Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) also known as Follicular Unit Extraction involves extracting follicles, most commonly in their natural groupings, from the ‘safe’ or permanent zone at the back and sides of the head.
Small punches are used, usually ranging from 0.8-1.0mm in diameter, and follicles are taken out one by one.
The follicles are then trimmed, counted and sorted under the microscopes, (the use of microscopes in hair transplant surgery is associated with less damage to the follicles) ready to be placed into tiny incisions in the recipient zone where there is hair loss.
Each follicle or graft may comprise of 1, 2 or 3 hairs and will be placed in a way to give you the most natural results.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of FUE over Strip FUT
The main advantage of FUE is that no linear scar is left, which allows you to wear your hair at a shorter length, usually a grade 1.5 to 2 haircut. It is also viewed as a less invasive procedure by many patients and there is often less pain post operatively compared to Strip Follicular Unit Transplantation (Strip FUT).
The main disadvantage of FUE is that the number of grafts you can harvest is dictated by the donor area size and density and as a result it often yields fewer grafts than Strip FUT. Grafts are also more susceptible to damage compared to Strip FUT and graft quality corresponds to the skill and experience of the surgeon.
From a practical point of view, many patients simply do not want to shave the back of their head for FUE and therefore choose Strip FUT. Unshaven FUE is an option, but is usually reserved for smaller cases.
A good choice for younger patients
FUE is a good choice for younger patients or those with uncertain future hair loss. It is important to remember though that FUE is not scarless and the density of hair in the donor region will decrease. Long-term planning is essential, especially when treating hair loss in younger patients, as there is always a finite amount of scalp donor hair to utilise.
The quality of the result is dependant on the quality of the surgeon
Many clinics use technicians without any medical training to carry out FUE excisions. This is against guidance from both the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery (BAHRS) and the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS).
Mr D’Souza always carries out all of the surgical steps of the FUE hair transplant procedure. FUE grafts are more susceptible to damage compared to Strip FUT and graft quality corresponds to the skill and experience of the surgeon.
Is FUE suitable for me?
Call 0207 770 6538 to arrange a consultation to discuss if FUE is the right treatment for your hair loss condition.
