If you’ve done any research into hair transplant options, you’ve probably heard about follicular unit extraction (FUE). But what is an FUE hair transplant?
FUE is currently the most advanced type of hair transplant on the market, and it’s winning new converts every day. If you’re curious about this cutting-edge treatment method, it’s important to understand how an FUE transplant works, why it’s beneficial, and how long the effects last.
Who Is a Candidate for an FUE Hair Transplant?
A good candidate for FUE is generally a healthy adult who wants to treat hair loss and has good hair density in a donor location such as the back or sides of the scalp.
An FUE transplant is suitable for both men and women who are struggling with hair loss. Many candidates prefer this method because it’s minimally invasive, long-lasting, and discreet. Because it doesn’t leave a linear scar like many other treatment methods, it’s often preferred by candidates who want to wear their hair short. It’s also popular among athletes and other active individuals who want to maintain their active lifestyle without restriction.
The treatment is so precise and effective that it can even be used to camouflage a linear scar from a previous transplant. If you’ve tried hair transplant treatments in the past and have been disappointed with the outcome, you may be a good candidate for follicular unit extraction. The FUE hair transplant results don’t disappoint!
How Does an FUE Hair Transplant Work?
What is an FUE hair transplant? To effectively answer this question, it’s important to understand how the procedure works.
- First, hair is extracted from a donor site within the scalp. In other words, hair is pulled from one location of the head so that it can be transferred to a balding area (don’t worry, this won’t thin out the hair in the donor area). For the extraction process, tiny circular punch incisions are made around each follicular unit of hair (each unit contains up to 7 hairs).
- The extraction process is repeated one unit at a time until the surgeon has collected enough units for transplantation.
- The surgeon (with the help of precise micro-surgical instrumentation) punctures the recipient area of the scalp with tiny holes and carefully implants the grafts at the same angle and density as the original hair, allowing for a look that’s completely smooth and natural.
How Long Does an FUE Hair Transplant Take?
The entire FUE transplant is completed in a single appointment. Depending on the number of grafts required, you can expect a treatment time of about 4 to 8 hours. A typical procedure requires about 2,000 grafts, which can take about 6 hours to complete in many cases.
The visible results generally start to manifest around 3 months after treatment. Within 6 months, the results should be completely noticeable. And once the process is complete, you never have to return for touch-ups.
How Long Do the FUE Hair Transplant Results Last?
As long as the FUE hair transplant is conducted by a skilled surgeon using a proven FUE transplantation system, the results should last a lifetime. At Salameh Plastic Surgery & MedSpa, we use the state-of-the-art ARTAS hair transplant robot.
The reason why FUE hair transplant results are so long-lasting is that the hairs are physically grafted onto the head and not susceptible to the standard triggers of male-pattern baldness or other forms of hair loss.
Benefits of an FUE Hair Transplant
Now that you know what an FUE hair transplant is, you may still be wondering exactly how it would help you. The benefits of an FUE hair transplant are unlike anything you’d get with any other type of hair transplant:
- The restoration is completed entirely with your own natural hair.
- The procedure involves only minimal discomfort. You’re awake during the entire procedure. Since we use a local anesthetic, you can return home the same day. There’s no skin grafting, just a transfer of follicular units.
- The recovery time is also minimal. You might experience a small amount of swelling or discomfort that lasts no more than a couple of days, so you can easily get the procedure done on Friday and return to work on Monday. Within a couple of weeks, you can return to your regular exercise routine.
- Nobody will even know you’ve had a hair transplant. No linear scar is left behind.
Most importantly, the results speak for themselves. Just check out these FUE hair transplant before-and-after photos.
Salameh Plastic Surgery & MedSpa Offers Follicular Unit Extraction
What is an FUE hair transplant? It’s time to find out for yourself. Salameh Plastic Surgery & MedSpa is one of the nation’s premier facilities for FUE hair transplants. We use the revolutionary ARTAS system, which relies on precise algorithms and robotics to meticulously map the exact location of each follicular location and then graft them to perfection.
ARTAS robotics work quickly, accurately, and with minimal discomfort. And the whole thing is physician-assisted, so we take great care to ensure that results are perfect. If you’d like to learn more about the ARTAS system or FUE hair transplantation, visit our hair transplant resources, then schedule your appointment.
If you’re thinking about a hair transplant, you won’t find a better option than follicular unit extraction. It quite simply is the gold standard for hair loss treatment.
