Before mentioning whether “is FUE hair transplantation effective” or not, let’s look at what is exactly this technique.

Hair Transplantation

Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that removes hair follicles from one part of the body, called the ‘donor site’, to a bald or balding part of the body known as the ‘recipient site’. The technique is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness. In this minimally invasive procedure, grafts containing hair follicles that are genetically resistant to balding (like the back of the head) are transplanted to the bald scalp. Hair transplantation can also be used to restore eyelashes, eyebrows, beard hair, chest hair, pubic hair and to fill in scars caused by accidents or surgery such as face-lifts and previous hair transplants. Hair transplantation differs from skin grafting in that grafts contain almost all of the epidermis and dermis surrounding the hair follicle, and many tiny grafts are transplanted rather than a single strip of skin.

 

Since hair naturally grows in groupings of 1 to 4 hairs, current techniques harvest and transplant hair “follicular units” in their natural groupings. Thus modern hair transplantation can achieve a natural appearance by mimicking original hair orientation. This hair transplant procedure is called follicular unit transplantation (FUT). Donor hair can be harvested in two different ways: strip harvesting, and follicular unit extraction (FUE).

How Does The Process Work?

Simply put, a hair transplant takes hair you have and transfers it to an area where you don’t have hair. It’s typically taken from the back of your head, but can also be taken from other parts of your body.

 

Before starting a transplant, your surgeon sterilizes the area where the hair will be removed and numbs it with a local anesthetic. You can also request sedation in order to stay asleep for the procedure. Your surgeon then performs one of two transplant methods: FUT or FUE.

 

Follicular Unit Excision (FUE)

Follicular unit excision, or FUE, is a donor hair harvesting technique that Hair transplant surgeons commonly use to harvest individual follicular units (hair follicles) from the back of the head. The surgeon uses a cylindrical instrument to meticulously harvest or excise one follicle at a time. This follicle is then prepared and implanted into thinning or bald areas. Each graft contains one to three hairs, and as they’re implanted, the surgeon angles them in the growth direction of your hair. The permanent results should re-create your natural hairline and growth patterns.

 

The scars left by FUE are circular and random, which makes them less obvious than the linear incision left by the follicular unit transplantation (FUT) technique. For this reason, FUE harvesting is ideal for men who want to keep their hair trimmed very short post-surgery.

Problems of the hair implants?

Itching: It is not unusual for itching to occur in areas affected by hair transplant surgery. Yet, it should not last more than a few days. Using shampoo to wash your hair every day will help with this problem to diminish.

Bleeding: A side effect of hair transplant surgery may include some bleeding. Putting pressure on the area will usually stop the bleeding. In rare situations, the bleeding does not stop so it might be necessary for the surgeon to do some extra stitching to close the wounds.

Thinning: If you have had hair transplant surgery, you may be alarmed to find that the hair you already had is actually getting thinner. This is a normal post-operative condition and the thickness comes back within a few months after surgery.

Pain: There is actually very little pain involved with the actual hair transplant surgery. About half of the people who have the procedure done will not need any pain relievers at all. Most others take a mild pain reliever such as Tylenol for a few days, and that seems to be enough for them.

 

Swelling: Just about everyone who has had hair transplant surgery has experienced swelling in the forehead and around the eyes. This lasts for only a few days with the worst being of it appearing on the fourth day. For some, a black eye may result.

Numbness: Another common side effect of hair transplant surgery is numbness. Patients typically report feeling numbness for several weeks after the surgery. This is only temporary.

Side effects

The most common side effect is scarring, and this cannot be avoided with any procedure.

 

Other potential side effects include:

• infections
• crust or pus drainage around the surgical sites
• scalp pain, itching, and swelling
• inflammation of hair follicles (folliculitis)
• bleeding
• losing sensation around the surgical sites
• visible areas of hair that don’t match the surrounding hair or are noticeably thinner
• continuing to lose hair if your hair is still balding

 

Minoxidil and Propecia can also have side effects, such as:

• irritated scalp
• dizziness
• chest pain
• headaches
• irregular heart rate
• hand, foot, or breast swelling
• sexual dysfunction

Recovery

FUT and FUE may each take several hours to several days to complete. In part, this depends on the amount of work performed by the surgeon. You will go home the same day of the procedure.

Once the surgery is done, your surgeon carefully removes any bandages. The area may be swollen, so your surgeon might inject triamcinolone into the area to keep the swelling down.

 

You’ll likely feel pain or soreness at the transplant site as well as in the area where hair was taken from. For the next few days, your surgeon may prescribe:

 

• pain medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil)
• antibiotics to prevent infections
• anti-inflammatories, such as an oral steroid, to relieve swelling
• medications such as finasteride (Propecia) or minoxidil (Rogaine) to help stimulate hair growth

Here are some aftercare tips for hair transplant surgery:

• Wait a few days after the surgery to wash your hair. Only use mild shampoos for the first few weeks.
• You should be able to return to work or normal activities in about 3 days.
• Don’t press a brush or comb down over the new grafts for about 3 weeks.
• Don’t wear any hats or pullover shirts and jackets until your doctor says it’s OK.
• Don’t exercise for about a week.

 

Don’t worry if some hairs fall out. This is part of the process. The transplanted hair may not grow much or seamlessly match the hair around it for a few months.

 

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.