What actually is an FUE hair transplant?
We’ve previously touched on the FUE method of hair transplantation in a previous blog post where we compared it to the FUT method, but what exactly is an FUE hair transplant and what makes it different?
FUE, otherwise known as follicular unit extraction, is a form of hair transplant surgery involving the extraction of individual hair follicles, usually consisting of approximately 1 to 4 hairs, from a donor area of the body which is typically the sides or back of the scalp where the hair growth is thickest. These follicles are then prepared and implanted into the affected areas of the scalp to begin a natural regrowth.
So how does it work?
The FUE hair transplant process works by removing individual hair follicles, ranging from 1 to 4 hairs each, under local anaesthesia from the donor area of the scalp. Extracting these follicles is a very intricate procedure which utilises a microscopic surgical extraction instrument with a diameter of 1mm or less to extract the follicles.
Using specialised micro surgical needles, the transplant surgeon will proceed to puncture the affected area of the scalp to prepare it to receive the grafts. Because of the way that hair naturally grows, these grafted follicles need to be inserted at the correct angle and correct density to match your existing hair, ensuring you receive a natural and realistic looking transplant. Once this is done, all that’s left to do is to recover and await the hair to begin to grow.
How long does an FUE hair transplant procedure take?
FUE hair transplants can be performed either as one long session or split apart into several smaller sessions and although it does take more time than a more traditional FUT hair transplant, it doesn’t leave you with the more obvious scarring that is typically found following an FUT procedure.
Per session, the length of time varies and depends entirely on how many grafts you require to be transplanted. Smaller procedures consisting of around 200-300 grafts can be completed in as little as a couple of hours whereas a larger procedure consisting of up to 3000 grafts could require a session that stretches across multiple days.
What about the recovery time?
Unlike its FUT counterpart, an FUE hair transplant does not require any large area of the scalp to be harvested, meaning that there is no linear incision across the back of the head which in turns means it leaves no linear scarring. Due to the fact that only individual follicles are removed from the head, only small puncture scars are left which are near enough invisible when looking with the naked eye. In the majority of cases, there is very little post-surgical pain or discomfort with recovery times averaging at less than 7 days across the board.
So how long will my results last?
After your FUE hair transplant procedure, your results will last permanently. After a few weeks, the initially transplanted hairs will shed and fall out but this is all part of the process and will grow back strong and healthy, leaving you with a full head of hair once again.