FUE (follicular unit extraction) is a minimally invasive method in Hair transplantation. Unlike strip harvesting, the traditional technique in which a strip of skin is removed from a donor site and cut into individual units, FUE uses an instrument to remove multiple groups of one to four hairs. The great thing about FUE is that there’s no linear scar. The downside is that a fewer number of hair grafts can be gathered per session.

For balding men, the promise of regaining their hairline with the help of a Hair Transplant can seem all too good to pass up.
But one doctor is now warning that for men in their 20s, undergoing a hair transplant could be something they will go on to seriously regret. Problems often arise when a hair transplant is done before a man has fully finished losing all of his hair – making it a risky procedure for younger men who may continue to lose hair for many years.

So to clear things up, here are six truths that you can expect after the procedure.

1. The cost of hair transplant will depend on the amount of hair that has to be transplanted.
When you come in for a consult, your surgeon will assess how much work has to be done. That is why there is no definitive price for the entire procedure. However, the price for each hair graft is already fixed depending on the region where you have it done. For instance, each graft for hair transplant in Singapore is around $5-$7. A person who would need more work to be done is expected to spend more cash.

2. There are risks and possible side effects of hair transplant surgery
The procedure has its own risks and side effects, for the main reason that it is an invasive procedure. Due to the break in skin integrity, there is a possibility of infection, delayed wound healing and scarring. These can be minimized or avoided by choosing the right surgeon and maintaining careful post-surgical care.

3. Hair will shed after surgery
Two to five weeks after the procedure, one can expect shock loss to occur. This is a normal part of the healing process as a reaction to the trauma that the scalp underwent. This also paves the way for new and stronger hair follicles to grow into the scalp. The process is gradual therefore it would really take months before you see dramatic improvement. This dormant phase in hair growth is only temporary.

4. Every patient will heal differently
Even though doctors set a certain time-line for hair growth after surgery, it doesn’t mean that each patient should follow this. Every individual heals differently and this depends on their unique biology. For some, they might notice stubbles of hair growth at two months, while some may see this around three months’ time.
Some people will be more prone to scar than others that is why it pays to closely work with your surgeon to ensure that you get a personalized treatment.

5. The final result won’t be seen until a year or more
The final result of hair transplant surgery will be more evident after 12-18 months. By this time the hairs would have grown more than an inch, and you can even have your first haircut then. Recovery is a process, and by then you can definitely see better coverage, granted that it was excellently done by your surgeon.

6. The results of a hair transplant is permanent
Hair transplant provides permanent results. That is why a number of permanent hair loss sufferers bank on it because they are more cost-efficient in the long run and it also creates a natural-looking outcome.
You may still have to take hair loss supplements even after your hair transplant procedure.
For those who have been taking hair loss supplements prior to surgery, they may be advised to continue these after the procedure. This is to avoid progressive hair loss from occurring to the natural hair in the area.

Patient Story:
“At fifty years of age, I have watched my hair disappear for the last twenty years. My kids would always make fun of my ‘landing strip’ on my frontal hairline and how old I was looking. Now only three months after my surgery, I have regained some of that youthful character I possessed when I was in my thirties. It is still early after my surgical hair restoration surgery, and I am excited with how much more hair I will grow.
It is a great feeling when people tell me how younger I look with my hair restored. What really impressed me with the surgery was how easy it was to do. I wear my hair short, if I had the Strip procedure I would always worry about people looking a scar on the back of my head. I plan on having my second procedure for the back of my scalp done in about a year. I can’t wait.”

FUE is an exciting advancement that propels the field of hair transplant surgery one step closer to the elite minimally invasive status. The promise of an almost scar-less surgery is enticing to both patient and the surgeon. The reasons for selecting FUE rather than a strip harvest may be the avoidance of a linear scar, the desire for a naturally pain free post-op period or simply the idea of having a minimally invasive procedure.

The technique can serve as an important alternative to traditional hair transplantation in certain selected patients. More research is needed to render the procedure faster, cut short the surgery time and improve the transaction rates, so that it can be adopted in greater number of patients.

Human hair grows slowly – approximately 6 inches a year. Since the transplanted often shed during the surgery, it takes a year (or more) to reach the desired length. Given the variation in the hair growth cycle, this can take even longer.

Patience is the key after Hair Transplantation

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