Follicular unit extraction, commonly known as FUE, is a hair transplant where individual hair follicles are taken from your skin and moved to another part where hair is absent or thinner. The procedure uses micro punches, which leave no trace of extraction compared to the follicular unit transplantation, which gives a “hair plugs” look.
The FUE hair transplant costs between $4,000-$15,000, depending on how much hair is being transplanted and your surgeon’s pricing. This is recommended for people with thinning, balding, or hair loss issues. However, you should consult a professional and learn more about this procedure before coming to a decision.
There is no need to shave your entire head for an FUE hair transplant. The procedure can be performed with minimal to no shaving, as only a small section of your hair will be removed. There are two types of methods that you can choose from:
This method removes a small section or part of your hair to cover the wound from both sides. This method involves layer shaving to eliminate any appearance of a shaved head. However, it can be tedious as only 2,000 grafts can be harvested in one day. Therefore, your surgeon may advise for a complete shaving of the head as it will provide access to a better harvest of hair, avoiding the contrast that could be evident between the extracted and the neighboring areas.
In this method, the patient doesn’t have to shave in the donor or recipient areas. This can be challenging as you can harvest only a limited number of hair in each session, and, therefore, it is more expensive. This is also known as the Celebrity hair transplant method, as many celebrities choose it to avoid looking like they got a hair transplant. The surgeon tries to excise the grafts with long hair or only the hair that needs to be harvested to leave no trace of the procedure.
See Also: How Many Hair Grafts Will I Need for My Fue Hair Transplant Procedure?
You should be relieved to know that an FUE hair transplant is not a painful procedure. However, at times, you may feel some discomfort during the procedure. Luckily, it is brief and temporary. You should know what to expect
There is a numbing medication given in the donor area and the recipient area. It usually lasts 3 hours and is touched up from time to time throughout the day until it wears off.
The numbing medication is given to the patient in the recipient and the donor areas. The process of extraction is then started. The patient will feel no pain physically or discomfort. If there is any pain, the patient will be tended to with numbing medication or other accommodations.
Usually, the patients have reported that there was minimal to no pain or discomfort after the surgery. However, if they do experience any, they will be given painkillers or Tylenol to help reduce the intensity of pain or discomfort.
FUE is an outpatient procedure where the patient can go home after the process. The session is usually done in 2 to 4-hour sessions. This is a labor-intensive procedure that depends upon the experience of the hair transplant team. Furthermore, the duration depends upon certain factors such as:
After undergoing an FUE transplant, it is recommended to wait 6-8 weeks before getting a haircut. This rest period is taken for the hair follicles to get fixed onto the scalp. An early haircut may lead to the transplanted hair falling off as they are not secure.
Two types of hair transplantation techniques are available – FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) and FUE ( Follicular Unit Extraction). FUE is the more common approach followed due to its advantages which are:
The type of hair transplant depends from individual to individual. The hair transplant surgeon will consider the desired coverage and the follicular units required before deciding on the procedure.
See Also: FUT, FUE, & Other Hair Restoration Techniques: What You Need to Know
Consult MANE for Your Hair Transplant Treatment Today
If you want to get FUE, we’ve got you covered! We at Mane Center for Advanced Hair Restoration offer a wide range of hair loss treatments, including Our founder, Dr. Douglas Burka, who has years of experience and expertise in providing the best hair loss treatment in Chevy Chase. His commitment to excellence has earned him a reputation as a highly-skilled and renowned surgeon. Request a free consultation or contact our team to learn more about our services.
