Make baldness a thing of the past with FUE

Physician’s Hair Institute offers minimally invasive hair transplants in Scottsdale & Tucson, Arizona.

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What is Follicular Unit Excision Hair Transplant (FUE)?

Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) is a hair transplant technique that involves extracting hair follicles directly from the scalp and transplanting them to the balding or thinning area. The donor hairs are usually taken from the sides and back of the head, where growth is usually permanent.
Unlike FUT, which involves removing a strip of hair-bearing scalp from the donor area, FUE extracts follicular units of 1 to 4 hairs one by one (not single follicles). This method leaves no linear scar, allowing for a quicker recovery, but it does create small, dot-like scars that are nearly invisible once the hair around them regrows. However, this method requires the head to be shaved short so this is often the option for those who like to wear their hair short post-surgery.

Why Do You Need a FUE Hair Transplant?

People might choose FUE if they’re losing a lot of hair, which can make them feel self-conscious. This could be because of common conditions like male or female pattern baldness, which slowly makes hair thinner. Sometimes, other things like hormonal changes, health problems, or injuries can cause hair loss. When non-surgical treatments like finasteride or PRP offer limited success, hair transplant surgery offers a permanent solution to baldness.
FUE is a minimally invasive option with a relatively quick recovery time so it’s a very popular hair transplant method. It’s great for people who want to keep their hair short later on because it doesn’t leave a big scar. The way it’s done also helps your new hair look natural, which is important for those who don’t want others to notice they’ve had a transplant.
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FUE Procedure

The donor harvesting technique of follicular unit excision (formerly known as follicular unit extraction) utilizes a small micro punch to excise individual follicular unit grafts. Unlike many clinics today, Dr. Keene performs the FUE procedure herself. She has compared numerous medical devices in order to choose those she has found to be most useful for producing the healthiest grafts. Motorized devices speed the FUE donor removal over removing the grafts manually.

The devices Dr. Keene utilize limit the risk of dehydrating the grafts (as can happen with suction used in some devices) and diminishes transection rates. The WAW machine provides both oscillation and rotation to excise the follicular units (1 to 4 hair grafts) one at a time, with minimal transection, while maintaining vital tissue surrounding the follicles. This helps maintain growth factors present in the tissue around the grafts.

The WAW FUE donor removal technique is demonstrated: Why Dr Devroye’s WAW FUE System Makes The Difference

What Are the Advantages of FUE?

Each FUE graft leaves tiny dot scars, and in cases where there are thousands of grafts will leave a thousand small dots, distributed diffusely. However, for patients who prefer to wear their hair in a buzz cut, the small dots created by FUE are typically not visible if the hair is at least 2 mm long. The absence of a linear incision means patients can more quickly return to all degrees of physical activity and athletics without concern for protecting a healing incision. The FUE technique is also advantageous when donor laxity is not sufficient for the strip donor removal method due to prior surgeries.

Patients need to be aware that despite some misleading advertising claims, neither type of donor harvesting technique is completely ‘scarless’. However, the FUE donor removal method results in virtually undetectable scars with a buzz-cut hairstyle, depending on factors such as hair color and skin color contrast.

Who is Eligible for FUE?

  • Individuals with advanced pattern hair loss or significant thinning who haven’t benefited from other treatments.
  • Those who plan to wear their hair long, as the scar can be concealed.
  • Patients who prefer a one-time extensive session for considerable hair density improvement.
  • Those who wish to minimize the number of treatment and recovery sessions may also prefer FUE.

What You Should Expect Before and During the FUE Procedure?

Before undergoing an FUE procedure, your hair transplant surgeon will discuss your goals, evaluate your hair loss, and develop a treatment plan. Your surgeon will assess the donor and recipient areas and provide guidance on what to expect in terms of results. Pre-surgery instructions might include avoiding certain medications or supplements that could increase bleeding, refraining from alcohol and smoking, and recommendations on hair care.
On the day of the procedure, you can expect to be seated or lying in a comfortable position, and the surgical team will ensure your comfort throughout the process. The extraction and transplantation are typically done with you being awake but the area is completely numbed with local anesthesia, so there should be minimal discomfort.
The procedure involves the surgeon using specialized tools to extract individual follicular units from the donor area and then meticulously transplanting them to the recipient sites. This technique can take several hours depending on the extent of the transplant and the type of FUE method used.

How Much is the FUE Hair Transplant Procedure?

The cost of a FUT hair transplant varies a lot depending on your location, how skilled and well-known your surgeon is, the extent of your hair loss, and how many hair grafts you’ll need. There might be extra costs like consultations with the doctor before and after the surgery, and any follow-up visit needed later. 

At the Physician’s Hair Institute, we provide a detailed breakdown of the costs for you when you first talk to us so you know what you’re paying for. It’s good to think about the quality of the results and the surgeon’s expertise, not just the price when deciding where to get your FUT transplant.
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FUE Before & After Results

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Frequently Asked Questions About FUE

The duration varies, typically ranging from 4 to 8 hours, depending on the number of grafts being transplanted and the type of FUE method used, whether it’s manual or robotic FUE.

Yes, FUE results are permanent, as the transplanted hair follicles are resistant to hair loss.

Initial recovery is quick, with most people resuming normal activities within a few days, but it may take several months to see the final results.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) involves removing a strip of scalp and extracting individual hair follicles, leaving a linear scar. On the other hand, FUE involves directly extracting individual follicles from the scalp, resulting in less visible scarring and a quicker recovery.

Possible side effects include temporary swelling, bruising, numbness, or tenderness at the transplant sites, but these are generally mild and temporary.

Yes, FUE is considered minimally invasive, with no stitches required and a faster recovery time compared to FUT.

No, full head shaving is not always required for FUE. In some cases, only the donor area is shaved, or small sections may be shaved to allow for the extraction process.