GeneralBenefits of FUE Hair Transplants: NO Suture, NO Linear Scar Procedure

Do you sometimes find yourself looking at a stranger’s head on the bus or train, focusing on the thickness of their hair? Thinking if it is natural or a hair piece or transplanted?

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It has been said that hair loss has a debilitating effect on a man’s self-esteem for centuries, if not longer. In the old days, long and thick hair was a symbol of manhood and vigor. So, it isn’t surprising that men are affected by hair loss nowadays with an impact on their psychosocial function. Their level of concern about hair loss plays a huge influence on their self-image, social perceptions, and personal attractiveness.

Approximately 50% of men will experience noticeable hair loss by the age of 50. Then by the age of 60, it will affect around two thirds of them. Some even encounter hair loss far earlier while they are in their 20s, 30s, or even late teens.

The main reason why men are suffering from hair loss is androgenic alopecia (also known as androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness). In this condition, the scalp becomes more sensitive to the male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes certain follicles to shrink and produce abnormal hair with a shorter life. The result is fewer hair grows over time in certain areas like on top of the head and over the temples. The hair that does grow is thinner and more breakable than before.

Hair loss isn’t always about a receding hairline. It can greatly affect one’s confidence and self-esteem, that’s why it is important to address it.

There are certain procedures that can significantly treat hair loss. One of the most important decisions that needs to be made is which type of hair transplant procedure to have: Follicular unit extraction (FUE) or Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT).

The main difference between FUT and FUE hair transplants is that: In FUT, the surgeon removes a strip of donor skin from which to extract individual follicular units to be transferred to the areas of hair loss. While in FUE, individual follicular units are excised directly from the donor area of the scalp which consists of the back and sides of the head. However, the hair transplant industry clients seem to have an inclination towards FUE during recent years.

What is a FUE Hair Transplant?

Now, let’s take a closer look at what FUE is…

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a type of minimally invasive hair transplant procedure that is done by taking individual hair follicles from the skin and moving them to another part of the body where hair is thinner or absent.

FUE has become more popular than the follicular unit transplantation (FUT) procedure, which led to the “hair plug” look where sections of skin or hair didn’t match the surrounding areas. Surgeons use micro punches to extract single follicles and move them, leaving behind almost no signs of extraction. FUE harvesting of grafts may cause “pit” scarring — small, round, and typically white scars in the patient’s donor area where the grafts have been removed. It usually takes 6-8 hours to perform FUE because it is labor-intensive.

Now that you have an understanding of what FUE is, let’s find out how it will benefit you for having this kind of hair transplant procedure.

What are the Benefits of FUE?

Here are the advantages you need to know for getting a Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE):

• Minimally invasive – without any scalpel use, only local anesthesia is used and the procedure is considered a minor one
• Lower complication rate – reduces the risk of long-term nerve damage which could lead to chronic numbness or pain in the donor area
• No linear scar at the back of the head – no traces of scarring left on the scalp after recovery; there were tiny white dots where follicles were taken out, but may fade over time
• Can shave or keep hair short in the future – suitable for those who wish to have short hair
• Re-harvest – Can continue to harvest more grafts for future FUE procedures
• Shorter recovery time – short recovery period compared to FUT and significantly lower post-operative discomfort.

Recovery from FUE is quick. You may have some swelling or discomfort for a couple of days and you can return to work fairly soon.

It’s normal that some hair may fall out during the healing process. You’ll probably start to notice a difference after 4 months. Depending on the health of your transplanted hair, your hair may not grow back as thick as expected. Final results can be seen in about a year.

Who is a Good Candidate for FUE?

The following are among the best candidates for a Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) procedure:

• 20s, 30s, 40s – Younger individuals, especially those in their twenties and thirties, as they usually tend to change their mind about their hairstyle. Also, less scarring on the scalp means a definite boost in their self-confidence and has turned FUE into the more popular hair restoration treatment among younger people.
• Someone with thinning hair or balding who still has enough hair at the back of the head to donate for a transplant – FUE is the best option when the number of grafts needed for someone with small patches of baldness is limited. As many as 2,000 to 3,000 plus grafts can be harvested individually from the donor area and planted into the bald areas. The total transplanted grafts can exceed 4,000 during a MEGA Session FUE.
• Someone with short hair – Since FUE leaves few scars on the head, people who prefer short hair feel more confident when it comes to choosing between the methods of hair transplant.
• Someone who has already had a previous procedure – In case someone has already undergone one hair transplant (most probably an FUT which has left them with considerable scars around their scalp), it’s advisable to undergo FUE as a second round of hair transplant.
• Someone averse to having a linear scar at the back of their head from a FUT Hair Transplant. 

Key Takeaways 

To sum up, it would be safe to conclude that FUE is the method of choice for those who are more concerned with aesthetic attributes of a chosen procedure. Now that you already know the advantages of FUE, you have a better grasp on what to understand when choosing a hair transplant technique.

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