What Is FUE Hair Transplant
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplants are performed by extracting individual follicles from the skin and implanting them anywhere else on the body, giving the appearance of thicker hair.
While it sounds simple enough, many variables are involved in performing a successful FUE hair transplant. Some of those factors include the type of hair loss you suffer from, the amount of hair loss, the size of the area needing treatment, and the number of grafts required. The hair follicle itself does not die off; rather, the hair shaft thins out because fewer and smaller hairs grow from each follicle, giving the appearance of being thinner and finer.
In some cases, doctors would recommend Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) to treat hair loss. With FUT, a strip of skin containing several thousand tiny hair follicles is removed from the patient’s head. These follicles are then implanted in small groups throughout the receding areas.
While both procedures work, FUE offers certain advantages over FUT.
FUE allows patients to harvest multiple grafts from different body parts, such as the chest, stomach, arms, legs, etc., while FUT requires harvesting just one large piece of tissue. Additionally, FUE is much less painful than FUT.
Talk to your doctor if you’re thinking about having a hair transplant, as they may be able to help you decide which procedure would be most appropriate for you.
Will My Hair Transplant Be Obvious?
If you see the results of the transplant immediately, don’t get discouraged; your new hair will start growing and thickening within the next few months. The scarring from the donor site will eventually fade and become hidden under even shorter hair.
What Are the Benefits of an FUE Hair Transplant?
There is a lower risk of damaging the skin that surrounds the area where individual hair follicles were harvested to be grafted into bald spots, creating fewer visible scars. If performed correctly, FUE does not require stitches, making the process much faster.
The length of time needed for a patient to recover depends on how many grafts are implanted. A single session of FUE usually takes about one hour per side, while multiple sessions can take up to three hours each. However, recovery time from having an FUE is often shorter than a FUT.
Why Is the FUE Method Superior for Hair Transplants?
Strip harvesting hair transplant surgery is the most common type of surgical hair restoration procedure. This technique requires taking out multiple strips of hair from the donor areas, usually the sideburns, beard, mustache, etc., and stitching them together into one large patch. A downside of this method is leaving behind a large scar.
FUE hair transplant surgery uses small punches to remove individual hair follicle grafts from the donor site and place them in the recipient region. Consequently, a large scar isn’t left behind but instead tiny scars that become less and less visible as the skin heals.
How Many Grafts Will I Need?
This varies depending on the size of the bald spot and the number of hairs required to cover it. Generally speaking, the more grafts you have, the better the results.
Are FUE Procedure Hair Transplant Results Permanent?Going bald again after FUE procedures is highly unlikely.
The transplanted hair follicle is a small piece of tissue that contains several thousand hair follicles that are outside of the pattern of balding, so it will most likely not be lost. However, over time the transplanted hair will fall out and be replaced with new, healthy hair.
How Long Does It Take to Recover and Heal?
After the procedure, you’ll be able to gently wash your hair two to three times per week, but you may be advised not to wear pullover shirts for several weeks.
The recovery time after having an FUE is shorter than FUT procedures. The part of your head that had been operated on should heal within two weeks, and you can then resume normal physical activities.
When Will My New Hair Start to Grow?
Patience is key! Your follicles are living tissues that grow in a cycle, so rest assured that you’ll be seeing new hair growth over a few months after your surgery.
Does the FUE Procedure Hurt?
Most often, FUE is performed using a local anesthetic. It is a minimally invasive procedure, with some discomfort during the process that is minimal compared to other procedures like strip harvesting.
After the procedure, you will need to expect some swelling in the grafted area, as well as some discomfort or tenderness, which could last up to three days.
