FUE Hair Transplant
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) is one of the first methods that come to mind when people think of hair transplantation. The key feature of FUE is that no incision is made in the scalp, which is an advantage both during the operation and throughout recovery. The fact that no wound or incision scar is left after the operation also makes it a popular choice among patients.
What are the stages of the FUE method?
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia. Once the area from which the hair will be taken has been prepared, suitable follicles are harvested one by one. Harvesting is carried out with an FUE motor using punches smaller than 1 mm (between 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm). Each follicle harvested (graft) contains 2–3 hairs. It is very important that the follicles are not damaged at this stage. Because thousands of follicles are removed from the donor area during a hair transplant, the size of the punch used affects how well the area heals.
Once all the follicles have been harvested and sorted, implantation begins. The channels for implantation must be opened very carefully. Opening the channels requires as much precision and experience as harvesting the follicles.
The lateral slit method, which has recently become preferred over the punch system for opening channels, makes incisions that suit the structure of the hair and creates channels matched to the size and length of the patient’s follicles. Channels opened to the correct size and depth affect how many of the transplanted hairs grow.
Another important consideration is the angle of the channel into which the follicle is transplanted. The angles, which are the biggest factor in achieving a natural hair pattern, must differ in each area of the head; otherwise, the hair will not grow in the desired shape. Another factor in achieving a natural result is correctly designing the hairline. The forehead and the point where the hair begins must be planned in the right proportions.
How is an FUE hair transplant performed?
Follicles are harvested from the back of the head, channels are opened in the recipient area, and the follicles are implanted into these channels. Put simply, this is how an FUE hair transplant is performed.
However, each hair transplant is planned individually. Depending on the pattern of hair loss, the size of the area to be treated and its location on the head vary. This is the most important factor in planning the transplant.
An FUE hair transplant is carried out according to a personalised plan based on many parameters, such as the pattern and cause of hair loss, age, hair type and skin type.
Some details of the FUE procedure may vary depending on the number of grafts to be harvested from the donor area and the number of channels to be opened in the recipient area. For example, grafts are usually harvested from the donor area first, but channels may instead be opened first to shorten the time the follicles spend outside the body.
In the FUE technique, the grafts harvested from the donor area are grouped by thickness and number of hairs before implantation. This is the most important and most delicate stage of the FUE technique. The time each graft spends outside the body is monitored to keep the follicles alive, and care is taken, for example, to implant the first follicles harvested first.
Am I a suitable candidate for FUE?
If the hair and follicles in your donor area are weak, you may not achieve the thickness you hope for, even if you are otherwise a suitable candidate for FUE. Because hair loss caused by stress and hormonal changes now begins at a very young age, hair transplants are generally performed between the ages of 20 and 60, and the negative psychological effects of hair loss often make it worse. The quickest way out of this vicious circle is to consult specialists and obtain accurate information about hair transplantation before becoming completely bald. FUE is suitable for women and men of all ages and is one of the most established techniques in hair transplantation.
After an FUE hair transplant
An FUE hair transplant is a long operation lasting around 6–8 hours. Thanks to local anaesthesia, the procedure is very comfortable for the patient. However, remaining still for a long time will make you feel tired.