Venture capitalist forked out $10,000 for a beard transplant to be taken more seriously at work

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A venture capitalist paid $10,000 for a beard transplant after developing insecurity over his patchy facial hair, which he believed gave him disadvantages at work.

The unnamed individual, who was described as a man in his 30s, recounted his experience for an article in The Cut and said he started gaining confidence and respect from his co-workers after the expensive cosmetic procedure. 

He said that he was not always insecure about having a 'baby face' and struggling to grow a full beard, but once he started working in private equity and venture capital, looking young 'started feeling like a disadvantage.'

The effects were subtle but noticeable, he said. Co-workers were chosen for roles he had more experience in, he felt his judgement was questioned more than older-looking colleagues and he was passed over for a client-facing role.

'It was a significant position for me to lose out on,' he said of the experience. 

No one had ever explicitly criticized his appearance or said it was why he was passed over for the opportunity, but he wondered if superiors didn't perceive him as serious enough.

He was also subjected to 'little jokes' about appearing to be the youngest in the room or looking like an intern, which made him try to make up for his appearance by speaking more formally and trying harder to prove himself.  

The venture capitalist said it developed into an insecurity that affected him outside of work as well, such as on dates. 

He tried various solutions before ever considering surgery - from vitamins and beard-growth products promoted online to Minoxidil, an over-the-counter FDA approved medication meant to stimulate hair growth. 

After trying those methods for more than a year without results, he said he had all but resigned to accepting that he would simply not be able to grow a full beard. 

That is, until he discovered beard transplants. He booked an appointment with the Spiegel Center, and he said it was an easy decision to go through with the procedure after consultation. 

The venture capitalist said the transplant 'took only about five hours.' Medical professionals shaved some hair from the back of his head and implanted hair grafts to the patchy areas of his beard. 

He said he was awake the whole time, but his face had been numbed, so there was no pain and he only felt pressure. The recovery was also not physically difficult, he added. 

For about a week and a half, he had little scabs around each hair follicle in the grafted areas, which were small but noticeable. 

'That was probably the only point where I felt a bit self-conscious about what I’d done,' he said, noting that he wanted to stay home until the scabs cleared up.

It took about six months for the effects of the beard transplant to kick in. During that period, the venture capitalist said he was impatient and checked the mirror every day for progress. 

But once his full beard came in, the results were exactly what he had hoped for. The 'little jokes' during meetings stopped, and he found himself speaking and making presentations with more confidence, no longer bogged down with insecurity.

'That confidence has changed how I carry myself. I speak more directly and doubt myself less. I notice it most in how people respond to me in rooms,' he said. 

Co-workers began telling him, 'You look different' or 'Something seems sharper,' and some even said he looked more masculine.

The venture capitalist admitted that a beard transplant 'can sound superficial if you’ve never dealt with this kind of insecurity,' and that the $10,000 price tag was 'obviously a lot of money.'

'But for me, it was worth every cent,' he said. 

The venture capitalist's experience, although anecdotal, is actually backed by the findings of a scientific study. 

A 2020 paper by St Edward's University in Texas, published in the Journal of Business Research, found that men in sales and service positions are perceived as more trustworthy and knowledgeable if they have facial hair. 

'Our research suggests that those in a sales or service role, where expertise and trust are crucial to converting sales, would be well-served to grow a beard,' said Sarah Mittal, the paper’s lead researcher.

'Your LinkedIn profile and marketing materials may even benefit from the subtle cue conveyed by donning a beard,' she added.