New York men unable to grow thick, bushy facial hair are increasingly turning to costly beard transplants to rock the popular look.
Dr. Yael Halaas, a plastic surgeon who specializes in beard transplants, said that there are a "variety of men who come for the procedure, but definitely we're seeing a trend of young, stylish men."
"Hipsters, metrosexuals — people who are clued into having a cool look," Halaas told NBC 4 New York.
New York doctors are seeing an uptick in the number of beard transplants for men who are forking over as much as $7,000 for the procedure, where hair is harvested from the head or chest and implanted into bald spots on the face.
The result can eventually grow to become a full beard, like those often seen on men in trendy New York City neighborhoods where thick facial hair has come into vogue. The beard hair takes root and grows gradually. After a patient is fully healed, the hair can be shaved and groomed like original facial hair.
Dr. Glenn Charles, a Florida-based surgeon, told DNAInfo.com that 30 percent of his clients come from New York City and some show up with a celebrity photo in hand.
George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt and Tom Selleck are popular models for clients opting for the procedure, he said.
