5 Key Benefits of Follicular Unit Extraction for Hair Restoration

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a surgical technique involving healthy hairs from areas of the scalp where the hair remains despite pattern balding. It then transfers them to the balding or thinning areas of the head.

This advanced method of hair transplantation delivers much more natural results than the plugs and other techniques popular a few decades ago. Learn about the five key benefits of this popular technique.

No Scars

FUE is a minimally invasive procedure that does not leave significant scars. This is because the process involves individually removing hair follicles from your scalp without cutting a substantial portion of your skin. This results in a virtually scar-free procedure, even when the area is shaved down.

During the treatment, your hair restoration doctor will use a micro punch to remove each follicular unit. These follicles are then transferred to the part of your scalp that is bald or thinning, resulting in natural-looking results.

The best part is that your new hair follicles will continue to grow and produce hair throughout the rest of your life, just as they would have if you had never lost hair. That’s an excellent benefit for those with hereditary hair loss, pattern balding, or traction alopecia caused by overly tight hairstyles.

In addition to being less invasive, follicular unit extraction is more efficient than traditional hair transplantation techniques. This is because you won’t need stitches so recovery will be faster.

Faster Recovery

Follicular unit extraction, also known as follicular unit transplantation, uses your natural hair to restore areas affected by baldness or thinning. The process involves surgically harvesting your hair from the back and sides of your head (the donor area) and transplanting it to places where you’ve lost or thinned hair.

Unlike previous hair restoration methods involving scalp flap surgery and 4 mm punch grafts, the follicular unit extraction technique is minimally invasive. It leaves very little to no visible scarring after treatment. This means you can keep your hair short or wear a high-cut confidently after your procedure.

During the follicular unit extraction process, we create tiny openings in your scalp where the follicles are extracted. These will heal within a few days, leaving no trace of the procedure in your hairline or around your scalp. This faster recovery is one of the primary reasons patients prefer follicular unit extraction over more invasive techniques like linear strip transplantation.

Natural Results

FUE hair restoration results in permanent, natural-looking growth. This means that your transplanted hair will blend in with your existing tresses, so no one will ever know you had a hair restoration procedure performed.

Unlike the previous hair restoration surgery options, FUE hair transplants do not leave significant scars on the scalp. This is because the surgeon extracts the hair follicles through punch hole incisions on the scalp (think of tiny round dots) – these small openings heal very quickly.

The surgeon then relocates the healthy follicular units to areas with thin or bald spots on your head. This will create a natural-looking, fuller head of hair, and you can style it as usual. FUE procedures can also treat scarring alopecia, facial hair restoration, traction alopecia, and other conditions like vitiligo or hirsutism. As technology advances, motorized and robotic tools are now available for the follicular unit extraction process, which helps increase speed and efficiency for hair restoration patients. This also improves the precision of follicular unit extraction for a more precise outcome.

Ease of Maintenance

Hair restoration specialists have a wide range of surgical methods for moving your natural hair from one part of the head to another. They can choose from scalp flap surgery, 4 mm punch grafts, and more advanced techniques such as FUE, FOX, or DHI (Direct Hair Implant). Ultimately, it’s all about the surgeon’s skill and experience.

The follicular unit extraction procedure involves extracting individual follicles from the back of your head and the sides where your hair grows most naturally – the donor area. These follicles are then transplanted to where you’re experiencing thinning or balding. This can restore a full and natural-looking head of hair.

Unlike the hair transplant procedures of the past, follicular unit extraction doesn’t leave significant scars. The scars will be invisible even if you crop your hair very short.

Lower Cost

Compared to the hair transplant methods that were popular a generation ago, follicular unit extraction leaves far less scarring and results in a more natural appearance. Hair restoration specialists use a great deal of skill and care to ensure that the transferred follicular units are positioned in such a way as to mimic the distribution of your natural hairline.

During the follicular unit extraction procedure, hair follicles are harvested from a donor area on your scalp (generally the back of the head) that will have permanent hair growth. The follicular units are then placed where your natural hairline is located to create a complete, healthy-looking hairline that will look like you never experienced balding.

Many offer both manual and robotic follicular unit extraction procedures. They believe that both can deliver excellent hair restoration results if performed by an expert surgeon with a deep understanding of how natural-looking hair grows. During your consultation, they can discuss which method is best suited to you. They can also answer any questions you may have about the recovery process or your treatment options.