transplant procedures
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
Follicular Unit Extraction is, simply put, a novel technique of removing grafts. Standard donor graft removal employed by the majority of hair restoration surgeons involves the removal of a strip of scalp from the back of the head. The donor site is then closed down upon itself by suturing it closed. Click here for a discussion of standard donor harvest techniques. This leaves the patient with a thin linear scar across the back of the head from ear to ear. In some, the scar will widen over time and can be undesirable in some patients.
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is a well-established hair restoration technique. It involves removing a thin strip of scalp from the donor area, usually the back of the head, and then carefully dissecting it into individual follicular units for transplantation. This method makes it possible to transplant a large number of grafts in a single session, which is especially helpful for patients with more extensive hair loss. FUT does leave a linear scar along the donor site, often from ear to ear, but it is typically hidden by the surrounding hair and can heal well with proper care. The procedure is done under local anesthesia and usually takes several hours. Compared to other methods, FUT is often considered more efficient for achieving a high number of grafts in one sitting. While the scar may be more noticeable than with other approaches, many patients choose FUT for its effectiveness, long-term results, and generally lower cost compared to techniques like FUE.
Natural Hair Growth Pattern
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) at Utah Hair Restoration involves the use of tiny punches (0.8 mm, 0.9 mm and 1 mm in diameter), by a punch device is attached to a powered extractor. This machine is used to remove individual follicular units. The punches are so small that they do not leave a scar when healed. The hair on the back of the head is first shaved down to 2-3 mm. The patient must be placed prone in order to allow the doctor and technicians the space to work. The working area is anesthetized and cleaned. The punch is used to remove hair in a random or scattered manner, leaving hair in between the units harvested. The space left between harvested hair depends on hair density and thickness. Visualization of the follicular unit angle with the skin is important to minimize damage to the growth centers of the hair. After the follicular units are harvested, they are reimplanted into the front of the scalp using more standard techniques.
Mustache and Beard
Patchy or sparse hair growth is very common in the face. This often prevents men from being able to leave some scruff and have it look masculine, tailoring a goatee, or having a nice full looking mustache and/or beard. Facial hair is also helpful in hiding certain difficult to correct scars such as acne scarring, cleft lip scarring or others. Facial hair deficiency or loss is generally treated by transplanting hair from the back of the head and moving it onto the face. Do you have sparse or patchy facial hair and want it thicker, or do you have difficult to correct facial scarring? You may be a candidate for facial hair transplantation. Click here to send Dr. Bitner and his staff an email or to schedule a consultation.
There are several situations where FUE is indicated:
- Patient where a small linear scar in the back of the head is not acceptable. This includes patients who shave or cut very short the hair on the back of the head.
- Patients who have already had a hair transplant using the FUG method and would like another session. However, harvesting another full strip is not possible due to tightness of the scalp from previous surgery. In this situation, several options exist. An FUE alone can be done. Or, an FUE with a smaller than normal strip (FUG) can be combined to enable the transplantation of more hair than would otherwise be possible.
- Patients who are considering using body hair for transplantation. Facial, chest and back hair can be safely used for transplantation. However, removing the available follicles using any technique other than FUE can cause undesirable scarring. It is important to remember that using facial or body hair may be effective in certain situations, but the hair will grow looking like body or facial hair. It will maintain the same growth characteristics of the site from which it was harvested.
Dr. Bitner at Utah Hair Restoration offers the latest in cutting edge technology for hair restoration, including follicular unit extraction. Think you are a candidate? Call or email to schedule a consultation and see if this might be the right hair restoration technique for you.
