What to Expect During Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

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The Follicular Unit Extraction (more commonly referred to as FUE) method of hair transplant is a highly successful method of hair restoration and treating hair loss. The FUE method increases hair growth by allowing donor follicles to regenerate. The procedure is particularly successful for treating hair loss on the temples, a receding hairline and the bald spot on the crown of the head.

The FUE hair transplantation procedure involves the transfer of microscopic grafts of hair follicles from a donor area where there is still a good amount of hair to the recipient area where there is an absence of hair or thinning hair. The most common type of hair loss in men is male pattern baldness and in this situation the donor area is at the back of the head and the recipient area at the front of the head. The treatment is minimally invasive compared to older methods. On average, between one and three treatments are likely to be necessary, although this will vary dependent upon the transplant required and the available donor hair.

The FUE hair transplantation procedure commences with a local anesthetic, which is applied to both the donor and the recipient areas. A relaxant such as Valium may also be administered to the patient, prior to commencement of the procedure. The donor area hair is cut short before the treatment. Individual grafts, which contain one, two or three hair follicles, are then individually removed from the donor area, by means of a small precision instrument. Depending upon the thickness of the hair, the grafts measure only 0.65mm-0.75mm. The grafts are put into a special solution which keeps them sterile and contains substances which support implantation and healing.

The next stage is to create implantation openings in the recipient area, using a precision instrument similar in shape to that used to remove the grafts. The openings are very small, normally again only 0.65mm-0.75mm, so that the grafts will fit exactly. The duration of the treatment varies, but as a rule a treatment of up to one thousand grafts could take up to six hours. If the procedure requires more than one thousand grafts, the treatment will usually be undertaken over two to three days. Some after care is required following treatment, including a specially formulated wash, antiseptic ointment and possibly antibiotics. Patients may have to restrict physical activity during the recovery period, although can resume their normal activities after three days. A hat will need to be worn for three to five days. There may be slight swelling in the treated area for a few days and scabs may form. The skin in both the recipient and the donor area heals within around a fortnight and any scabs which have formed should also fall off within this period. Most of the hairs in the transplanted grafts fall out in two to eight weeks, but new hair will start to grow in two to three months and, after six months, there will be significant new hair growth.