FUE

FUE Hair Transplants

 

A Minimally Invasive Procedure

Follicle Unit Excision (formerly Follicle Unit Extraction) is a hair transplant technique involving a minimally invasive procedure to harvest hair follicles from the safe donor area at the back and sides of the scalp.

Those follicles are then transplanted into areas where hair loss has occurred.

This surgical procedure is done by using a specialised punch to harvest the hair follicles from the donor area.

The grafts are sorted and stored temporarily in organ storage solution and normal saline at cooler temperatures, then processed before transplanted into the recipient areas with hair loss.

 

Hair Transplant Grafts

 

Why Is FUE Ideal for Hair Loss?

Follicle Unit Excision offers the patient remarkable results with denser hair growth in the required areas.

This procedure also offers patients a permanent solution to hair loss conditions, making it one of the most popular methods of hair loss treatment.

Follicle Unit Excision harvesting as a method for hair transplant surgery is suitable to both men and women.

 

Advantages of FUE Hair Transplant Procedure

No Linear Scar

With Follicle Unit Excision the follicles are harvested one-by-one using a sharp circular punch that leaves a small round wound that heals within a week.

Over a 12 to 18 month period the scar shrinks leaving a very small slightly depigmented dot on the skin which is barely seen on a bare scalp and completely covered and not visible when the donor hair has grown out.

Less Nerve Damage

Because the punch sites are small and distributed randomly over the whole Safe Donor Area, nerve damage is less when compared to FUT strip surgery where some of the occipital nerves are severed during the cutting of the strip.

However, peripheral nerves regrow over a period of 18 months and in both FUE and FUT harvesting the sensation returns on the back of the scalp. With Follicle Unit Excision the sensation returns quicker and there seems to be less numbness during the recovery phase.

Less Invasive

Because a small punch is used and not a scalpel that cuts into the tissues, the healing time is much quicker, and no sutures are required as the punch sites are so small they heal by themselves through secondary intention.

Scalp Laxity

With an FUT procedure, scalp laxity is often less after surgery where with FUE the scalp laxity tends to be better maintained post healing.

Graft Selection

FUE allows Dr. Nel to ‘cherry pick’ grafts that are necessary for an optimal result.

Especially during FUT/FUE combination procedures, by doing FUE specific grafts with 3 hairs and 4 hairs can be targeted in areas where they are more prevalent.

Use of Body Hair/Beard Hair

The advent of FUE has allowed for the extraction of non-scalp hair from the beard or chest areas in patients with limited donor supply.

Recovery Period is Relatively Quick

The tiny dots caused by the small punch used for the Follicle Unit Excision will heal within a week.

Retains Donor Growth Patterns

FUE causes minimal disruption to the hair direction and angles of growth in the donor area.