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: October 2026 · More about me
Key Takeaways

✓A body hair transplant (BHT) uses hair from the beard, chest or other areas as an extra donor source when the scalp alone cannot give enough grafts.
✓Beard hair is the best body donor by far. In a side-by-side study, beard grafts survived as well as scalp grafts; chest grafts survived less well.
✓Body hair keeps its own character after transplant: thicker, curlier or shorter than scalp hair. That is why it goes to the crown, mid-scalp or scars, not the front hairline.
✓It is a supplement, never a first choice. It suits advanced hair loss (Norwood 6–7), depleted donor areas and repair cases.
✓Body donor areas leave small dot scars too, which can look lighter than the skin around them. Choosing the right areas keeps them discreet.

Every hair transplant is limited by the donor area at the back and sides of the head. For most patients that supply is enough. For some it is not: very advanced hair loss, a donor area weakened by earlier surgery, or a scar to cover after the scalp donor has been used. For them, the beard and other body hair can add hundreds or thousands of grafts that the scalp cannot provide.

Body hair transplant is a valuable technique, but also one that is easy to oversell. On this page I explain which donor areas work, how body hair differs from scalp hair, where each type should go, what the research shows, who it suits and what to expect from healing and cost. For the full picture of methods, see my hair transplant techniques page. For beard and eyebrow transplants themselves, see my hair transplant treatments page.

What Is a Body Hair Transplant?

A body hair transplant is an FUE (follicular unit excision) procedure in which some or all of the grafts come from outside the scalp, usually the beard, especially under the chin and on the neck, and sometimes the chest, abdomen or limbs. The grafts are taken one by one with a micro punch and placed into the scalp exactly as scalp grafts would be. Strip surgery (FUT) is not used for body hair.

In almost every case, body hair is combined with scalp hair. The scalp grafts go where they matter most, at the front, and the body grafts add coverage and density behind them.

A supplement, not a shortcutBody hair transplant is never my first choice. I consider it only when the scalp donor area cannot safely give what the plan needs, today or in the future. A patient who can be treated with scalp hair alone should be.

Body Hair Transplant Donor Sites Compared

Not all body hair is useful. Only thick, terminal hairs can make a visible difference on the scalp, and their quality varies a lot from one area and one person to another. According to the ISHRS 2025 Practice Census, when surgeons use non-scalp donor hair, it comes from these areas:

73.5%Beard
13.3%Chest
4.8%Abdomen
2.4%Legs

This is how the main donor areas usually compare:

Beard (under the chin and neck)UsefulnessBest body donorHair characterThick, coarse, often curlyGraftsMostly single hairsUsually placed inCrown, mid-scalp, scars
Beard (cheeks)UsefulnessGood, used carefullyHair characterThick and coarseGraftsMostly single hairsUsually placed inCrown, mid-scalp
ChestUsefulnessLess predictableHair characterFiner, often curly, shorterGraftsSingle hairsUsually placed inCrown, supplementing density
AbdomenUsefulnessLess predictableHair characterFine to mediumGraftsSingle hairsUsually placed inCrown, supplementing density
Legs and armsUsefulnessRarely usedHair characterFine and shortGraftsSingle hairsUsually placed inSoftening edges in selected cases

In my practice the beard, particularly under the chin and on the neck, is the main body donor, because those areas heal discreetly and the hair is strong. I add chest hair when more grafts are needed and the hair there is good enough. Leg and arm hair are rarely useful on the scalp.

Body Hair Is Not Scalp Hair

A transplanted hair keeps the character of the place it came from. That is the most important thing to understand about body hair transplants, because it decides both where body hair can go and what it will look like.

Growth cycleScalp hair grows for years before resting. Beard hair has a shorter growing phase, and chest and limb hair shorter still, so a larger share of those hairs is resting at any time.
LengthBody hair usually stops at the length it reached on the body. Beard hair can grow fairly long; chest and limb hair stays shorter.
Thickness and curlBeard hair is thicker and often curlier than scalp hair; chest hair is often curly and finer. On the scalp, those differences can show if the hair is placed in the wrong zone.
GraftsBody hair grows mostly as single hairs, while scalp grafts often hold two to four. So body grafts add less hair per graft and more are needed for the same density.
ColourBeard and body hair can be darker, lighter or greyer than scalp hair, which matters where they will be seen.

Some surgeons report that transplanted body hair becomes slightly more like scalp hair over time, but the evidence is limited. I plan on the assumption that it will keep its own character.

Which Donor Hair Goes Where

Matching each type of hair to the right zone is what makes a body hair transplant look natural.

Front hairline and templesScalp hair only. Body hair is too coarse, curly or short here, and the difference would be visible.
Mid-scalpScalp grafts mixed with beard grafts. The thick beard hair adds bulk and helps cover the skin.
CrownBeard and, if needed, chest grafts, often mixed with scalp grafts so the texture blends.
Scars, including FUT scarsBeard grafts are often an excellent choice for scars, because their thickness covers well.

This is why a body hair transplant is almost always planned together with scalp grafts, and why the hairline design comes first. I explain how I plan a hairline around the donor supply in this video.

Video: how donor supply, face and age decide the hairline and the graft number.

What the Research Shows About Body Hair Transplants

Comparative study · 2019Beard grafts survived as well as scalp graftsA study in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery (Gupta, Chouhan and colleagues, 2019) placed scalp, beard and chest grafts side by side in the same patients. At one year, about 95% of beard grafts, 89% of scalp grafts and 76% of chest grafts had survived. In the first two months, 30% of beard, 40% of scalp and 53% of chest hairs shed temporarily.What it means: Beard hair is a reliable donor; chest hair is usable but less predictable.
Review · 2023The beard first, then chest and abdomenA review in Facial Plastic Surgery (Gabel, 2023) concluded that the beard is probably the best non-scalp source, followed by the chest and abdomen, that together they can add thousands of grafts, and that the technique should be performed by surgeons with extensive FUE experience.What it means: Body hair can make a real difference, but it is demanding work.
Clinical series · 56 patients · 2021Beard hair for scarsA series in the World Journal of Plastic Surgery (Noori and colleagues, 2021) treated scars on the scalp, beard, eyebrows and moustache with grafts from the scalp and beard, choosing the graft type for each scar.What it means: Beard grafts are a useful tool for covering scars.
My viewFor a patient with advanced hair loss and a limited scalp donor area, beard grafts can be the difference between a thin result and a convincing one. But I am careful about expectations. Body hair will never make a dense front hairline, chest hair is less reliable than beard hair, and every body graft leaves a small mark. I use it to complete a plan built on scalp hair, not to replace it.

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Body Hair Transplant?

Usually a good fit

  • Advanced hair loss (Norwood 6–7) where the scalp donor area cannot cover the whole bald area.
  • A donor area weakened or overharvested by earlier surgery.
  • Covering an FUT strip scar or other scars on the scalp.
  • Adding density to the crown after a previous transplant.
  • Men with thick, dense beard hair, especially under the chin and on the neck.

Usually not suitable

  • Patients whose scalp donor area is enough on its own.
  • Thin, sparse or very fine body hair.
  • A goal of a dense front hairline from body hair.
  • Active skin conditions in the donor area, a tendency to keloid scars, or medical conditions that make a long procedure unsafe.
  • Most women, who rarely have suitable body hair.

When the scalp donor is limited, planning matters as much as harvesting. A Norwood 6 patient usually needs two sessions, and beard grafts are often added in the second. In this video, a patient with Norwood 6 hair loss explains his two-session plan, which included beard extraction.

Video: a Norwood 6 case with 7,750 grafts over two sessions, including beard grafts.

Donor Healing and Scars After Body Hair Extraction

Every graft taken from the body leaves a tiny round mark, just as it does on the scalp. The difference is that there is no hair on top to hide it.

BeardHeals quickly, and the remaining beard hides the marks. You may want to keep a short beard for a few weeks. Under the chin and on the neck, marks are hardly visible.
Chest and abdomenSmall marks can look lighter than the skin around them (hypopigmentation), especially in darker skin or after sun exposure.
Over the breastboneSome people form raised scars (keloids) here more easily, so I avoid this area.
RednessSmall red dots are normal in the first one to two weeks and fade over time.

Before surgery, I may ask you to stop shaving or removing body hair in the donor areas, so I can see which hairs are strong enough to use.

Recovery and Results After a Body Hair Transplant

Days 1–3Mild tightness in the scalp and some tenderness in the body donor areas. First wash at the clinic on day 2.
Days 7–10Scalp and body donor areas are usually healed.
Days 10–14Crusts on the recipient area come away with washing.
Weeks 2–8Transplanted hairs shed; chest hair tends to shed more than beard hair.
Months 3–6New hair begins to grow; body hair may start a little later than scalp hair.
Months 12–18The final result. Body hair can take longer to mature than scalp hair.

How Much Does a Body Hair Transplant Cost?

Body hair grafts take longer to harvest than scalp grafts, so many clinics charge more for them, often per graft. These are typical 2026 ranges for a hair transplant:

Turkey$2,350–$5,900(€2,000–€5,000), usually a package with hotel, transfers and medication
United Kingdom£1,995–£15,000(€2,390–€17,940). A 2025 survey of 58 UK clinics found an average of £4,820 (€5,760) for 1,500 grafts
United States$6,000–$15,000+(€5,080–€12,710+), often $4–$8 per graft, procedure only
With me in IstanbulMy Diamond package is €5,790 ($6,840 · £4,840) at a fixed price, whatever the number of grafts or the technique, including beard or body grafts when the plan needs them. I do the consultation, design the hairline, 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.

For a full breakdown, see my Turkey hair transplant cost guide, and to estimate how many grafts your scalp can give, use the calculator on my graft cost page.

Five Questions to Ask a Clinic About Body Hair Transplant

1Why do I need body hair at all? The answer should be about your scalp donor area, with numbers.
2Which body areas will you use, and how many grafts from each? Beard and chest hair behave very differently.
3Where will the body grafts be placed? They should not go at the front hairline.
4What will the donor areas look like afterwards? Ask about marks, especially on the chest.
5How much experience does the surgeon have with body hair? It is one of the most demanding forms of FUE.

Frequently Asked Questions About Body Hair Transplant

Can body hair be transplanted to the head?

Yes. Beard and, in selected cases, chest or other body hair can be transplanted to the scalp with FUE. It is used as a supplement when the scalp donor area cannot provide enough grafts.

Which body hair is best for a hair transplant?

The beard, especially under the chin and on the neck. Beard grafts survive about as well as scalp grafts in published studies. Chest hair is the second choice but less predictable; leg and arm hair are rarely useful on the scalp.

Will body hair look natural on my head?

In the right place, yes. Body hair keeps its own thickness, curl and length, so it is placed in the mid-scalp, crown or scars, usually mixed with scalp hair, and not at the front hairline.

Does transplanted body hair grow long?

It usually grows to about the length it reached on the body. Beard hair can grow fairly long; chest and limb hair stays shorter.

How many grafts can be taken from the beard?

It depends on the density and size of your beard. Under the chin and on the neck, many men can give several hundred to a few thousand grafts over one or more sessions.

Does a body hair transplant leave scars?

Yes, small dot scars in the donor areas. In the beard they are hidden by the remaining hair. On the chest they can look lighter than the skin around them, so the areas are chosen carefully.

Is a body hair transplant permanent?

Beard hair is generally long-lasting after transplant. Body hair keeps its own growth cycle, so results can take longer to mature, and long-term data for chest hair is more limited than for scalp hair.

Can women have a body hair transplant?

Rarely, because most women do not have enough suitable body hair. Women with a limited donor area usually need a different plan.

Is a body hair transplant more expensive?

At many clinics, yes, because body grafts take longer to harvest. My Diamond package price stays the same whatever the donor source or technique.

In this video my colleagues and I answer common questions, including what a body hair transplant is (21:42), whether leg or arm hair can be used (12:40) and what a limited donor area means (26:35).

Video: body hair transplant (21:42), leg and arm hair (12:40) and limited donor area (26:35).

Find Out If Your Beard Can Help

Send me photos of your scalp from the front, top, sides and back, plus your beard and chest. I will tell you whether your scalp donor area is enough on its own, whether body hair would add to your result and how I would plan it.Get a Free Consultation