-hair grafts look clumped and bushy on the brow. In a 2024 study of 81 patients (Cheng and colleagues, Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery), women received about 400 grafts on average and men about 480.

Designing Natural Eyebrows

I design the brows with you before anything else starts, using measurements, your existing hairs and a mirror. Three parts of the brow behave differently:

Head (inner end)Hairs grow upwards and slightly outwards, a little more steeply. Too dense here, and the brow looks heavy.
BodyHairs lie almost flat against the skin and point outwards; upper and lower rows meet slightly towards the middle, which gives the brow its depth.
Tail (outer end)Hairs lie flat and point outwards and slightly down, and the brow tapers to a fine end.
  • Shape for the face: where the brow starts, where it arches and where it ends depend on the eyes, nose and forehead.
  • Women: usually a softer arch and a finer tail.
  • Men: usually a straighter, fuller brow with a less defined arch.
  • Symmetry with character: brows are rarely identical; I aim for balance, not mirror images.

Where the Eyebrow Hair Comes From

The donor hair should be as close to eyebrow hair as possible: fine, soft and slow-growing.

Behind the earsOften my first choice. These hairs tend to be finer and grow more slowly, closer to eyebrow hair. A 2024 study found high satisfaction when brow grafts came from this area.
Lower back of the scalp (nape)Also fine hairs, and plenty of them. Used when more grafts are needed or the hair behind the ears is not suitable.

Only a few hundred grafts are needed, so the donor area is shaved in a small patch that the surrounding hair hides, or not shaved at all. You can read more about this on my unshaven hair transplant and long hair FUE pages; long hair grafts are especially useful for brows, because the hair shows its natural curl.

Eyebrow Transplant Technique and the Operation

I take the grafts with FUE and place them either into fine channels opened with sapphire blades or with DHI implanter pens, which are very precise in small areas. The choice depends on your skin and whether there are existing hairs to work between.

DesignWe agree the shape with a mirror, and I draw it on your brows.
Local anaesthesiaThe donor area and brows are numbed. After the injections, most patients feel only pressure.
ExtractionSingle-hair grafts are taken by my trained team, under my supervision, and checked under magnification.
Channels and placementI open the channels and place every graft myself, following the direction of each part of the brow.
Same dayYou go back to the hotel with your new brows visible. The next day we check them and show you how to wash.

The operation usually takes about three to four hours, as I explain in this short video.

Video: how long an eyebrow transplant takes.

Why Some Eyebrow Transplants Disappoint, and How to Avoid It

Patients who regret an eyebrow transplant rarely regret the idea. They regret how it was done. A study in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (Chen and colleagues, 2024) analysed 100 patients who were unhappy with eyebrow transplants done elsewhere. These were the main problems:

Uneven density or wrong directionShare of unhappy patients41%How I avoid itDesign each part of the brow separately and place every hair at the right angle.
Too sparseShare of unhappy patients36%How I avoid itPlan enough grafts for the shape, and protect graft survival with careful handling.
Multi-hair grafts usedShare of unhappy patients11%How I avoid itUse only single-hair grafts.
Poor connection with the existing browShare of unhappy patients7%How I avoid itBlend the transplanted hairs into the native ones.
Hair that looks different from the browShare of unhappy patients5%How I avoid itChoose fine donor hair, often from behind the ears.

Source: Chen and colleagues, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2024. Some patients had more than one problem.

The other common cause of regret is not knowing in advance that transplanted brow hair grows longer than natural brows and needs trimming. I explain that in the recovery section below, because it is part of living with the result.

What the Research Shows About Eyebrow Transplants

Case series · 352 patients · 2019Single hairs give natural resultsA series in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (Jiang and colleagues, 2019) followed patients for four years after single-follicle eyebrow transplants. In 91%, the hair grew well with a satisfactory direction and appearance.What it means: Single-hair grafts at the right angle are the basis of a good result.
Retrospective study · 81 patients · 2024Hair from behind the earsA study in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (Cheng and colleagues, 2024) used hair from around the ears and reported an average satisfaction of 4.9 out of 5 at 15 months. Patients without previous brow tattoos were more satisfied.What it means: Fine donor hair helps, and an old tattoo can affect how the result is perceived.
Retrospective study · 167 patients · 2022Brows lost to scarringA study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Chen and colleagues, 2022) reported average graft survival of 85% in eyebrows lost to scarring, with fewer than 5% needing a second session.What it means: Scars can be treated well, though survival is lower than in healthy skin.
Clinical series · 18 patients · 2021Scarred brows, from IstanbulA series from Istanbul in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (Sabancıoğulları and Tunç, 2021) restored brows lost to trauma and burns with FUE, with good orientation and symmetry and no complications.What it means: FUE is a first-line option for scarred brows when the area is properly assessed.
My viewEyebrows are the smallest procedure I perform and among the most demanding. A few millimetres of difference in where a brow starts, or a few degrees in the angle of the hairs, changes the whole expression of the face. That is why I design every brow with the patient, use only single hairs and place each one myself. And I always explain trimming before surgery, because a beautiful result that the patient does not know how to maintain can still feel like a mistake.

Recovery, Make-Up and Trimming After an Eyebrow Transplant

Days 1–3Mild swelling around the brows and eyes is common. Small crusts form around each hair. Sleep with your head raised.
Days 3–10Wash gently as shown. Do not rub, pick or touch the crusts. Avoid make-up on the brows.
Days 7–14Crusts come away. Most patients return to work within a few days, sooner if swelling is mild.
Weeks 2–6Most transplanted hairs shed. This is normal; the follicles stay under the skin.
From about 4 weeksBrow make-up and gentle skincare around the brows can usually restart.
Months 3–12New hairs grow and settle. Trimming starts once they are longer than your brows.

Why transplanted brows need trimming

Hair taken from the scalp keeps some of its scalp behaviour: it grows longer than natural eyebrow hair and may not stop at brow length. Most patients trim their brows with small scissors every few weeks, much as they would trim a beard. Brow gel helps to train the direction. Do not pluck transplanted hairs: each one is a follicle you cannot replace.

Microblading and tattoos after a transplant

If you want to add microblading or brow tint for extra definition, wait until the new hairs have grown in, usually several months, and ask me first. If you already have an old brow tattoo, tell me at the consultation, because it can affect where the new brow should sit.

In this video my colleague shows how to wash the brows after the operation.

Video: how to wash the brows after an eyebrow transplant.

Eyebrow Transplant Results Timeline

Day 1The new brows are visible, with small crusts.
Weeks 2–6Most transplanted hairs shed; the brows can look much as they did before.
Months 3–4New hairs start to grow, fine at first.
Months 6–9Clear change in shape and density.
Months 9–12The final result, with the brows settling into their shape.

Eyebrow Transplant vs Microblading

What it isA transplant grows real hair from your own follicles. Microblading draws hair-like strokes into the skin with pigment.
How long it lastsTransplanted hair is permanent. Microblading fades and usually needs top-ups every one to two years.
Look and feelReal hair has texture and depth and moves like a brow. Microblading is flat and can change colour as it fades.
MaintenanceA transplant needs regular trimming. Microblading needs touch-ups and colour corrections.
Cost over timeA transplant costs more at first; microblading costs less at first but adds up over the years.

Many patients come to me after years of microblading. In this short video I explain why a transplant is a different kind of solution from a tattoo.

Video: eyebrow transplant compared with tattooing.

How Much Does an Eyebrow Transplant Cost?

Eyebrow transplants use few grafts, but they take careful, detailed work, so the price reflects time and skill more than graft numbers. These are typical 2026 ranges:

Turkey$1,800–$3,000(€1,530–€2,540), usually a package with hotel, transfers and medication
United Kingdom£3,000–£6,000(€3,590–€7,180), procedure only
United States$4,000–$12,000(€3,390–€10,170), procedure only
With me in IstanbulMy Diamond package is €5,790 ($6,840 · £4,840) at a fixed price, whatever the number of grafts and whether we treat the brows alone or together with the scalp or beard. I do the consultation, design the brows, open the channels and place every graft myself. It includes 3 nights in a 5-star hotel, VIP transfers, blood tests, PRP, exosome treatment, medication and a 3-month hair care kit. All packages are compared on my hair transplant Turkey packages page.

Five questions to ask before you book

  • Who will design my brows, and will I approve the shape before surgery?
  • Will you use only single-hair grafts?
  • Where will the donor hair come from, and how fine is it?
  • Who will open the channels and place the hairs?
  • Can I see healed eyebrow results, not only scalp results?

Frequently Asked Questions About Eyebrow Transplant

Is an eyebrow transplant permanent?

Yes. The transplanted follicles come from permanent donor hair and keep growing for life. Your native brows can still change with age, and conditions such as alopecia areata or frontal fibrosing alopecia can affect any hair, which is why they need a diagnosis first.

How many grafts do I need for an eyebrow transplant?

Usually a few hundred in total: around 50 to 200 to fill gaps, 300 to 500 for thin or over-plucked brows, and up to about 700 to rebuild brows almost from scratch.

Do I need to trim my transplanted eyebrows?

Yes. Hair from the scalp tends to grow longer than natural brows, so most patients trim with small scissors every few weeks. Do not pluck transplanted hairs.

When can I wear make-up after an eyebrow transplant?

Usually from about four weeks, once the skin has healed. Avoid make-up on the brows until then.

Is an eyebrow transplant painful?

The local anaesthetic injections are the most uncomfortable part. After that, most patients feel only pressure. Mild swelling for a few days is normal.

Does an eyebrow transplant leave scars?

The donor area heals with tiny dot marks hidden by the surrounding hair. In the brows, the tiny channels heal without visible scars when they are made correctly.

Can I have an eyebrow transplant over a tattoo or microblading?

Often, yes. Tell me about it at the consultation, because an old tattoo can affect where the new brow should sit and how you will judge the result.

Can men have eyebrow transplants?

Yes. Men usually want straighter, fuller brows, and the design is adapted for that.

When will I see the final result?

New hairs start to grow around months three to four, and the final result takes about nine to twelve months.

Can I combine an eyebrow transplant with a hair or beard transplant?

Often, yes, in one operation, as long as the donor area can provide enough grafts for everything. See my beard transplant page.

Design the Brows That Frame Your Face

Send me clear photos of your brows from the front and both sides, without make-up, and a photo of the back of your head. I will tell you whether a transplant suits you, how many grafts I would plan and how I would design your brows.Get a Free Consultation