If you've been havin' a scroll on Instagram as of late, you might've noticed something going down with Chrissy Teigen. She looks a little... different?
In case you missed it, the model and cookbook author recently underwent an eyebrow transplant surgery. (Yes, this is an actual thing that exists!). And a year or so later, this is what it looks like.
We got a good look at the brows in all their glory on today's Emmy Awards red carpet, where Teigen, who is pregnant, made an appearance with her husband John Legend.
Brushed-up and fluffy, we reckon her arches look completely natural.
Curious to know more about the procedure behind the brows? Course you are. We all are.
Last year, the 35-year-old posted a series of pics on her Instagram Stories to reveal the *entire* process of undergoing an eyebrow transplant.
“I never wear makeup if I can avoid it so I was so excited for this eyebrow transplant surgery,” Teigen wrote, before explaining that the procedure involves transplanting “hairs from the back of your head” to create fuller, thicker brows.
Yep, she said hairs from the back of your head.
In another post-surgery picture, she shared her final results, writing: “A little dark from the pencil but its [sic] so cool to have brows again."
And would ya just look at these face framers:
She also warned teens not to “pluck [their eyebrows] all off".
A very good suggestion, indeed.
While makeup products or procedures such as micro-blading are popular options for those of us with sparse brows, you might be surprised to hear there's increased traction around eyebrow implant surgery.
Curious about what's actually involved? Let us fill you in.
What is eyebrow transplant surgery?
Good question.
Performed by a specialist surgeon, an eyebrow transplant is a permanent cosmetic solution to hair loss in the brow area - whether it's from over-plucking, trauma (such as scarring), or medical conditions like alopecia.
More of a podcast person? That's cool. Listen to this episode of You Beauty, where we talk all about Chrissy Teigen's eyebrow transplant surgery. Post continues below.
Similar to a traditional hair transplant, it basically involves the transfer of your own hair to your brow area.
The hair graft will usually be taken from the hair on your head, where actual follicles (not just the hairs) will be harvested via one of two methods: Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) or Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT).
The main difference between the two methods is that FUT involves the surgeon removing a strip of donor skin (from which they'll extract individual follicular units, before transferring them to the areas of hair loss), whereas FUE involves individual follicles being directly extracted from the scalp.
It can take anywhere between two to three hours - but FUT is usually a quicker method than FUE (however, there's also the possibility of scarring when it comes to the donor site).
The harvest follicles continue to grow like scalp hair, however, there's usually some form of ongoing maintenance involved (depending on the individual patient).
What does eyebrow transplant surgery involve?
When it comes to the actual surgery, this will usually be done in a clinic as an outpatient procedure (remember, this is an actual surgery - not a willy-nilly lunchtime procedure!).
Once the surgeon assesses the shape and dimensions of your brows, the doctor will usually use an anesthesia to numb the area where the hair will be harvested (usually the back of your head).
As we mentioned before, the actual harvesting process can involve one of two methods: FUT or FUE. So, the doctor will either remove the hair follicles straight from your head or remove a strip of hair and extract the individual hair follicles.
Either way, the donor follicles will be inserted into the brow area, one by one, using tiny incisions.
Is there any downtime involved in eyebrow implant surgery?
Apart from a little bit of soreness around the donor area (FYI, this usually subsides within 24 to 48 hours), recovery is relatively quick.
You might notice some scabbing on your brows a few days after the surgery, but it's important to refrain from picking these bits off (hard, we know!).
Just like any medical procedure, there are obviously risks such as scarring, bleeding, and infection, so make sure you have a chat with your surgeon about all the potential complications before jumping on board.
What kind of results will you see?
Over the next few weeks, you'll notice some of the transplanted hairs will fall out. But don't stress - this is normal! New brow hairs will start growing in place of your transplanted hair, and the best results will be seen at around six to eight months.
If you're wondering if the transplanted hairs will grow a little - uh - long (they are taken from your head, after all), this is actually true. You may need to maintain the transplanted hair and trim it to brow length. Weird, right?!
It's also important to be aware that the eyebrow transplant may not take, and the desired results aren't experienced. In this case, you'll need to repeat the procedure again.
How much does eyebrow transplant surgery cost?
Because eyebrow transplant procedures are considered a cosmetic procedure (like injectables), it's usually not covered by health insurance.
While the price of the procedure will obviously depend on the individual patient, it can generally cost anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000. Also, just be aware that there might be some additional fees added to this cost - like consultation fees, etc.
It goes without saying, but it's *incredibly* important to do your research before choosing a provider. Avoid any 'special deals', 'offers' or 'discounts', because this is definitely not something you want to cheap out on, friend.
Not only are there tons of serious side effects, but you'll more than likely end up unhappy with the result and have to have it done again - which sucks.
What do you think of eyebrow transplant surgery? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
Feature image: Instagram/@chrissyteigen
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