Eyebrow Transplant in North Cyprus

Two principal techniques are used for eyebrow transplant:

• Micro-FUE: Follicles are extracted one by one from the donor area using specialist micro-punches with a diameter of 0.6–0.7 mm. Micro-channels are created in the brow region and the grafts are placed into these channels. A small-diameter punch is critical for this narrow, precise area.
• DHI (Direct Hair Implantation): Extraction and implantation are performed in a single step using a Choi implanter pen — no separate channel opening is required. The angle and depth of each needle tip are determined directly by the surgeon. DHI is particularly preferred for areas requiring fine, artistic precision such as the brow.

Unlike the scalp, the brow area demands high precision within a small surface. At Nis Clinic, micro-FUE or DHI is used in the majority of cases; the choice of technique is determined at consultation according to brow anatomy, donor hair structure and target density. For a detailed technical comparison, see our DHI hair transplant page and FUE hair transplant page.

These are two very different procedures — they are not alternatives to one another:

Microblading is a makeup-alternative solution — a genuine option for those who accept a certain maintenance routine and are not ready for permanent surgery. Eyebrow transplant is a long-term investment: a donor site is required, there is a recovery period, but ultimately your own real hairs grow in that area. The right question is not "which is better" but "which suits you." For those seeking a long-term result and real hair, eyebrow transplant may be more appropriate; for those seeking flexibility and a lower entry cost, microblading may be the better fit. We offer an honest comparison during consultation — we do not steer every patient towards transplantation.

Consultations are available online or in person at our clinic. The decision to proceed with eyebrow transplant requires more careful indication assessment than hair transplantation, because brow shape is linked to rapidly changing trends — a design chosen today may be regretted in ten years, and it is a long-term result.

During the consultation we discuss:

• The cause of brow loss (genetic sparseness, over-plucking, burns or scarring, trichotillomania, alopecia areata, post-chemotherapy loss, etc.)
• Stabilisation of the loss (has the brow structure changed in the last 3–6 months? Is alopecia currently active? Is trichotillomania under treatment?)
• Donor area adequacy (nape or behind the ear)
• Existing brow anatomy, facial symmetry and eye proportions
• Expectations (natural density vs. full brow — we are direct about this)
• Any previous microblading: when was it done? (transplantation is not planned on top of fresh pigment)

Trichotillomania (hair or brow-pulling disorder) is a special case. If active pulling behaviour is present, we do not recommend a surgical procedure; psychiatric assessment and treatment must be completed first, and the behaviour must be stable. Otherwise, transplanted follicles may also be pulled — and permanent scarring can result. This is not about turning a patient away; it is about ensuring the procedure is done at the right time.

The surgery itself takes 2–4 hours; the design preparation is thought through over many more. Three dimensions are considered:

1. Facial symmetry assessment: Each brow must harmonise with the other and with the facial features (nose, eyes, forehead width). The two brows should not be perfectly identical — they should sit within a naturally mirrored balance. The starting point of the brow aligns with the nasal ala, the arch with the outer border of the pupil, and the tail ends along the imaginary line between the outer corner of the eye and the nasal ala — these are the classical proportional references.
2. Density decision: Patient preference and facial structure are assessed together. We do not recommend the heavy, sharply defined designs described as 'Instagram brows' — they lose their natural appearance after 5–10 years and go out of fashion. We aim to balance natural density with a contemporary fullness. Even if a patient requests it, recommending a density that does not suit their face is not professional practice.
3. Direction and angle mapping: At the head of the brow, hairs lie upwards; in the body, downward and outward; at the tail, laterally. Each graft is positioned individually to match this direction. Incorrect angles produce a brow that looks like a brush and does not lie flat.

The design is reviewed together with the patient in front of a mirror at the start of the procedure day. No graft is placed without confirmed approval.

Your procedure day typically takes up half a day. The average duration is 2–4 hours, varying with single or double brow, graft count and the technique selected.

Typical schedule:

• 09:00 — Arrival at clinic, final design confirmation, photography
• 09:30 — Preparation of the donor area (nape or behind the ear), local anaesthesia
• 10:00 — Graft extraction begins (micro-FUE or DHI Choi pen)
• 11:00–11:30 — Local anaesthesia applied to the brow area
• 11:30 — Graft placement begins; direction and angle of each graft determined by the surgeon
• 13:00–14:00 — Procedure complete, cleaning, first instructions given

Graft count — average figures:

• Single brow: 100–500 grafts (lower end for partial thinning, upper end for a completely absent brow)
• Both brows combined: 200–800 grafts

Throughout the procedure you can relax, listen to music, and have water and light snacks. General anaesthesia is not required; the procedure is safely performed under local anaesthesia. The brow area is sensitive, so the anaesthetic injection may cause a brief mild stinging — once it takes effect the procedure is completely pain-free.

Recovery from eyebrow transplant is faster than from hair transplantation, though the timeline to a visible result is similar.

• First 24 hours: Mild redness and swelling at the brow area is normal. Some tenderness at the donor site is expected. Discomfort is generally minimal; most patients do not require pain relief.
• Days 2–3: Light crusting forms. The face should not be wetted during this period.
• Days 5–7: Crusts shed. The brow area may remain slightly pink.
• Weeks 2–3: Cosmetics are not recommended; brow pencil, foundation or mascara must not come into contact with the brow edges.
• Weeks 3–6: Shock loss. The transplanted hairs shed substantially — this is a normal, expected process. The follicles remain alive and will regrow.
• Months 3–4: New growth begins. Continuous growth from this point — because the transplanted hairs retain the character of the donor hair, periodic trimming is required (they continue to grow like normal hair).
• Month 12: The final result is established; density, texture and direction become apparent. The brow continues to grow as your own natural hair.

Transplanted hairs retain their donor character — they do not acquire brow characteristics. Hairs taken from the nape continue to grow at normal hair speed and need trimming every 2–3 weeks. This is the 'long-term but maintenance-requiring' aspect of eyebrow transplant; with microblading there is no hair to trim — the pigment simply fades.

Eyebrow transplant is considered in the following situations:

• Genetically sparse brows: A family history of thin brows; brows that have never been dense
• Long-term thinning from over-plucking or shaping: Particularly brows that were repeatedly over-plucked during the fine-brow fashion of the 1990s–2000s, resulting in follicle loss
• Burn scarring, surgical scarring, trauma: Hair loss caused by physical damage
• Alopecia areata (brow involvement): Stable, inactive form for at least 12 months
• Trichotillomania (post-treatment): Cases in which pulling behaviour has been treated and has been stable for at least 12 months
• Permanent loss following chemotherapy or radiotherapy: Areas where no regrowth has occurred 12 or more months after the end of treatment

To be a suitable candidate:

• Adequate donor area: Follicle reserve at the nape or behind the ear. Fine hair structure is an advantage for brow transplant — it produces a more natural texture.
• Stable brow condition: The brow shape must not have changed in the last 3–6 months. In patients with active loss or ongoing pulling behaviour, the procedure is postponed.
• Inactive alopecia: If alopecia areata has active episodes, dermatology follow-up and a minimum of 12 months of stability are required first.
• Psychiatric assessment for trichotillomania: If pulling behaviour is active, transplantation is not recommended; it is reviewed after stabilisation with psychiatric support.
• Aged 18 or over: For younger patients, the facial features should be sufficiently settled before a decision is made.
• Realistic expectations: The brow is a smaller, more aesthetically demanding area than the scalp — this is not a miracle procedure, it is a surgical art.

• Active trichotillomania: If pulling behaviour is ongoing, transplantation is not performed. Transplanted hairs will also be pulled, creating a risk of permanent scarring. Psychiatric treatment and behavioural stabilisation must come first.
• Active alopecia areata: If episodes are continuing, transplantation is not recommended; transplanted hairs may shed as part of the disease process.
• Recent microblading: If pigment is still active, there is a risk of skin reaction; fading or removal of the pigment is awaited.
• Uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid disease, autoimmune conditions: Internal medicine follow-up and stabilisation are required beforehand.
• Anticoagulant use: Assessment is required before the procedure and an appropriate pause in medication must be arranged.
• Unrealistic expectations: Patients expecting 'perfect symmetry' or a 'shape that will never change' receive an honest conversation from the outset — the brow is living tissue, some asymmetry is natural, and measured density is preferred to keep the result looking natural in ten years.

A patient we tell "this is not right for you" is more valuable to us than one who proceeds with an unsuitable procedure and is dissatisfied. Eyebrow transplant is difficult to reverse; an incorrectly designed brow is more distressing than no design at all.

Eyebrow transplant is the procedure most undermined by the assumption that "anyone who does hair transplants can do brows too." Donor harvesting, channel opening and graft placement are technically similar to hair transplantation — but the criteria for success in the brow are different:

• Harmony with facial proportions
• Different graft angles at the head, body and tail of the brow
• A preference for 'natural' in density decisions
• Aesthetic judgement in assessing asymmetry

Op. Dr. İbrahim Meyzin is a Specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery — surgical technique, facial aesthetics and tissue precision are united in a single pair of hands. Cyprus Turkish Medical Association (CTMA), Registration No. 969. In eyebrow transplant procedures, he personally carries out the design; the model of "technicians implant, doctor supervises" is not practised here.

Full doctor profile: Op. Dr. İbrahim Meyzin

Eyebrow transplant involves a socially sensitive recovery period: the first 7–10 days of crusting, followed by 3 weeks without cosmetics. In Northern Cyprus (TRNC) you can recover in a calm environment without the worry of running into someone you know. One hour fifteen minutes from Istanbul; four to four and a half hours from London. No additional entry stamp in your passport.

Our three clinic locations:

• Nicosia — main clinic and consultation centre
• Kyrenia — on the coast, for medical tourism patients
• Famagusta — serving the eastern side of the island

Eyebrow transplant price ranges:

• United Kingdom: €3,000–€6,000+
• Türkiye (quality clinics): €1,200–€2,500
• Nis Clinic (eyebrow transplant package): €1,000–€2,500

The range varies according to graft count (single or double brow), complexity (transplanting over burn or scar tissue is more demanding), the technique selected (micro-FUE / DHI), and length of stay. The confirmed figure is shared after consultation. The package includes airport transfers, 1 night's accommodation, the procedure, medications, the first wash, WhatsApp support and 12-month follow-up.

When deciding on eyebrow transplant, the surgeon's experience matters as much as the price — because this is a procedure that is difficult to reverse, and design quality makes all the difference. Given the proximity to the eye area, a holistic facial plan can be advantageous when considered alongside adjacent procedures such as eyelid surgery or Botox brow lift.