What is the FUE Hair Transplant Method? Everything You Need to Know

What is the FUE Hair Transplant Method? Everything You Need to Know

If you are wondering if the FUE method is right for your hair, this guide can help. Here is everything to know about the FUE hair transplant.

No one wants to wake up one day and learn that they are losing their hair. But, unfortunately, this is a common reality for both men and women across the globe. 

There are a number of reasons for hair loss in both sexes. Most of the time, genetics plays a major role in hair loss which is unpreventable. But other factors include stress, hormonal imbalances, diet, environmental conditions, and other physiological issues. 

The great news is that there are incredible procedures on the market today to help restore hair growth and volume. One of these is an FUE hair transplant. You can learn more about this groundbreaking procedure in this blog…  

How Does an FUE Hair Transplant Work? 

FUE stands for Follicular Unit Extraction, however, it is also commonly known as Follicular Unit Transplantation or FUT. In short, it is a hair transplant surgery that includes the extraction of individual hairs from the sides or back of the head. These individual hairs are then transplanted to sites of hair loss. 

The most common FUE transplant sites are the scalp of the head, but it’s also performed on other sites of the head and body where hair is thin or absent. 

An Outline of the Process

FUE is a minimally invasive procedure. This means you don’t have to undergo major surgery or full anesthetic. A doctor removes healthy hair follicles from donor areas of the head, then individually grafts them to bald or thinning areas of hair on the head. 

The procedure takes anywhere from 6-8 hours, depending on the volume of hair transplantation. 

First thing’s first, your doctor applies or injects local anesthetic into the donor areas. Donor hair follicles are then extracted one-by-one. Once your doctor retrieves a sufficient amount of hair follicles, they anesthetize the transplant area. From here, your doctor makes tiny incisions with a micro-needle in order to transplant each hair follicle. Each individual graft is placed into each micro-incision. 

In essence, this is a fairly simple procedure that has a high success rate. It’s also virtually painless. But before you book in an FUE treatment, it’s important to do your research first. You’ll need to learn about the disadvantges and whether you’d be a good candidate. It’s also crucial that you do your homework on finding the right surgeon with enough experience in this procedure. 

What to Expect Post-Procedure 

The recovery time after an FUE transplant is relatively short. You can expect swelling and tenderness at the transplant sites for approximately 3-5 days. Once your procedure is complete, you’ll be given a few instructions to follow in order to guarantee the best healing and success rates: 

• You may need to take some time off work to encourage rest, recovery, and healing — usually, 2 days is enough 
• You must not wash or wet your hair for at least 3 days post-procedure
• When you do wash your hair, make sure to use unscented, gentle, or natural products on your scalp 
• You are discouraged from brushing or styling your hair vigorously for at least 3 weeks 
• Avoid wearing beanies, hats, or peaks until your doctor gives you the go-ahead
• Avoid strenuous workouts for approximately a week post-procedure 

Bear in mind that you may lose a few hair follicles during the healing process, but this is to be expected. It’s also important to remember that real, noticeable results take time. You can expect to see a significant difference in hair growth and volume after 3-4 months. Your doctor may also tell you not to expect your hair to grow back as thick as it once was. 

Remember that the transplanted hair behaves exactly like normal hair, in that it’s likely to shed after 2-4 weeks after your treatment. After this, your hair roots begin sprouting naturally and will continue to do so. 

What Are The Pros and Cons of an FUE Hair Transplant? 

With every single form of surgery, no matter the situation, there is always a set of pros and cons. When it comes to an FUE hair transplant, it’s no different. Ultimately, it’s important to make a well-informed decision when it comes to any type of surgery. 

Some advantages include: 

• An FUE hair transplant does not leave behind obvious scarring
• The recovery time is far shorter than other hair restoration procedures 
• You can expect to see natural-looking results in as little as 3-4 months
• The surgery is non-invasive — only your scalp will receive local anesthesia 
• The surgery is simple and requires fewer team members to complete successfully, i.e. your doctor and an assistant 

Another great benefit is that you can undergo multiple FUE interventions across consecutive days. This is because there are no obvious seams that give away the donor area. Follicle extraction can continue for as long as you want or need across multiple days.

Now, some of the disadvantages: 

• While this procedure is not overly painful, it can be uncomfortable due to the duration it takes
• The procedure can be costly, depending on the amount of follicle extraction and transplantation
• Although the procedure is not invasive, you are encouraged to take time off from work for recovery
• It can take longer to make each graft, which can prolong the total time of the treatment

Another reality to keep in mind is that every case of baldness is not always solved by an FUE transplant, success is dependent on a case-by-case basis. 

Get Your Hair Back For Good With Bu Clinics

If you’re considering an FUE hair transplant, Bu Clinics is a trusted professional you can turn to. We specialize in hair restoration and pride ourselves on offering successful, life-long results. 

Learn more about Bu Clinics’ hair transplant process, and be sure to get in touch for the life-changing results you’re looking for.