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Cosmetic treatments for males are growing in popularity across the board and these four top aesthetic treatments are leading the movement.
Jul 11, 2019
Author: Zachary Farris, MD, FACS
Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is the most advanced method of hair transplantation for men and women today. With FUE, you can achieve a natural hair restoration with your own hair, with little down time, little discomfort during an awake procedure that leaves no linear scar.
During the FUE procedure, hair is extracted from a donor site in your scalp, usually the back and sides of the scalp and then carefully transplanted to thinning or balding areas. The hair is extracted by first making very tiny circular punch incisions around a follicular unit of hair. A typical follicular unit will contain 1-4 hairs. Once a follicular unit is removed, the donor scalp completely heals and there is no linear scar, unlike the strip method.
Your surgeon repeats this process, extracting follicular units one at a time until enough follicular units have been obtained to perform the transplantation. This method of removing follicular units is what makes an FUE transplant different from a traditional follicular unit transplant (FUT), where hair is harvested from the donor area in the scalp in one long thin strip and then divided into smaller sections to transplant. Unlike FUE, FUT results in a linear scar, longer recovery, more pain and possible loss of scalp sensation.
Once the grafts are harvested, the recipient site on the scalp is then punctured with tiny holes and the FUE grafts are carefully implanted using micro-surgical instrumentation, at an angle and density that matches the original hair. This entire procedure is performed under local anesthetic with the patient awake and comfortable. The length of the procedure can range from 4-8 hours depending on how many grafts are used. An average case requires 2000 grafts.
At Farris Plastic Surgery, Dr. Farris performs Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) utilizing the NeoGraft® 2.0 Automated Hair Transplantation system. This system represents the newest technology in hair restoration, delivers automation of the FUE technique and uses pneumatic controls to precisely extract complete individual hair follicles.
Many patients prefer FUE because it is a minimally invasive solution that offers superior, more natural looking results. Since you will not suffer from a linear scar, an FUE procedure is appropriate if you want to wear your hair very short. If you are an athlete or want the least amount of activity restriction after their procedure, FUE is preferred.
Also, FUE is beneficial for patients who have had poor results from traditional strip harvesting or who have a very tight scalp. Your surgeon can camouflage a linear donor scar from a previous transplant procedure by directly placing harvested hairs into the scar. To be a good candidate for FUE, you need to have good hair density at donor areas such as the back and sides of the scalp.
You will experience hardly any post-surgical pain and discomfort and can resume your normal activities within 48 hours. Your transplanted hair will shed a few weeks after the procedure but will grow back strong and healthy. You will enjoy permanent, natural-looking results for years to come.
Dr. Farris helps each patient determine the right course of treatment for them. Anyone considering hair transplant procedures is encouraged to contact him for more information or to schedule a free consultation in the Dallas area. Best of luck on your hair restoration journey!
Disclaimer: The content within this site is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or specific medical advice. The products and claims made about specific products and treatments through this article have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Please consult with a NeoGraft® Certified Physician or other healthcare professionals regarding any medical or health-related diagnosis.
Dr. Farris is a board-certified plastic surgeon, who has a private practice in Dallas, Texas. He specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery.
Dr. Farris is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is an active member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and is on their Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Industry Support Committees. Dr. Farris is also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Dallas Society of Plastic Surgeons. He received his B.A. degree from NYU and his M.D. degree from Drexel University College of Medicine (MCP Hahnemann). Dr. Farris completed his internship at Brown University, surgery residency at UMDNJ and plastic surgery residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine – Montefiore.
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