What is an FUE Hair Transplant (and Should You Get One)?
If you’re considering a hair transplant, you’ve almost definitely encountered the letters ‘FUE’ a few times. But what exactly do they stand for? What does FUE involve? And, most importantly, is an FUE hair transplant right for you? Read on to find out!
What Is An FUE Hair Transplant?
FUE stands for ‘follicular unit extraction. It is a less invasive alternative to strip harvesting and results in a more natural appearance.
A prospective patient must arrange a consultation prior to the procedure. During this consultation, the surgeon will identify a portion of the patient’s head that has an abundance of hair. This becomes the donor site.
During the actual transplant, hair is removed from the donor site in small patches. Generally, these patches consist of four hairs. In some instances, however, surgeons prefer to remove one hair at a time.
Small incisions are made in the receiver site to create a series of channels. The extracted follicles are then implanted into these channels. It is crucial that each individual hair is inserted correctly. Positioning ultimately determines the density and direction of the hair.
Sapphire Follicular Unit Extraction
Sapphire FUE is the latest advancement in the hair transplant industry. It isn’t exactly an alternative to traditional follicular unit extraction. Instead, you should think of it as a new way to perform the procedure.
As its name suggests, Sapphire FUE utilizes sapphire blades to create incisions in the patient’s scalp. The more traditional approach, however, relies on steel blades. Sapphire blades are much smaller than their steel counterparts. The fineness of the blades used in sapphire FUE results in much smaller cuts on the patient’s scalp. This makes for a less painful procedure and a faster recovery time.
As it is a relatively new approach, sapphire FUE is not available in every country. For that reason, a lot of people travel to Turkey for surgery. There, it is offered by a variety of hair restoration clinics. For more information on getting a hair transplant in Turkey.
How Much Does It Cost?
When they were first introduced, hair transplants were only available to the super-rich. These days, however, they are a possibility for everybody. FUE costs range from $4000 to $15000. This makes it more expensive than scalp harvesting and platelet-rich plasma treatment. That being said, if you go to the right clinic you may be able to arrange a payment plan to make the price tag a little less burdensome.
Is It Right For Me?
Follicular unit extraction is popular as it results in a more natural appearance than alternative hair transplant methods. However, works best with lighter hair. Dark hair can look uneven post-FUE. This isn’t always the case, but it is something to be mindful of.
Loose skin is also an advantage. The more flexible your scalp, the more likely your hair transplant will be a success. A particularly tight scalp may be an insurmountable obstacle. Click here for further information on determining your FUE eligibility.
