Dr. Melissa Toyos is an oculofacial surgeon specializing in FUE (follicular unit extraction) hair and eyebrow transplantation, CO2 facial resurfacing, and sculpting faces with injectables. A summa cum laude graduate and board-certified Ophthalmologist, she is a partner at Toyos Clinic and formerly was a partner at one of the largest eye care practices in the country. Dr. Toyos is a national researcher and lecturer. She trains other doctors on surgical techniques as well as cosmetic procedures. Her clinical research has been instrumental in many FDA approvals. She is the former President of the Missouri Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. She has held various leadership positions with the AAO. Dr. Toyos has served as a mentor to young female surgeons, helping them understand how to balance a career and motherhood. Haute Beauty expert Dr. Melissa Toyos discusses a FUE eyebrow transplant. 

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Right before Thanksgiving, Chrissy Tiegen, model, cookbook author and Instagram superstar dropped some Instagram stories of her immediate post-op eyebrow transplantation and the Insta-verse immediately began to reconsider their plans for microblading.

Chrissy is an admitted “over-plucker” but many people naturally lose eyebrow thickness with age (especially the outer part of the brow near the ears) or from medical conditions like thyroid dysfunction. All of these patients are good candidates for eyebrow transplant, which is typically permanent. People with a dermatologic condition known as frontal fibrosing alopecia also lose their eyebrows. They can still receive the procedure although we expect the results to only last 2-3 years in these patients.

Chrissy had an FUE (follicular unit extraction) procedure performed in which hairs are taken from the back of the head or neck one at a time (avoiding the appearance of an unsightly linear scar with older forms of hair transplantation). There is no noticeable loss of hair thickness from the donor site and it is a more natural and permanent way to replace lost eyebrow volume than penciling or microblading.

The process starts with a consultation between doctor and patient to understand the patient’s goals in terms of shape and density. There are some natural guidelines to follow to ideally frame the face by measuring eyebrow margins and peaks.  Much of the eyebrow design will depend on facial shape and bone structure but generally speaking, women have a more arched appearance and men have horizontal brows with density that builds towards the outside. Thicker brows in both sexes are perceived as more youthful.

The procedure is done under local anesthetic in the office. On the day of the procedure, the eyebrows are marked and shape and density are agreed upon. A numbing agent is applied to the skin and then injected into both the donor and the transplant sites. Donor hairs are trimmed short to help visualize placement and direction. The donor site can hide underneath hair layers so that no one can tell where they were harvested. The extracted hair follicles are carefully inserted into the brow area and can be placed over microblading although scarring from aggressive microblading may sometimes affect healing.

Aftercare is straightforward. I advise my patients to keep the area clean and dry for the first week and to use an antibiotic/steroid combination to reduce the chance of infection. Light bruising and swelling can occur. Ice packs, over-the-counter pain relievers and sleeping upright can reduce the swelling post-procedure.

It is normal for the transplanted hairs to fall out initially after the procedure from the stress of their journey, but the hair follicle remains and new hairs start sprouting within 2 to 3 months after transplant.  Results are permanent. Because they are transplanted scalp hairs, they will need trimming every 2-3 weeks to keep them in good shape and may need training to get used to the new directions. The cost can vary but runs 2500-8000.

Eyebrow transplants are soaring in popularity because Chrissy and other high-profile celebrities are publicizing their procedures on social media. The masks of COVID have put additional emphasis on the eye area. The look everyone wants is just like Chrissy’s: thick healthy brows with minimal makeup and glowing, healthy skin and the results are permanent and natural.

If you are interested in learning more or would like a free consult contact, Dr. Melissa Toyos of Toyos Clinic Hair Restoration at 901.800.6638. You can have better brows in just one day!