Everyone knows about hair transplants on your scalp… but did you know you can now also get a beard transplant?
It seems that many people are still unaware of this fact as a man on TikTok saw a video he posted about his own procedure go viral in the last couple of weeks.
Frank Roman Pierce has lived in Jacksonville, Florida, for the past nine years and works in medical sales and brand consultancy. He is also an aspiring model and actor that has always any struggled to grow facial hair.
At the start of the year, Pierce decided to take a leap of faith: to fly to Turkey for a beard transplant.
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He came to that decision because practitioners in Orlando, Florida had been quoting him a price of around $12,000. Istanbul has become a magnet for those seeking cheap hair transplants and a clinic there offered to do it for significantly less.
Pierce said he ended up spending around $3,500, including hotels. His flight costs were extra.
His initial video documenting the transplant has hit over 3.6 million views on TikTok and prompted over 6,000 comments.
@whoisfrankpierce #turkey🇹🇷 #hairtransplant #cityboys #fyp ♬ original sound – WhoIsFrankPierce
Related: How I learned to love my hairy back and shoulders
In a later video, he talked more about why he chose Turkey. While he highlighted the huge price difference, he also stressed that costs may vary depending on how much hair needs to be transplanted.
@whoisfrankpierce Replying to @dancing_flight_attendant #turkey🇹🇷 #beardtransplant #beardjourney #fyp ♬ original sound – WhoIsFrankPierce
Another video showed more of his trip.
@whoisfrankpierce Replying to @showoffpraise_1 thank you to @Now Hair Time Hair Transplant #beardgang #turkey🇹🇷 #beardtransplant #beardjourney #fyp #medicaltourism #crazy ♬ original sound – WhoIsFrankPierce
“I’ve always wanted facial hair”
Speaking to Queerty, Pierce explained more about his decision.
“I flew to Turkey for a week for my facial hair transplant and I couldn’t have been more anxious and excited about it at the time. I promised myself that I’d follow through with the procedure after I turned 35 and saw no growth.
“I’m now 37 and was still unable to grow any facial hair, sideburns or full chin hair. The hair that grew in was spotty and more of a hassle to manage due to it being extremely inconsistent. I’ve always wanted facial hair, I felt that it matched more with my demeanor and how I dressed and carried myself.”
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He’s delighted with the result so far.
“Although I’m early in the process, I’ve healed fast and already have stubble.”
Pierce said it’s already hard to see the scars from where hair follicles were taken from the back of his head.
The clinic provided him with a year’s supply of shampoo, oils and vitamins and recommends he use hair-loss lotion Minoxidil, to minimize any of the transplanted follicles falling out (although some fall-out is inevitable with any hair transplant procedure).
Pierce has been blown away by the interest in his procedure. Check his TikTok profile for multiple follow-up reports, along with his Instagram.
Related: Why I’m still struggling to deal with hair loss at 53
Kangol2
Um, OK. Natural facial hair can be more of a bother than a boon, but if he wanted it and the transplant works out for him, so much the better. He’s handsome with it and without it.
GlobeTrotter
I didn’t start growing facial hair until about 17 or 18, that used to really piss me off! Now, sometimes I wish I could just take a pill and not have any more facial hair. It’s become such a pain in the ass!
Vince
Rogaine.
Vince
Maybe think of getting that big gyno he’s got fixed next.
It’s ridiculous that people have to fly to other countries with hotel expenses and it’s still way cheaper then doing it here. Just like I need to go to Mexico to fix my teeth and I have Dental Insurance. Btw. They’re more modern than any dental clinic in the states I’ve been to.
linedrive
I’m a beard guy so I think he looks great after the transplant. Buuuut he’s clearly good-looking whether he has a beard or not. If he’s happy with the results, that’s all that really matters.
scotty
stupid & vain. a fool and his money something something.
stanhope
Sweet pea, taking selfies does not a model make. ?
hwgusn
So he got wasted and somehow ended up at a pup play party.
JJinAus
Didn’t see that coming. The last few decades have seen the demise of body hair on men. Now they’re transplanting it. I’ve spent 45 year shaving and it’s overrated.
still_onthemark
It looks like Velcro.
henare
tbh, in that first photo it looks almost like it was photoshopped on. a bit more growth should look good.
more importantly, it’s gonna suck when he has ingrown hairs on his face (yeah, this is definitely a thing).
Dr Bob
Another gay clone.
nm4047
to me. it resembles chicken skin
darkanser
There’s this bodybuilder/ actor influencer I follow on X ( Twitter). The guy has it all in terms of physique and looks. I’m partial to furry men: facial hair, body hair, full beards, etc. I have a moustache and a goatee but only scruff on my cheeks which I’m constantly shaving for it tends to give me in-grown hair bumps. My scalp has thinned over the years but the rest of me is basically smooth. While I like my men hirsute, I was shocked to learn my favorite fitness/influencer said he went to Turkey for a beard transplant. Despite my preference for facial hair, I had seen him with a moustache and I wasn’t sure if he stood as my preferential exception. Regarding the beard transplant, I don’t know if I would go to those lengths to have a full beard. Maybe it’s all just so new for me.