FUE Hair Transplant
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FUE Hair Transplant vs. FUT
There are several hair transplant methods doctors can perform. The “strip” method or FUT (follicular unit transplantation) is the most commonly performed method. The FUE (follicular unit extraction) method, a minimally invasive method of hair transplantation introduced in the late 90’s, and the automated FUE method, the newest most advanced method of hair transplantation available today.
In our practice we perform FUE Hair Transplantation exclusively.
From a surgical standpoint, an FUE hair transplant is a very safe, minimally invasive, relatively minor procedure. With the FUE method, there is no need to excise a piece of the scalp because the follicles are removed directly from the donor area using a tiny 1 mm punch (punch sizes vary). The punch is mechanically rotated to make a circular incision in the skin around the follicular unit (hair follicles), which is then removed directly from the scalp, leaving a tiny dot scar that is virtually invisible when the hair is cut short. After the appropriate number of units has been removed, technicians separate the grafts into units of one to four hairs and these grafts are implanted much the same way as the “strip” method. With the FUE method, there is little bleeding and fewer complications than with the “strip” method. The procedure is performed with local anesthetic, and no intravenous or intramuscular sedation is required.
The benefits of the FUE method include minimal discomfort, no scalpel incision, no sutures, no linear scar, little to no risk of complications, a quicker recovery time, fewer activity limitations, and a more natural-looking result than traditional strip methods (patients can wear their hair short without an unsightly scar).
It is our opinion that the FUE hair transplant procedure is the most beneficial for the patient; however, many hair restoration doctors do not offer it because there are some nuisances associated with FUE. First, doing FUE is very tedious and time-consuming, making the procedure too costly for most patients. Next, learning the FUE procedure is difficult, and unless the doctor becomes highly skilled, there is a risk of a high transection (damage) rate in the follicles.
Unfortunately, with the advent of robotic and automated hair transplant devices that attract practitioners inexperienced in hair restoration and who hire traveling technical teams to perform the procedure, the outcomes in those practices are neither consistent nor ideal.
In our practice, our surgeons harvest the tiny follicular units using a mechanized device that powers a 0.9mm or smaller circular scalpel that encircles the hair follicles. They then manually extract each follicular unit to minimize traction or transection of the hair follicles. Each hair graft is then placed in a chilled saline solution until it is ready for implantation.
Once the hair grafts have been harvested from the donor area our doctors use an Implanter to insert each follicular unit. The implanter helps protect the follicular unit during the implantation and aids the physician in maintaining the proper growth angle as the grafts are placed.
The hair restoration patient also needs to understand the importance of choosing the right surgeon. Final hairline design results depend on the skill and artistic ability of the surgeon performing the procedure. Hair transplant procedures encompass both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. These artistic skills and abilities can often be assessed by reviewing the patient results performed by these surgeons.
The “strip” method or FUT is a surgically invasive procedure. With the “strip” method, the hair at the back of scalp is cut short. That section of scalp is surgically excised. The wound created by the incision is then stitched up or stapled together. Next, the excised portion of the scalp is divided up and placed under several microscopes where technicians using sharp blades separate grafts into units of one to four hairs. While the technicians are separating the grafts, the physician creates the hairline and recipient sites using a needle or a specific blade. Once the recipient sites are created, the grafts are then placed into the sites using forceps. The grafts with a single hair are placed in the front for a more natural hairline. The rest are placed behind to give the recipient area density.
FUE Hair Transplant Procedure
Unlike most practices where a team of technicians sorts and places the hair grafts, our surgeons extract every hair graft. The hair grafts are then inserted with Implanters, which improves speed and protects the graft from physical damage while being implanted
Above is a case study from our largest FUE hair transplant procedures.
It’s important to do your homework and pick a surgeon that is uniquely qualified to handle your hair restoration needs.
FUE is also a useful procedure to fix visible linear scars from previous “strip” surgeries. FUE can be used to ‘fill in’ or camouflage those old scars by transplanting new follicles into the area.