FUE Hair Transplant

What Is Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Hair Transplant?

Follicular Unit Extraction, also referred to as FUE hair transplant is the most common hair transplant method of all years. It is a suture-less surgical hair transplant technique that uses advanced techniques to restore natural hair growth by extracting healthy hair grafts from the patient’s scalp and inserting them in the bald area of the scalp.

Due to the fact that FUE hair transplant is operated using microsurgical instruments, it does not leave visible scars after the healing process. Hence, surgeons claim that the healing process of FUE is faster than the FUT technique. During a hair transplant surgery, the surgeon extracts hair follicles individually from the back and side of the patient’s head and transplant them one by one to the area where the hair is lost or thin. In the procedure of FUE, the doctor mostly works with a team.

The Steps of the FUE Hair Transplant Surgery

1. Shaving of the donor hair area.
2. The patient lies in the prone position (a position that the patient lies on his/her chest. Then a nurse applies local anesthesia on the area that the surgeon will remove donor hairs.
3. The surgeon removes hairs one by one in grafts to place them in the area where the hair is lost using 8 and 1 mm special micro-punches designed for Follicular Unit Extraction.
4. After the procedure, the patient will have a lot of small scars on the scalp; however, they will not be noticeable after the healing process.

What Does FUE Hair Grafts Mean?

Grafts are hair bags with one to four hairs that are extracted from the scalp of the patient. (There are cases that the surgeon removes grafts from the body instead of the scalp due to not having enough hair on the scalp) While removing them, the surgeon uses needles or special equipment. There are many factors that can change the number of hair grafts to be applied in the operation; however, generally, the more the patient’s hair is lost, the more he/she needs hair grafts to be inserted during the operation to achieve natural-looking results after the procedure.

How many hair grafts to be implanted can range from 1000 to 5000 depending on the characteristics of the patient’s hair. Many people who want to get cosmetic surgery done tend to have unrealistic goals. However, cosmetic surgeries are done under circumstances that surgeons not only try to make the patient look better but also try to protect the patients from having more risks or unwanted results caused by damaging the area of the surgery. Especially in hair transplant surgeries, doctors try not to over-harvest donor areas and their first goal to achieve is to make them have natural-looking hair.

As stated in the previous paragraphs, there are many factors that change the number of hair grafts applied during the procedure. These factors are the patient’s degree of hair loss and the condition of donor supply as well as their hair characteristics such as color, thickness, and type. If the patient has got dark, thick hair, the procedure might require fewer hair grafts to cover the same area as compared to light-colored, thin hair. In the paragraphs below, what to expect from a certain amount of hair grafts are explained:

1000-2000 FUE hair grafts:

This amount of hair grafts are generally preferred for people who do not have extreme hair loss. Patients who have thin hair, hair lose on specific areas (in patches) or thin/lost hair lines are suitable for getting 1000-2000 FUE hair grafts. Due to the fact that patients will only get transplant on specific areas instead of the entire scalp, 1000-2000 hair grafts will be enough to help the patient get his/her natural hair look. Owing to the fact that patient will not have implanted many hair grafts, it will take only one session and a short time to complete the procedure.

2000-3500 FUE hair grafts:

FUE hair grafts between 2000 and 3000 are appropriate for patients who have got noticeable hair loss on wider areas of the scalp. These areas are generally above the forehead, the middle of the scalp, or sides. If the patient aims to have natural hair without extracting too many hairs from the donor area, 2000-3500 hair grafts are enough to hide hair loss and bring a natural look.

It is also important to underline that the number might change depending on the texture of the patient’s hair or his age. Due to the fact that hair loss can increase by age, the more people age, the more they lose their hair, so it might not result in a completely natural look for everyone. It is also known that thick and curly hair is suitable to look more natural after the procedure and it can hide baldness better than thin and light-colored hair.

If the patient has got thin hair and obvious baldness, several sessions of FUE surgery might be needed to achieve a natural look and cover the baldness of the scalp. In general, that amount of hair can be transplanted in one session of FUE Hair transplant surgery with an experienced and skilled surgeon; however, there is still a possibility of it ending more than one session depending on the patient’s hair and scalp.

3500-5000 FUE hair grafts:

FUE hair grafts above 3500 are suitable for patients who have extreme hair loss or full baldness on the specific areas of the scalp. In such cases, patients mostly feel desperate about not being able to find enough donor hair to restore their hair and cover their baldness. In any hair transplant surgery, the quality and availability of suitable donor hair/follicles is significant. Due to there are not many donor hairs to be used to implant during the procedure, the surgeon who will work in the operation should be very skilled and have a reasonable plan to cover the baldness.

As in this procedure, many hair grafts are to be attached to the patient’s scalp, the surgeon or the patient himself/herself can offer to complete the procedure in some small sessions instead of completing it in an entire day. The other reason to take this operation in small sessions is to reduce the risk of having complications. Many hairs are to be attached and some complications might damage the area and restrain the ability for further treatment.

What Are the Advantages of FUE Hair Transplant?

Advantages for the patient:

• It is known that FUE hair transplant is successful and effective. In addition to that, FUE hair transplant does not leave a distinctive and noticeable scar on the back of the head is due to not being an invasive method. As a result, the FUE method an appealing method for the patients.
• The other advantage of FUE hair transplant is about recovery time. Due to FUE hair transplant having micro-surgical instruments and small incisions, the recovery process is completed usually in 7 days. In most cases, patients can go back to their routine the next day after the surgery. However, during FUT hair transplant, there is a big scar compared to FUE that takes several weeks to heal.
• FUE hair transplant results with a natural look that allows patients to wear short hair after the procedure due to not having visible scars.
• As in FUE hair transplant, there are not any whole areas that are to be cut for implantation, multiple donor areas can be chosen to extract hair. This is a plus for people who do not have a lot of hair in one area.
• It is also an option for patients who cannot get a FUT, owing to the fact that they do not have enough amount of hair or their scalp is too soft for the procedure.
• As it has got a very fast healing process and less scarring, this method can be used to restore facial hair as well. Implantation for beard and mustache is commonly used.
• The patient does not face complications about skin sensitivity after the anesthesia wears off.
• FUE hair transplant can be used to cover scar marks on the scalp.
• There is not a possibility of nerve damage, numbness, permanent pain in an FUE hair transplant.

Advantages for the surgeon:

• The need for manpower is less than FUT hair transplantation. The operation can be completed by only one doctor or one-two assistants.
• Less equipment is sufficient for the operation.
• Graft preparation contains less work compared to FUT hair transplantation.
• The operation does not need surgical experience and it is less traumatic. 
• FUE hair transplant is quite safe, extensive bleeding during or after the procedure will not occur and stitches are not required for the procedure.

Before FUE Hair Transplant Surgery

Finding a qualified hair surgeon: The first step of the procedure is to find an experienced surgeon and a nice clinic to get an FUE hair transplant. It is significant to have a surgeon that has got experience in FUE hair transplant to reduce the complications that might occur because of the doctor’s mistake or wrong choice.

Mentioning your medical history in the appointment: After finding a cosmetic surgeon and getting an appointment, the patient must talk with them about their medical history, the reason of their hair loss (in some cases the patient might not need a hair transplant to restore their hair, they can use medicine) and get tests to reduce the risks of the surgery.

Getting your scalp analyzed by the doctor: During your first appointment, your doctor will analyze your scalp and hair to make sure that you do not have sensitivity on your scalp or you have enough hair to perform the surgery. During your first appointment, you can ask several questions to your doctor to have a better understanding about the idea of hair transplant surgery and FUE hair transplant. Topics that should be discussed in the first appointment with the surgeon:

• • Their experience in FUE hair transplant surgery.
  • How many FUE hair transplants they performed and the before&after images of FUE hair transplant surgeries the surgeon performed.
  • How many FUE hair grafts the patient needs to have a natural-looking result and how many FUE hair grafts can be extracted from the patient’s scalp?
  • What are the risks and complications that might happen and if there are any special things that the patient do before the surgery (like quitting alcohol, smoking, some hair products…)

Procedure of FUE Hair Transplant

The FUE hair transplant surgery procedure roughly takes 5-8 hours, so it is mostly completed in one day but it can take several sessions due to the area of the application being large and the number of the FUE hair grafts.

1) Shaving the hair of the patient:

If the patient will get FUE hair transplant in a large area, it is advised to shave their hair but it might not be necessary if they will only get transplanted on some areas, then those areas will be shaved in the clinic before the surgery.

2) Applying anesthesia:

After the patient lies on his/her stomach, anesthesia will be applied to the areas of the surgery. During the procedure of FUE hair transplant surgery, Local anesthesia is applied on the scalp of the patient and the patient does not stay over the hospital after the procedure.

3) Removing donor hair follicles and analyzing them:

When the scalp is sedated, the surgeon will start removing hair follicles using Follicular Hair Transplant Machine in grafts that consists 1-4 hairs. After the hairs are removed, the surgeon will check the quality of the hairs if they are healthy hair follicles, they will be prepared to get implanted on the patient’s scalp.

4) Creating micro incisions and placing hair grafts on the balding areas of the scalp:

While the cosmetic surgeon transplants the hairs, he creates micro incisions on the scalp where the hair is thin or bald. Then he/she will insert the hair grafts through those incisions.

5) Applying bandages:

Special bandages for hair transplant surgery is applied on the treated areas. A few days after the FUE hair transplant surgery, those hairs that were implanted will start to grow back. However, those transplanted hairs are going to fall out to grow back naturally in following weeks or months.

Recovery and Aftercare

FUE hair transplant surgery has got a fast healing process owing to the fact that the process includes micro incisions. It is a procedure that does not create huge scarring or deep wounds so the healing process is highly fast and easy for the patients.

• The bandages applied after the FUE hair transplant surgery can be removed 1-3 days later. It is recommended not to remove them before the cosmetic surgeon tells when to remove the bandages.
• Medicine can be taken to prevent pain or infection. (pain medications, antibiotics, medicine for anti-inflammation, medicine to trigger hair growth)
• The patient can go to work a day after the FUE procedure unless it needs physical power.
• In general, during FUE hair transplant surgery there are not any stitches made; however, if there are any stitches made during the operation because of some complications, the stitches applied can be removed after ten days or two weeks.
• After FUE hair transplant, the patient should not exercise for a couple of weeks.
• Alcohol and smoking should be avoided at least for a month after the procedure of FUE hair transplant surgery due to prevent slow wound healing.

Scalp Care After FUE Hair Transplant

• The patient should not wash their hair before at least 6 days. They should be very gentle while washing their hair to prevent the area from getting irritated. It is important to note that, after getting an FUE hair transplant, the cosmetic surgeon might recommend special hair products such as shampoo or lotions that should be used during the healing process. Those special products do not irritate the incisions on the patient’s scalp. Regular hair products might affect the healing process negatively.
• On the 3th day after the surgery, the patient will visit the clinic or hospital again for the first hair wash. Your surgeon my recommend you to buy a suitable shampoo that will not irritate your scalp.
• For 10 days following 3th day, the patient will wash his or her hair every day.
• At 10^th day, the patient should massage his or her scalp using a cream. This cream can be Bepanthenol or a similar cream.
• If the area of FUE hair transplant swells, an ice pack can be applied.
• The patient should not sleep on where FUE hair grafts are attached.
• Extreme heat or cold should be avoided.
• Many patients are impatient about seeing the full results of FUE hair transplant surgery. However, every cosmetic surgery takes time to see the full results and FUE hair transplant is one of them. New hairs usually appear at 6^th month or more and only after one year full natural results will be seen.
• After the transplantation of FUE hair grafts, the patient should not brush their hair roughly for at least 3-4 weeks. This might irritate their scalp.
• Hats or beanies shouldn’t be worn for a few weeks unless the doctor thinks it is not necessary. They might cause over-sweating on the scalp area or prevent them from getting air.

What Are the Risks of FUE Hair Transplant Surgery?

Every cosmetic surgery has got many risks so as FUE hair transplantation. However, due to the fact that it is a procedure that no serious incision is made, Fue hair transplantation can be considered as safe. Most of the complications that might occur during the surgery are avoidable and can be reduced if an experienced surgeon operates the surgery. Even though, it is commonly called as a safe operation, patients must have warned about each risk that can happen even though they have got slight chance. Those risks and complications are:

• Infections. They are mostly easily treated with antibiotics.
• Pus drainage around the surgical sites.
• Swelling, itching and pain on scalp.
• Bleeding. It can be stopped by stitching the area.
• Losing sensation around the surgical sites.
• Numbness or lack of sensation on the implanted areas of the scalp. (It often lasts 3-18 weeks)
• Visible thinner areas of hair.
• Continuing to lose hair.
• Bruising might occur around eyes.

For the area hairs will be extracted:

• Hypopigmentation.
• Bruied grafts.
• Acute effluvium.
• Donor area depletion.
• High transection rate.
• Keloid.
• Necrosis.
• Epithelial cyst.
• Overharvesting.
• Pain and numbness that are persistent.
• For the area that will get implants.
• Unnatural appearance.
• Poor hair line.
• Necrosis.
• Recipient area edema.
• Folliculitis.

It is the name for infection or inflammation on the hair follicles caused by new hairs starting to grow.

What To Do When Any Complications Occur?

If you face any problems related to the operation, you should directly contact your clinic and get the treatment needed. Most of the complications that are likely to happen are treatable by medicine.

How Much Does an FUE Hair Transplant Cost?

The price of the surgery changes depending on a number of factors. As a result of private clinics performing that surgery, there is not a fixed price for the procedure. Besides the payment will also change due to every individual need a different number of hair grafts to be attached. For example, if someone will get only 2000 hair grafts transplanted, he/she will pay lower than someone who will get 5000 hair graft transplanted. A hair transplant in the UK can cost between £1,000 and £30,000. Turkey is one of the countries that cosmetic surgeries are successfully done and people from all over the world visit Turkey to get the best treatment at affordable prices while having the chance to enjoy their trip. The cost of FUE hair transplant in Turkey is between £600 and £12,000.

What Is the Success Rate of FUE Hair Transplant?

If the operation is done by an experienced surgeon and an adequate number of hair grafts are implanted, the success rate of FUE hair transplant is 98%.

Is FUE Hair Transplant Permanent?

During the operation, the surgeon attaches the patient’s own hair follicles back to the areas with hair loss similar to how it is naturally, so, the hair will grow like natural hair. If the operation is done in the correct way, it is has got a lifetime warranty.

Does FUE Hair Transplant Have Natural-Looking Results? How Many Grafts Should Be Used To Achieve a Natural Look?

If the surgeon is able to attach enough amount of hair grafts without over-harvesting the donor area, FUE hair transplant will end up with a natural-looking result. However, not all of the patients have got enough hair.

Does FUE Hair Transplant Have Natural-Looking Results?

FUE is a modern hair transplant surgery and if a skilled surgeon operates the surgery, it will not leave any visible scars even with short hair.

Does the Hair on the Donor Area Grow Back After FUE?

Hairs cannot grow back from the donor area because they are removed with their bulbs from the scalp. As a result, the surgeon should avoid over-harvesting. As a result, an experienced surgeon will figure out how to make patients have natural results.

How Long Does an FUE Procedure Take?

How long the procedure takes depends on how many hair grafts will be extracted and transplanted in a session. For example, if 5000 hair grafts are planned, it is going to take about 8 hours or more.

How Many FUE Grafts Can Be Done in a Day?

It depends on how experienced the surgeon and the team is. Moreover, the patient’s medical condition, characteristics of his/her hair. How many hours the patient can spend in the clinic can affect it, too. It can be done in one day if the patient does not have an extreme hair loss, otherwise, it is recommended to do it in sessions. However, an experienced team can implant around 5000 hair grafts in 6-8 hours.

Is FUE Painful?

Because of general anesthetics, the patient will not feel any pain during the operation. However, after the surgery, a little pain is expected. Patients also report having pain in a certain degree during the anesthesia step. We can say that it is the only pain the patient will feel to have permanent hair for life time.

Are There Any Alternatives to FUE Hair Transplant Surgery?

If you are not suitable for a hair transplant surgery, Micro Hair Pigmentation can be used to prevent having a bald look. However, there are not any other surgery close to hair transplant surgery. Micro Hair Pigmentation is tattooing hair-like dots on the scalp to give the impression of a newly shaved head. Besides, it might make the hair look fuller than normal. If you are looking for a different technique, you can check: FUT Hair transplant, DHI hair transplant, Sapphire FUE hair transplant or Unshaven hair transplant.

Are There Any Alternatives to FUE Hair Transplant Surgery?

FUE hair transplant is a modern and safe procedure that has got a high success rate. Because it does not include big incisions or it does not have a tough healing process. If one suffers from permanent hair loss, FUE hair transplant surgery is almost the only cure. It is surgery without bandages, incisions. As a result, the recovery process does not halt people from going to work. Moreover, it has got permanent results. Most people who had FUE hair transplant surgery report their self-esteem improved after the surgery thanks to the natural result.