Chrissy Teigen Got an Eyebrow Transplant – Here’s What to Know About the Cosmetic Procedure

Chrissy Teigen underwent eyebrow transplant surgery in November 2021 to create a fuller, fluffier look — and, of course, she shared the “crazy” results with her followers on social media. But what exactly does a transformative cosmetic beauty treatment entail? We asked the professionals to find out.

Teigen, who said she tries to “never wear makeup” if she can “avoid it,” visited Dr. Jason Diamond and Dr. Jason Champagne for the transplant procedure, where hair was plucked from the back of her head and placed strategically along the shape of her eyebrow.

Board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Paul Nassif said most candidates who come in for eyebrow transplants usually want full, natural brows. It can be anyone from someone who plucked out too many stray hairs, someone with naturally thin arches, or someone with no eyebrow hair at all, he told PEOPLE.

How is transplantation done?

Chrissy Teigen/Instagram stars who love their plastic surgery

The transplant uses the patient’s own hair to shape the eyebrows. New York-based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Yael Halaas said hair is plucked from the back of the head because that’s the area that “best mimics eyebrow hair.”

“The procedure involves taking a hair follicle from the back of the scalp and gently transplanting the hair – at the right angle and curvature – into the eyebrow,” added Dr. Nassif. “It’s important that your doctor uses a light hand when you’re doing it and at the right angle. Otherwise, the brows could end up looking too shaggy and unnatural.”

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To implant new hairs along the eyebrow, the practitioner uses the NeoGraft technique — a method that ultimately does not require stitches because the hair follicles are transplanted individually.

“With the NeoGraft technique, your doctor will pull out a unit of hair one at a time from the back of the head, then make a small incision in the eyebrows, and then manually, with tweezers, place a unit of follicular hair into the incision they made,” explained Dr. Nassif.

How long will it take to see results?

Chrissy Teigen/Instagram Chrissy Teigen debuts new brows after transplant, warns teens not to ‘pluck them all’

The results are permanent, but it may take 6 to 9 months to see the full effect. While an entire eyebrow transplant can be completed in one visit, it takes time to see full results, Dr. Nassif and Dr. Halaas noted.

“The hair follicle that is transplanted into the eyebrow has hair on it, but that hair will fall out and then a new one will grow,” explained Dr. Nassif. “Results can be seen between six and nine months for full growth, and the results are permanent.”

Just a month after the procedure, Teigen posted a video on Instagram to show off her fuller brows with the caption, “welcome new brow hairs!!!!”

In January 2022, she shared another video in which she zoomed in on her face and said, “Look. At. These. Eyebrows.” The headline read: “like weeks, I tell you!!!!” suggesting that the transplanted hairs grew rapidly.

How much does an eyebrow transplant cost?

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The procedure, which can cost between $4,000 and $7,000 depending on your provider, also won’t be painful.

“We use local anesthesia, and the patients are awake and often listening to music or television the whole time,” Dr. Halaas said.

How to care for eyebrows after transplantation

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Care after the procedure is important. As for aftercare, Dr. Nassif suggested that patients can apply Aquaphor afterward and avoid submerging the area in water.

“The patient may experience swelling or bruising after the treatment,” said Dr. Nassif. “It’s imperative that the patient keep their brows dry for at least five days after the treatment because you want the brows to set properly. Then, after five days, I recommend gently washing the brows with a mild soap and patting the brows with soap and water, without rubbing.”

Are there other alternatives?

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There is a less permanent and more cost-effective option for full eyebrows. Although a permanent eyebrow transplant is an expensive investment, Dr. Nassif suggested microblading as an alternative, more affordable option.

“Microblading is a technique that involves tattooing eyebrow hairs onto your face to create the illusion of fuller eyebrows. It is a semi-permanent solution that requires grooming over time. If it is purely cosmetic, meaning you have adequate eyebrow hairs, microblading may be sufficient. said Dr. Nassif. “I think it’s more accessible and mainstream.”

However, if your brow definition is severely lacking, it may be worth considering a transplant.

dr. Nassif noted, “If you don’t have forehead hair, whether it’s due to excessive plucking or even a medical condition, implants are probably best.”

How to maintain eyebrows after transplantation

Chrissy Teigen/Instagram

“Transplanted scalp hairs will continue to grow, unlike natural eyebrow hairs that have a natural ‘off’ switch. So new eyebrow hairs will need more frequent trimming and grooming,” Dr. Halaas told PEOPLE.

Teigen has been open about this aspect of post-procedure maintenance, sharing brow maintenance posts on her Instagram.

In May 2023, she published a story in which celebrity eyebrow artist Lily Maldonado grooms and trims her eyebrow hairs.

A few months later, in September, Teigen shared a video of someone trimming her full brows with silver scissors.

“It’s time for my hair,” Teigen said while laughing in the video.

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Source: HIS Education