Punch grafts, scalp reductions, scalp extensions…In
past, as names of these earlier procedures indicate, undergoing a hair transplant was a painfully unpleasant process. Men with receding hairlines and balding scalps often resorted to unnatural-looking, and often ridiculed, toupee to avoid pain, slow healing, and scarring of a transplant.
Because of this, hair transplant business was staggering in late twentieth century. Surgeons knew that hair restoration techniques needed to evolve.
Fast forward into beginning of twenty-first century…
Thousands of bad comb-overs and strip incision scars later, new technique that hair restoration surgeons were waiting for was finally perfected. The hair transplant community eventually embraced follicular unit extraction (FUE). Surgeons praised method and potential patients were curious about it.
But what exactly is follicular unit extraction? And is it really more effective and beneficial than older methods of hair transplantation?
Follicular unit extraction involves removal of small groups of hair follicles (usually between one and four) from donor site and their reinsertion into receptor site. These small grafts allow for equal distribution of hair in balding area of scalp and produce more natural-looking results. In fact, once receptor site has completely healed, it is virtually impossible to detect that any sort of hair transplant procedure has taken place.
The differences between FUE and older methods of transplantation are noteworthy.
Firstly, FUE procedure is quicker and less painful than any other hair restoration technique. FUE is performed with a punch-like scalpel that cuts skin around follicle. This facilitates removal of about one to four follicles from donor area at same time. Also, advanced method of follicular perforation™ allows surgeon to make a shallow punch on surrounding tissue, ensuring that graft be released from tissue with minimum traction and with better ease. The extracted follicles (called grafts) are then inserted into small slits that have been cut in recipient area. These slits do not need suturing, heal quickly, and are completely undetectable once new hair begins to grow in about seven to ten days.
Secondly, FUE is beneficial because recovery process is much faster and less painful. In most patients, grafts become fully secure in about eight days after surgery and surgical wound in donor area usually heals within one to two weeks. Some discomfort may be present, but usually analgesics like Tylenol or codeine will help. Generally, normal activity may be resumed one to two weeks after procedure. In older methods of hair restoration, bleeding, suturing, and bandaging were parts of long and painful recovery process.
