Brows are the most crucial part of the face as they frame the eyes and enhance our features. However, not everyone has full brows that can accentuate facial features. Sparse brows can happen due to a myriad of reasons. They can be a result of aging, a bad diet, over-plucking, hormonal issues, etc. Nevertheless, procedures like brow transplants and microblading have become the go-to for many to achieve a fuller set of brows. If you are looking into these procedures and are interested in knowing the difference between them, stay tuned. Today’s blog will break down the topic of eyebrow transplant vs microblading and guide you to decide which one is better for you.
💉 Brow Transplant vs Microblading: Breaking Down the Procedures
An eyebrow transplant is a surgical hair restoration procedure that is performed to alleviate hair loss and thinning. The treatment itself is very similar to an FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and requires taking donor hair follicles from the scalp and transplanting them strategically at the recipient site in the brow area.
As per the FUE technique, individual hair follicles are harvested from the back of the scalp, as they are more resistant to future hair loss and thinning. Given that the donor follicles are from the scalp, there is active hair growth after a brow transplant, and proper trimming is required. Moreover, a brow transplant is performed under local anesthesia, and the results are highly durable.
Microblading, on the other hand, is a non-surgical brow restoration procedure that uses pigments to mimic the appearance of brow hair. With the help of a specialized hand-held tool, a trained technician essentially tattoos brow hairs by injecting pigment into the top layers of the skin or the superficial dermis. Microblading creates a semi-permanent tattoo in the brow area to replicate the look of fuller and lifted eyebrows.
The key difference between the two procedures is that one is a minor surgery, while the other is a non-surgical cosmetic intervention. Where a brow transplant is permanent, microblading outcomes may last approximately 12 to 24 months.
🏥 The Pros and Cons of a Brow Transplant
Like any cosmetic procedure, an eyebrow transplant also has its specific advantages and disadvantages, such as:
Brow Transplant Pros
- The transplanted hair follicles show active hair growth once the blood supply is established.
- The transplanted hair follicles are permanent and durable.
- Most of the time, the donor follicles come from the patient’s own scalp.
- With proper pre-surgical planning, the outcomes are very close to real eyebrow aesthetics.
- It is a versatile procedure that can alleviate hair loss due to multiple causes, such as overplucking, scar formation, traumatic hair loss, and much more.
Brow Transplant Cons
- Brow transplant cost can be higher than microblading.
- The donor follicles tend to grow long and require frequent trims and active maintenance.
- Local anesthesia is needed for the procedure.
- Small incisions in the brow area are required for a brow transplantation.
- Recovery takes some time.
- The final results can take up to 6 to 12 months to be fully visible.
- The possibility of post-surgical risks and complications is present.
🏥 The Pros and Cons of Microblading
Even though microblading is a non-surgical procedure, it is a treatment of choice for brow hair loss for many. The pros and cons of microblading are as follows:
Microblading Pros
- Non-surgical cosmetic treatment.
- No risk of post-surgical complications.
- No need for harvesting donor hair follicles.
- No need for incisions or stitches.
- Procedure outcomes are visible immediately.
- No recovery timeline is required.
- Microblading requires a couple of hours at most to perform.
- Local anesthesia is not needed.
- Best for individuals who want to avoid cosmetic surgery.
- Highly customizable according to the patient’s needs and requirements.
Microblading Cons
- Microblading results are semi-permanent and may last 12 to 24 months at best.
- No real hair follicles are used.
- Frequent touch-ups are needed to maintain the aesthetics of the eyebrows.
- Tattooing fades with time, hence the risk of color change.
- Although there are no surgical complications, there is some risk of skin allergies, infections, or, in rare cases, scarring.
🎯 Which is Better: Brow Transplant or Microblading?
The choice between a brow transplant and microblading depends on several factors, including patient suitability, individual preferences, and financial considerations. To make the appropriate decision, it is essential for prospective candidates to fully understand the scope, indications, and outcomes of both procedures.
Brow transplantation is a surgical procedure, albeit minor, and requires the candidate to be in good health and without any secondary health issues. Even though the procedure gives highly realistic and aesthetically pleasing, long-lasting results, there is a small recovery period, and the full outcome may need 6 to 12 months to appear. The procedure entails making small incisions in the skin, harvesting and transplanting individual hair follicles, and is performed under local anesthesia. Brow transplant is also more expensive compared to a Microblading procedure.
For those who do not want to go under the knife, microblading is an appropriate alternative for brow-related hair loss or thinning. The procedure is very quick, and the results are almost instantaneous. It also costs much less than its surgical counterpart. However, microblading is not as long-lasting, and frequent re-treatment is needed to maintain outcomes. The results are similar to tattooing and do not look as realistic as a brow hair transplantation.
Whether you want to go the brow transplant route or prefer the less invasive technique of microblading, knowing the full scope and requirements of both treatment options allows you to make an informed choice and have realistic expectations of the outcomes.
