What is Moustache Transplantation?
Moustache transplantation is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which healthy follicular units are taken from the upper lip area, which has lost its aesthetic integrity due to thinning, irregular growth or no growth of facial hair, and are taken from the sides, nape and upper lip. The aim of this procedure is to create a moustache silhouette that suits the person’s natural facial features, both to strengthen the masculine appearance and to make the person feel stronger. The autologous method, where the patient’s own tissue is used, eliminates the risk of allergy or rejection, and the transplanted hairs grow for life.
Mustache Transplantation
Moustache Transplant; Since mustaches have a vital function in men’s appearance as a symbol of masculinity, gentleness, and virility, mustache hair transplant is a trendy topic these days. Due to hormonal imbalances, genetics, scarring, inflammations, and infections, many men suffer from spotty and patchy mustaches.
Because of that, they tend to feel less confident. As a result, so many men have started to investigate whether a mustache hair transplant is achievable or not. It is achievable! The procedure of mustache transplantation has barely any dissimilarities from a hair transplant.
On the other hand, a mustache transplant should be a more delicate and sophisticated procedure since it is carried on the facial area. Therefore, careful work must be done to avoid unfavorable results.
Process of Mustache Transplantation
Since a good-looking mustache demonstrates men’s masculinity and gentle look, having a sparse mustache is not a pleasant situation. Just like experiencing hair loss, a sparse mustache has a significant impact on men’s psychology while ruining their physical appearance.
As a symbol of aesthetics, mustache transplantation helps to gain a charismatic look on men’s faces. At Smile Hair Clinic, every day, we encounter so many patients experiencing hair loss in various areas; and after the successful results, our patients claim how dreadful the situation was before; they tend to reveal the truth about how they were feeling while trying to live with the look which they never wanted.
Improved a good deal so far in the field of hair transplantation by following the latest technology. Smile Hair Clinic provides its patients with facial transplantation as well.
To avoid an undesirable appearance and gain you a gentle mustache, our clinic, as always, starts with the analysis of your upper lip area, where the transformation will happen, and the donor area. The donor area is usually the neck. With the help of the FUE technique, the hair will be extracted and implanted in the recipient area.
Depending on the sparseness of the mustache area, 300 to 500 hair follicles are required, and a mustache transplant usually takes 2-3 hours.
How is Moustache Transplantation Done?
The process begins with local anesthesia and continues with the numbing of the operation area. Healthy follicles located in groups on the nape and sides are removed one by one with micromotor or manual punch tips. Each graft is placed in a special transport solution without disturbing 1-2 hair follicles inside, and then placed in thin micro channels opened in advance along the planned design line of the moustache. The ideal entry angle and depth are adjusted to mimic the natural hair direction during the channel opening. The operation takes approximately two to three hours and the patient can return to social life the same day.
What are the Methods Used in Moustache Transplantation?
The most common method is called FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction); in this technique, individual follicular units are taken and transplanted into microchannels. In the moustache area, where more precise direction and depth control is required, DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) can be preferred; without opening the channels, the follicle is injected directly into the tissue with Choi implanter pens. The FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) method is rarely used; the grafts are separated by removing a strip of tissue from the nape of the neck, but most patients and surgeons prefer DHI/FUE due to the risk of scarring.
Who can have a moustache transplant?
Moustache transplantation is suitable for every adult male who is bothered by the thinning of their facial hair, who does not have a moustache line genetically, or who has experienced moustache line loss due to trauma, burns, etc. The most suitable candidates for the operation are those who have sufficient density of hair follicles in the donor area, who have controlled their long-term disease, and who agree to restrict smoking and alcohol use before the operation. The skin and hair structure are examined and density and distribution plans are made.
Number of Grafts Required for Moustache Transplantation
Typically, a follicular unit transplant of 800–1,500 grafts is required to create a full moustache line. For individuals with thin and sparse hair, 1,500–2,000 grafts may be planned to increase density. The number of grafts is determined during a detailed consultation based on the person’s desired thickness, moustache line design, and donor reserve.
How Long Does Moustache Transplantation Take?
It is usually completed in a 2-3 hour operation. Local anesthesia is applied in 15-20 minutes; then the donor collection takes 45-60 minutes, and the channel opening and graft placement phase takes 60-90 minutes depending on the number of grafts planned. The patient is discharged with a light dressing on the same day after the operation, and can return to daily life the next day with a regular light shower and dressing control.
When Do Mustaches Start Growing?
2-4 weeks after the transplant, the first transplanted hairs are shed with temporary “shock shedding” and the follicles enter the resting phase. New thin hair strands begin to appear in approximately 8-12 weeks, and from the third month onwards, the follicles enter the active growth phase and the strands thicken. After the sixth month, a significant fullness and length is formed in the moustache area; the final aesthetic appearance and full thickness of the hairs are completed within 9-12 months.
Things to Consider Before and After Moustache Transplantation
Aspirin, NSAID group painkillers and blood thinners should be stopped 7 days before the operation, and smoking and alcohol consumption should be stopped for at least 10 days. After a comfortable session under local anesthesia on the day of the procedure, mild swelling and tension are considered normal in the first 48 hours; cold compresses and a slightly head-up position provide relief. Direct water contact is not allowed in the transplant area for the first week, dressing is done with the recommended solutions. Care can be started with gentle washing and prescribed lotions from the second week onwards. Intense sports and activities such as swimming should be avoided for six weeks, and moustache shaving or shaping can be done after 6-8 weeks.
Complications Patients May Encounter
Mustache hair transplant is a much more sensitive operation than other hair transplantation procedures. However, the healing phase of mustache hair transplant is more rapid; in 8-10 months, patients will be recovered entirely without severe complications.
After a mustache hair transplant, be aware of some physical reactions that your body demonstrates and do not worry about them. The patient can encounter bleeding in the transplanted area; it leaves red spots on the mustache area. Luckily, red dots will not be with the patient for a long time; they will vanish after a few days.
Swelling on the upper lip is another side effect of the procedure. The patient might have difficulties eating meals due to the swelling. However, it is not an ordinary situation; you will get over it soon!
The patient encounters crusting on the upper lift and may feel itchy. It is better not to rub and scratch the transplanted area. In a week, crusting and itching will fade away. Renewal of the patient’s skin and hair follicles starts afterward.
To protect your mustache area, it is recommended to watch out for your movements; avoid sudden actions. Remember that your mustache hair follicles can get damaged, which leads the patient to an unsuccessful result of mustache hair transplantation.
One month following the surgery, the patient may undergo shock loss. However, the post-operative process can vary from person to person since everyone has a unique body system. Hair shedding signals that brand new hair is about to come out. So, shock-loss is a normal phase for patients.
What Are the Causes of Mustache Loss?
Mustache hair loss can be caused by various factors, including illness, trauma, and hormonal imbalance.
- Hair loss is a well-known adverse effect of cancer treatments due to exposure to radiation and chemotherapy. During the treatment, mustache hair and the hair in different areas can fall out.
- Alopecia areata Universalis, an auto-immune disease, can also cause hair loss in the different parts of your body, including a mustache. Alopecia areata Universalis can lead to hair loss when your immune system fights itself and deactivates working hair follicles, resulting in hair loss.
- If a man has hypogonadism ( low testosterone), he might suffer from mustache hair loss or other facial hair loss.
- Mustache sores derived from parasites, bacteria, fungi, and ingrown hair is also another reason for a patchy mustache.
- Known as a tinea infection, ringworm disease is a fungal infection of skin, hair, and hair follicles. If you have itching and red circles around your mustache or beard, you are likely to have a sparse mustache.
- Psoriasis is another disease that affects the roots of the mustache and beard. Lip hair follicles can be severely destroyed in some circumstances if you are experiencing Psoriasis.
- Inflammations and infections can also cause hair loss on the mustache. And the presence of a large number of pimples may have a harmful impact on hair roots as well.
Frequently asked Questions
Is Moustache Transplant Permanent?
The follicular units taken in moustache transplantation are obtained from the genetically resistant roots in the nape and side areas and therefore become permanent for life. After the “shock shedding” phase that occurs after the operation is completed, the new hair strands that grow from the transplanted roots maintain their permanence for life. Therefore, the need for re-filling of the grafts after transplantation is not directly related to the life of the grafts; it is more related to how the facial features will change or how aesthetic expectations will be re-created.
Is Moustache Transplantation Risky? What Are Its Side Effects?
Moustache transplantation is safe enough to not require general anesthesia since it is performed with local anesthesia. When performed in a sterile environment with disposable micromotor punch tips, the risks of infection, excessive bleeding or anesthesia reaction are minimal. You may rarely experience small hematomas, numbness or tissue tension in the operation area. These symptoms usually pass on their own within a few days. When follicle angles are adjusted incorrectly, an artificial-line appearance may occur. This can be corrected with a second touch-up session.
Does Moustache Transplantation Look Natural?
The most important goal in moustache transplantation is to place the transplanted hair follicles in a direction and angle compatible with the facial features. Under local anesthesia, follicles taken from the nape area with special ultra-thin punch tips and microsurgical instruments are placed in the canal in a way that mimics the natural hair growth angle on the moustache line. Thanks to the ideal implantation angle and graft density, the transplanted hairs gain a texture as realistic as a natural beard strand after a few months of growth. Since they are nourished by autologous roots in terms of both color and thickness, an artificial appearance is never formed; at the end of the 9-12 month full recovery process, the result is perceived as an uninterrupted extension of the person’s own biological moustache structure.
Will it be painful since the moustache area is sensitive?
Since the transplantation procedure is performed under local anesthesia due to the nerve endings and thin skin structure of the upper lip area, the patient does not experience pain or severe discomfort. Only a stinging and graft extraction pressure sensation may be felt during the anesthesia injections. There may be pain and tension for the first two to three days after the operation; these can be reduced with painkillers. From the second day onwards, the pain decreases as soon as possible and daily life is comfortable as soon as possible.
Will There Be Any Scars on the Face?
The FUE or DHI techniques used in moustache transplantation are micrograft harvesting methods that do not require stitches. Since each follicular unit taken from the donor area in the nape area is removed with ultra-small holes of 0.6–0.8 mm in diameter, there is no visible scar. Since the channel opening operations in the moustache line also require micron-level incisions, they are limited to minimal crusting on the skin surface and micro scars that disappear after a few days. Two weeks after the operation, both the donor and the transplant area appear almost completely healed.
Can It Be Done At The Same Time As Beard Transplant?
Moustache and beard transplantation can be combined in a single session, depending on the surgeon’s donor reserve. Thus, grafts are transplanted from the nape area to both the moustache and the chin or cheek areas at the same time. Although the session length increases according to the number of grafts, a holistic aesthetic planning is carried out that designs both areas together while maintaining the patient’s comfort with local anesthesia. This method ensures that all facial hair looks balanced and symmetrical in terms of density.
When Should You Shave After Moustache Transplantation?
For ten days after the transplant, the crusts in the transplant area are expected to fall off naturally. You should not use shavers or razors during this period. From the 10th to the 14th day, after the crust and edema have completely disappeared, a beard care set can be used to gently shorten the newly grown hair. After 4 to 6 weeks, shaving becomes normal in the strands that have gained full thickness and length. At this stage, various cutting and follow-up techniques can be applied to emphasize the density of your new mustache with the help of a professional hairdresser or barber.
How Many Days Does It Take to Heal a Moustache Transplant?
The microchannels in the transplantation area close in approximately seven to ten days and the skin barrier is completely healed. Healing begins with mild edema and crusting in the first week. In the second week, the shock shedding phase of the hair and all crust residues are cleaned. Skin integrity and skin sensitivity usually improve in two to three weeks. The rest period required for complete integration of the roots and long-term new hair growth is three to six months, but only a few weeks are required for superficial healing and return to social life.
Moustache Transplant Prices 2025
As of 2025, the average moustache transplant package prices in Türkiye range from 8,000 ₺ to 15,000 ₺. This price range includes local anesthesia, donor collection, graft preparation, channel opening, micrograft placement and first monthly follow-up examinations. In cases where a higher number of grafts or special implanter techniques such as DHI are used, prices can go up to 20,000 ₺. Since clinics usually offer installment options and payment plans, it is possible to learn the exact cost with a personalized consultation.