A “hipster” these days has to be bearded. And some New Yorkers do not hesitate to spend fortunes on cosmetic surgery, to flesh out an overly youthful beard with implants.
Cosmetic surgeons in New York and Florida say they have seen a phenomenal increase in demand over the past five years, nurtured by “hipsters”, these young, trendy, laid-back urban youth who are creative and progressive. For them, the beard is almost a uniform.
Is it too little supplied? Depending on the size of the implants – from the scalp to the cheeks – it will cost them between $ 2,000 and $ 8,000 to fix the problem. A surgeon may perform three or four such operations per week.
Danny Higuera, 26, owns a construction business. He had beard implants a little over a year ago and says he is “delighted” with the results. As a child, he admired his father’s beard, he explains, but his was nothing, made of “little islands” here and there.
So he spent $ 8,000 at a Manhattan cosmetic surgeon, Jeffrey Epstein. “There are people who like long hair, short hair, I wanted a nice beard,” he explains. “I like this slightly rough look,” he says.
He doesn’t really consider himself a “hipster” – an increasingly catch-all term – except when it comes to beards. “To a certain degree, I consider myself a hipster,” he says. “I think it’s very trendy to have a beard, to do things with your beard.”
Brad Pitt as a model
Ten years ago, movie stars were all clean shaven. But today, beards have taken over the red carpets, from Brad Pitt and George Clooney to Ryan Gosling, Jack Gyllenhaal and Ben Affleck, to name a few.
According to Doctor Epstein, the number one look his clients refer to is that of Brad Pitt, followed by the very mustached Tom Selleck. But many just like the casual look.
“Between 30 and 35% of these young people between 26 and 40 fall into the hipster category. It’s not a very precise term, but they are probably the most important group,” he adds. They live in the ultra-hip neighborhoods of Brooklyn in New York, but, according to surgeons, also come from all over the United States, Great Britain or even Australia.
Associated with virility
The rage for implants is fueled not only by fashion, but also by the social acceptance of these kinds of operations and techniques that make it possible to achieve perfect beards.
Facial hair has been associated with virility for centuries in many cultures. But some men are hairless for genetic reasons. Others switched to lasers when they were 20, realizing after the fact that it was a mistake.
Dr Yael Halaas, whose practice is located near Park Avenue in Manhattan, confirms that demand has increased in recent years. “These guys are parading, complaining that they can’t grow a beard at all or that it’s full of holes,” she explains.
“A lot of them are in their 20s or 30s. They’re some of those hip New Yorkers with an eye for detail. They work in the visual arts, or in the performing arts,” she adds. She currently treats four to five clients per week. “Ten years ago, it was maybe ten a year.” Few surgeons still have this skill, hence their flourishing business.
Doctor Glenn Charles works in Florida, but most of his clients requesting beard implants are New Yorkers, he says. “Brooklyn hipster fashion, the beard thing is back. The slightly ragged, brooding look is very fashionable,” he also assures us.
But he doesn’t just see hipsters. Businessmen, firefighters, bodybuilders, all kinds of people came to see him. “I am the God of the beard,” he laughs.
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