For many men and women, nothing is more frustrating and often embarrassing than hair loss. Even at an early age, baldness and hair loss can occur. Although there are countless over-the-counter remedies available, most are ineffective and leave people feeling helpless and hopeless. Fortunately, cosmetic surgery offers patients an exciting opportunity to effectively and reliably restore hair growth. While surgical hair restoration has existed for years, it has historically been a rather primitive and unreliable procedure. With the revolutionary developments in technology and technique, hair transplantation now has a much higher success rate, more natural-looking results and a completely more comfortable process.

What is FUE hair transplant?

Most people are probably familiar with the traditional linear hair transplant method. Using this technique, called FUT hair restoration, the surgeon removes a horizontal strip from the back of the patient’s head to extract thousands of hair follicles at once. FUE hair transplant, which stands for Follicular Unit Extraction, is a newer and more effective technique that involves the surgeon removing groups of 1-4 individual follicles using NeoGraft technology and transplanting them to the head areas affected by hair loss.

What can you expect from FUE hair transplant?

Follicular unit extraction is a minimally invasive procedure, but it is important to note that it is still considered surgery and should be taken seriously. The procedure itself is done with local anesthesia and usually takes about 8-10 hours. The patient will have to spend a long time lying on his side and lying on his back.

Because hair must be short to be grafted effectively, patients will be instructed on how to properly trim their hair prior to the procedure. With no incisions required, there will be no post-operative incision care or stitches to worry about, but patients can expect some discomfort, swelling, and crusting at the extraction sites. This is usually very mild and subsides rapidly, and hair growth in the days following the procedure should hide all imperfections until it heals. Most patients can return to work and normal daily activities within 48 hours, but it is important to continue the full course of postoperative care.

What kind of results can you get from follicular unit extraction hair transplant?

When properly performed by a skilled surgeon, FUE hair transplant can give patients full, beautiful, restored hair. The single-unit transfer method allows the surgeon to strategically and deftly place individual hairs, providing a natural-looking growth pattern. This is particularly advantageous when it comes to creating a new hairline that doesn’t look artificial. The donor areas should be completely healed after a few days, and you should start to notice new hair growth in about 3 months. Most patients begin to see significant results within 6-12 months. Some patients experience thinning or shedding of newly transplanted hair after 6-8 weeks, but this is a normal response to treatment.

Ultimately, men and women undergoing FUE hair transplant by a qualified and experienced provider can expect to achieve new, natural, permanent hair growth. As with any procedure, results may vary from patient to patient. During your initial consultation, your doctor will evaluate your situation in detail and discuss what results you can realistically expect to help you better determine whether you are a good candidate for FUE hair transplant.

How successful is FUE hair transplant?

The success rate of any hair restoration procedure is largely dependent on a list of individual factors, including the patient’s overall health, the severity of the hair loss, and the surgeon’s experience. FUE hair transplantation maintains much higher success rates than other techniques.

Arguably the most important factor for a successful FUE hair transplant procedure is choosing the right provider. During your consultation, do not hesitate to ask about your potential surgeon’s experience, training, and record of success.