If you are bothered by a thinning hairline, one option to consider is follicular unit extraction (FUE), a process that transfers natural clusters of hair, known as follicular units, from the back of your head and transplants them to thinning areas.
The following FUE frequently asked questions are to help you make an informed decision about your hair transplant treatment.
How Does FUE Compare to Traditional Hair Transplant Methods?
Traditional methods of hair transplantation involve removing a strip of skin from the back of the scalp, from which the follicles are then harvested. The FUE method directly extracts individual follicles, leading to less scarring and faster recovery.
Are You an Ideal Candidate for FUE Hair Transplant?
Ideal candidates for this procedure are older, because patients in their 20s may still experience unpredictable hair loss. Patients of any gender can undergo the procedure. People with wavier, thicker hair or low contrast between scalp and hair color tend to see the best results.
Patients should have a good donor supply area, specific goals, and realistic expectations. It is also important to be in good overall health, with no conditions that could interfere with healing.
How Long Does the Procedure Take?
An FUE hair transplant procedure can take four to eight hours, depending on the size of the treatment area.
What Happens During the FUE Procedure?
To begin, Dr. Murthy will shave the hair in the donor area. They will then remove hair follicles from the donor area and make small incisions at the transplant site to insert them. Finally, Dr. Murthy cleans and bandages the area.
Does the Procedure Hurt?
Most patients report minimal discomfort during surgery and recovery, as Dr. Murthy uses local anesthesia for the procedure.
What Is the Recovery Time for FUE Hair Transplants?
Recovery after FUE is quick, and most patients can return to their usual activities after two weeks.
How Successful Is the FUE Hair Transplant?
This procedure has a very high success rate. After three months, transplanted hairs will typically have grown about 10 percent. By six months, this number is usually around 50 percent, and it reaches 100 percent between 12 and 18 months.
Is an FUE Hair Transplant Permanent?
This procedure is permanent. Hair grafts, transplanted by an experienced surgeon such as Dr. Murthy from a safe donor area, should last for years.
Does the Hair From the Donor Site Grow Back?
No, hair from the donor site won’t grow back. This is why careful selection of donor hair area is an essential part of the initial consultation to determine candidacy for follicular unit extraction.
Are There Any Side Effects From an FUE Hair Transplant?
Common side effects include minor swelling and itching, which typically subside within a week. More serious side effects, such as infection or scarring, are rare but can occur if the patient does not follow post-operative care instructions. While uncommon, there can be scarring from the donor follicle extraction sites.
Are There Any Special Supplements or Shampoos To Use After the Transplant?
Dr. Murthy will review the recommended oral medications and supplements that are necessary to ensure a 90-100% growth rate from the newly transplanted hair follicles. There will also be recommendations for special shampoos and conditioners to optimize scalp health to ensure the best possible environment for hair growth.
Restore Confidence With an FUE Hair Transplant
Hair naturally changes with age, but you have options to create the appearance you want. Our team at Murthy Facial Plastic Surgery will guide you through the FUE hair transplant process, answer your questions, and help you choose the best approach for your needs.
We want to empower you to make informed decisions on your aesthetic journey and are here every step of the way. Contact us today to get started.