FUE Hair Transplant – The top 8 things you need to know

According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, by age 35, more than 40% of Americans show signs of hair loss. The condition worsens with age, and by age 60, more than 65% of males exhibit signs of hair loss. Nearly 80 million people in the United States are having hair thinning or baldness due to hereditary causes. In men, hereditary hair loss is often observed in the hairline. Many men witness this process by seeing bald patches above their heads. Women generally tend to protect their hairline. They often see hair that is significantly thinner. For many women, the first sign of hair loss is the expanding thinning zones in their heads. In men, there are rarely marked thinning hairs. Likewise, a hairline or bald patch is also rarely observed in women. The reasons for these differences are not fully determined.

If you have a problem with hair loss, you may need a blood test to find out why. This is an effective solution for the examination of conditions that can cause hair loss in your body. In some cases, another process called scalp biopsy may be needed. Your dermatologist can quickly and easily determine what you need to find out the causes of hair loss during these consultations. If you are determined to be a good candidate for hair transplantation as a result of examinations and tests, your dermatologist can tell you what results you expect.

FUE hair transplant usually becomes a key for the hair loss treatment. Follicular Unit Extraction is a type of hair restoration procedure performed in medical centers from all around the world in order to help individuals suffering from hair loss. Let’s get down to the top 8 facts you need to know about the FUE hair transplant procedure.

1. FUE Hair Transplant Was Developed in Japan

In 1988, Masumi Inaba started using a 1 mm needle to extract hair follicles. The technique was further refined by many practitioners from all around the world, and FUE hair transplant quickly gained popularity among patients and surgeons alike. This hair restoration technique takes considerable time to master, but the results it brings are very appealing to hair restoration surgeons.

READ: To-Ask List Before Your Hair Transplant

2. FUE Hair Transplant is Popular Due to One Simple Reason – It Works.

Before FUE was widely available, the follicular unit transplantation (FUT) technique was used – this is an invasive technique by which a portion of the patient’s scalp is removed in order to harvest hair follicles. Basically, in the FUT technique, the surgeon usually uses a scalpel to remove some of your scalp from the back of your head. Then your surgeon closes this area with stitches. Then, the surgeon and the team split the removed piece up into as many as 2,000 smaller fragments, called grafts. Some of these grafts may contain only one hair each. The surgeon makes tiny holes in your scalp where hair will be transplanted by using a needle or blade. The surgeon inserts hair into the puncture holes. This step is called grafting. They then cover the surgical sites with bandages or gauze.

However, in an FUE hair transplant, each follicular unit is taken directly from the scalp individually with no strip of tissue being removed. Hair follicles are removed randomly, and the result is less density in the donor area. This creates the main difference between FUE & FUT.

3. FUE Hair Transplant Has Some Advantages

And these advantages include:

• Shorter recovery period
• Less risk of developing complications
• No incisions, no stitches
• Natural results
• No major scars

Other hair restoration techniques include a scalp reduction – a part of the patient’s scalp is simply removed and then the rest of the scalp is stretched and stitched together. Luckily enough, this procedure became obsolete with the development of FUE and FUT hair transplant techniques. Here is a complete list of hair transplant clinics.

4. Body Hair Can Be Transplanted As Well with FUE Hair Transplant

Although the donor area is usually the back of the head, body hair can also be used with the FUE transplant technique. FUE using body hair can be an effective hair transplantation method for a select patient population of patients who suffer from severe baldness or have inadequate scalp donor reserve.

BHFUE or Body Hair Follicular Unit Extraction was first successfully tested in 1998 and the technique is continuously refined. It’s not as popular as a traditional FUE procedure simply due to the fact that most patients do have enough hair in their donor area – the back of the head.

5. Not All Hairs Will Grow After Being Transplanted in FUE Hair Transplant

It’s worth noting that not all hair grafts will grow after being transplanted. Some follicular units can be transacted during the extraction process. Usually, around 85-90% of the transplanted hair follicles will grow naturally.

6. FUE Hair Transplant Takes Time

An FUE hair transplant usually takes between 8 and 14 hours. The recovery period lasts about 2 weeks. Patients can see the procedure results in around 10 to 12 months. Hair transplants take time – it is a very time-consuming effort, especially when done properly. Patients usually enjoy natural hair growth in about a year after the procedure, so don’t panic if you’ve had FUE and your new hair first falls off.

7. There Are a Few Risks Associated with FUE Hair Transplant

Hair transplant surgery is a safe procedure when it is performed by a qualified, experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. However, patients may vary in their physical reactions and recovery abilities. For that reason, results are never completely predictable. To give an example, as in any surgical procedure, the infection may occur during or after the surgery. Excessive bleeding or wide scars caused by tension may result from FUE hair transplant procedures.

Certain considerations and extra care are needed during the recovery period in order to avoid any complications further on. Hair transplant centers usually provide patients with guidelines that ensure the success of the procedure.

READ: Hair Transplant Procedure Common Questions

8. FUE Hair Transplant is Cost Effective

Since FUE results are permanent, this is one of the most cost-effective hair restoration techniques available today. No more special shampoos, lotions, toupees or other quick fixes. This is a one-time investment with life-long results.

If you are in a decision stage of a hair transplant and trying to find the best technique and the most affordable prices, you may take into account this technique. Because FUE cost will be in second priority by thinking out the advantages and the results you will face after the operation. Turkey should be on your list because this country becomes the most preferred choice for everyone all around the world with its well-experienced surgeons and well-equipped clinics provides high standards and offers that cannot be refused!

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