How Follicular Unit Excision and Extraction (FUE) Works
FUE is a surgical hair harvesting process that extracts donor hair one graft at a time. Shaving the donor area is necessary to allow a good view of the grafts for extraction and improve precision during the crucial donor harvest step of the hair transplant surgery. The hair donor zone is on the back and sides of the head, and shaving this area allows surgeons to see the whole donor zone as well as individual hair transplants that will be harvested. This will ensure the quality of your hair loss treatment.
Technological advancement has led to more efficient graft harvesting tools. Punches are becoming smaller, reducing scarring and damage, while motorized punches have improved how surgeons score the surface layer of the skin while decreasing the depth of scoring. This protects the follicular unit grafts while minimizing the process's influence on the surrounding scalp tissue.
Most surgeons use Dr. Jim Harris' SAFE System for manual FUE surgeries. It is a blunt, motorized dissection device that separates follicular units from the surrounding scalp. It allows surgeons to harvest them directly from the scalp while causing minimal damage to the follicles.
The Transplant Process
After the grafts are harvested, the Microscopic Follicular Unit Transplantation (MFUT) procedure commences. MFUT follows the same stages as Microscopically Dissected Elliptical Excision (MDEE), with the surgeon establishing recipient sites and gently but methodically placing the grafts at the right angle and orientation.
FUE is a revolutionary harvesting procedure that is ideal for people seeking an alternative to the conventional MDEE approach. MDEE entails extracting an elliptical strip of tissue, dissecting it, and inserting the grafts into the recipient locations. In comparison, the FUE hair transplant method results in minuscule, pinpoint scars throughout the donor region. These are difficult to notice because the shaved hair begins to regrow. That process takes around two weeks. Furthermore, FUE is suitable for individuals who keep their hair very short and want to have fewer visible scars because donor region scarring is nearly unnoticeable at hair lengths less than 1 cm.
Does FUE Hair Transplant Hurt?
The good news is that the operation itself should be painless. Follicular Unit Extraction can be labor-intensive because each donor follicle must be retrieved with a tool. Furthermore, the outcomes of the procedure can appear uncomfortable and painful. During the process, however, a local anesthetic numbs the scalp area where the surgery will be performed. Patients may experience some discomfort initially, but once the anesthesia has taken effect and the area is fully numb, they should no longer feel pain.
Pain tolerance indeed differs from person to person. You can tell your surgeon how you're feeling during the hair transplantation procedure so that they can make any required adjustments.
Post-Operative Care and Comfort
After the FUE hair transplant procedure, a light dressing is placed on the operating site and then removed once the patient arrives home. To encourage healing, the scalp is left open as much as possible on the first night. The next day, patients should go back to the clinic for a hair wash and scalp examination. After that, no dressing is usually required. Minimal scalp soreness and swelling are usual after FUE, and most patients will be given prescriptions for oral pain medication to take post-operatively if necessary.
Each unique patient heals at their rate. Some people may feel minor pain for a few days, while others may have sore scalps for several weeks. The amount of grafts that patients have received also influences the healing process. More grafts placed will necessitate longer recovery durations. Your doctor may administer growth factor injections containing Z-Factors to aid in the healing process and boost early hair regeneration.
Healing usually takes seven to 10 days. Patients who experience prolonged discomfort following their procedure, or who find that their scalp is not healing properly, should see their doctor as soon as possible to rule out any other underlying concerns interfering with the healing process.