FUE Hair Transplant Explained

A full head of hair does more for a person than give them an excellent hairstyle. A hair that is full of healthy and dense hair is often viewed as making a person look more successful as well as having more energy and seeming more youthful. Patients that don’t have a full head of hair have a variety of options to address the balding area on their head. Some try to cover the balding area with a hat or simply combing over the remaining hair they have in an effort to hide the fact that their hair is thinning in certain areas of the scalp. For patients that are looking for surgical help in addressing their hair loss, FUE hair transplant is one of the most effective methods of hair restoration currently being performed across the country.

Cosmetic Town TV recently visited the Los Angeles office of Dr. Parsa Mohebi to learn more about the life-changing, natural results that can be achieved with FUE hair transplant. Dr. Mohebi walks the Cosmetic Town TV team through a typical FUE procedure day:

FUE Hair Transplant Procedure Explained

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a hair transplant method where the surgeon harvests individual hair grafts that are located in the donor area of the scalp. This hair transplant method is a popular choice as it does not leave any type of linear scar on the scalp of the patient. The hair grafts can be harvested in multiple ways including the use of robotic or manual methods. The final decision about which method to use depends on the needs of the individual patient.

Here are some of the most popular methods of harvesting the hair grafts:

Chasing Method – This FUE hair transplant method is when the hair grafts are implanted almost immediately after they are identified and prepared for extraction by the surgeon. This method lessens the total out of body time of the grafts which also increases their overall viability.
Premade Incisions – The surgeon makes the incision sites, where the hair grafts will be implanted, before the grafts are extracted to speed up the implantation process.
FUE Simultaneous Extraction and Placement – This hair transplant method is performed so the extracted grafts will be implanted immediately after they are removed from the donor area. The hair grafts are identified, removed and sorted under a microscope in less than an hour so they are out of the body for a limited amount of time.
Robotic FUE (ARTAS) – The ARTAS system uses a robotic arm to harvest the hair grafts. The patient is placed in a sitting position with their face over a donut shaped pillow. A tensioner is placed over the donor area in order to stabilize the skin during the harvesting process. The cameras of the ARTAS system capture microscopic images of the follicular units in order to easily identify them. The individual follicular units are removed one by one from the scalp while the robotic system is operated by the doctor to ensure safety and precision during the process.

The hair that is harvested for a FUE hair transplant is normally taken from the back of the scalp as this hair is generally resistant to the balding process. Patients that do not have enough hair on the back of the scalp, AKA the donor area, can have available hair from other areas of the body transplanted into the scalp to restore fullness and density to the area.

FUE Hair Transplant Cost and Results

The total cost of a FUE hair transplant depends on a number of factors including the number of grafts needed by the patient to perform the hair transplant, the amount per graft charged by the surgeon, any fees charged by the surgeon or the facility and the area of the country where the FUE hair transplant is performed. In general, the cost can run anywhere from $9000-$16,000.

The transplanted hair continues to grow and become thicker and longer in the months after a FUE hair transplant. The final results are visible after 12-18 months. The final results are natural in appearance and should last a lifetime.

FUE Hair Transplant from a Board-Certified Surgeon

Before making the final decision to undergo FUE hair transplant, patients should schedule a consultation appointment with a board-certified surgeon experienced in performing hair transplant procedures. The surgeon will examine the current condition of the hair on the head of the patient to determine the amount of balding on the scalp. In addition, the surgeon will determine the amount and quality of the available donor hair on the head of the patient. If there is not enough donor hair on the back of the scalp, the doctor will examine the patient to determine the amount of donor hair that is available on the body of the person. The surgeon will also discuss the final results desired by the patient to make sure the person has realistic expectations when it comes to the hairline that can be achieved through the use of FUE hair transplant on the scalp of the patient.