FUE method, hair transplant

FUE METHOD EXPLAINED

There have been two main methods of hair transplantation used in hair restoration, the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) technique and the FUT/FUSS technique (Follicular Unit Strip Surgery).

FUT technique (Strip surgery) involves cutting out a strip of donor hair from the back of the head and transplanting it to the front.  This procedure is invasive and leaves the patient with visible linear scar at the donor site when the hair is short.

The FUE (Follicule Unit Extraction), however, involves removing the individual follicular units from the back of the head where the hair is thicker and stronger and transplanting them to the front or top of the head where it is needed.

In comparison to the linear strip method, FUE does not require the surgical removal of a section of the scalp and therefore no linear scar is visible at the back of the scalp. FUE technique uses  a technology that doesn’t require a scalpel, sutures or staples. The main benefits of FUE are the minimally invasive nature of the surgery, quicker recovery times,  no linear donor scar and the ability to preferentially choose specific follicular units .

In FUE, a minimal depth scoring punch device is used to loosen the follicle from the surrounding tissues. The small naturally occurring hair follicular units are then removed directly from the donor area and manually placed into the skin in the balding area.

There is no postoperative bleeding and recovery is almost immediate.  Patients are able to resume light physical activity the next day with minimal restrictions. Athletes or physically active patients may resume their normal strenuous workouts within a week of the procedure.

 FUE TechniqueFUT STRIP Technique
Use of Scalpel, Sutures, or StaplesNoYes
Surgical Operating Time-2000 Grafts10-12 Hours5-8 hours
Invasiveness of Procedure++++
Typical Hair Length PreferenceShortMedium
Short Hair Required Prior to ProcedureYesNo
Donor Site Linear ScarNoYes
Maximum Follicles Harvested Per Session20002000-2500
Typical Healing Time of Donor Site3-4 days10-14 days
Local Tumescent Anesthesia / Oral SedationYesYes
Postoperative Tight Scalp SensationNoYes
Risk of Bleeding & Nerve DamageNoLow
Donor HypopigmentationYesNo
Risk of Donor Site infectionVery LowLow