Follicular Unit Extraction or FUE is an exciting technique in hair transplant surgery that leaves no linear scar. We are able to choose and remove individual follicles and move them to a new location to create natural looking results.
Why would I choose FUE?
FUE is a very popular surgery because it does not involve scalpels or sutures and leaves no linear scar. Patients recover faster with less discomfort and can get back to normal activities sooner. Since there is no linear scar and FUE scars are minimal the hair can be cut very short if desired.
What does it involve?
FUE is accomplished by removing individual follicles under local anesthesia with a very small surgical punch. We take the hair to be transplanted from the ‘safe zone’ in the back and sides of the head and place it in the balding area. Since the follicles in the ‘safe zone’ are genetically programed to grow normally the transplanted hair should last a lifetime.
These transplanted hairs are immune to the effects of DHT (the hormone that causes male pattern baldness) as we pick them from the ‘permanent zone’ on the back of the scalp. This means, once transplanted, that hair isn’t going nowhere.
What is the ‘S.A.F.E. System’?
The most modern method of obtaining hair to transplant is called Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and the S.A.F.E System is a remarkable tool that helps hair restoration surgeons perform FUE. FUE is the technique where one follicle at a time is harvested from the donor area and transferred to the recipient area to grow. This can be a time consuming process and hair follicles can be injured in the process if not performed correctly. FUE devices are known by different names such as Artas, Neograft, and SAFE System. All perform the same task to help the surgeon to remove the hair follicles one at a time for transplant. The SAFE System uses a dull punch system that reduces the risk of damaging hair follicles and is the preferred device for Dr. Fallon when performing FUE surgery.
How long does it take?
A typical FUE procedure takes most of the day. A surgery involving larger numbers of grafts may take us two consecutive days. As in any hair transplant the grafts will begin to grow in about 4 to 5 months with full results at about 9 to 12 months.
Does it hurt?
Once the local anesthetic is placed you should feel no pain.
Contact Us To Schedule Your Hair Loss Consultation With Dr. FallonFUE Instrumentation
One of the most important aspects of modern FUE surgery is the instrumentation available to help the surgeon remove grafts efficiently and intact. While the surgeon and assistants skills still are the most critical factor in a successful FUE surgery, new instruments and techniques have evolved to allow removal many more perfect grafts in a shorter period of time. The benefit to the patient is lower cost and better results. The use of tiny rotating punch is used to help free and extract the hair follicle and is the contemporary method of modern FUE. Implantation of the follicle is nearly the same for FUE or the standard FUT surgery.
The holes left behind once the grafts are extracted are tiny. – hence the main attraction of this technique for patients considering a hair transplant. Scars from any FUE procedure are diffuse and minuscule, whether performed by hand or with any automated instrumentation including Artas, NeoGraft, SAFE Scribe or other devices.
