Follicular unit extraction, also known as FUE, is an increasingly popular type of hair transplant procedure which is utilized for the re-growth of hair on areas of the scalp which may be balding. It is commonly used by men who are balding due to age or by men who are experiencing premature balding.

Purpose

For many people the loss of scalp hair can be intensely devastating and can even lead to reduced self-confidence and self-esteem. Hair transplant surgery is a way of providing re-growth of hair. A number of methods have been pioneered over the years. One of the latest methods is follicular unit extraction or FUE. Follicular unit extraction is a type of hair transplant technique in which a small round punch is utilized to extract follicular units from the areas of the patients head which are bald resistant and then transplanted to other areas of the head.

Preparation

Prior to undergoing follicular unit extraction, the patient will meet with the physician in order to discuss expectations and undergo an evaluation to ensure they are a suitable candidate for the procedure. Individuals who have very fine hair or very curly hair may not be suitable candidates for this procedure to the fact that the hair follicles may be too easily damaged. In addition, the candidate must have an area of their scalp from which donor follicular units can be extracted. Individuals with extreme hair loss may not be suitable candidates because there is not a sufficient donor area.

Procedure

The procedure typically begins by cutting the area of the patient’s hair that will serve as the donor area in order to make the extraction process easier. During the procedure a small round punch is used to extract follicular units from a donor area. The follicular unit grafts are excised from the scalp one unit at a time. The punch will first score the skin that surrounds the follicular unit. A small dull punch will then be used to excise the soft tissue surrounding the follicular unit. This process is known as blunt dissection as it separates the follicular unit from the surrounding soft tissue.

After the underlying follicular unit has been separated from the tissue it is separated from the scalp using a pair of forceps. Once the follicular unit has been excised, a small hole will be left behind. This hole will begin to heal over the next several days. The wound will contract during the healing process, which will result in a small round scar that is usually not very noticeable once the hair has grown out.

During the standard procedure, hundreds of follicular units will be removed from the donor area in a strip across the scalp. Once all of the follicular units have been removed, the donor area will be sutured together using either staples or stitches. These will be removed approximately ten days following the procedure. If dissolvable sutures are used, then no removal will be necessary.

Due to the fact that a limited number of grafts can be handled at a time, the procedure will typically take about three hours to complete. No more than 600 follicular units are typically handled within a single session.

Recovery Time

Within 24 hours of the procedure, small crusts will usually begin to form on each of the grafts. These crusts will usually begin to shed within the next seven to ten days. The amount of time that it will take for the newly transplanted hairs to grow in will vary. In some cases, the hairs will begin to grow in almost immediately and will not enter a resting phase.

In most cases; however, the grafted hairs will not begin to grow in until at least six weeks following the procedure. In some cases, the newly grafted hairs may take up to 12 weeks in order to grow in. Once they have begun to grow in they will continue to grow throughout the patient’s lifetime. In some cases it may be necessary to sleep in an upright position for a few days following the procedure in order to minimize swelling.

Patients are typically able to return to full activity within one week following the procedure. Some patients may choose to wear a hat or use some other device to cover the transplanted area until it begins to grow in; however, that is a personal decision.

Side Effects

Mild discomfort may be experienced during the day following the procedure. A mild analgesic may be used to relieve this discomfort. Patients may also need to use moist compresses or sprays in order to relief discomfort.

Cost

The cost of hair transplant will vary based among hair restoration clinics and the number of follicular units that are grafted. Prices are usually based on a per graft basis. The average cost is between $6 and $10 per graft for FUE. Generally, a transplant of 500 to 600 grafts is performed at one time; meaning the cost would be $3,000 and $6,000 per session. Due to the length of time involved in the procedure, more than one session may be needed to achieve the patient’s hair restoration goals.