FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) Surgery

Follicular Unit Extraction is one of two primary methods of obtaining hair follicles, naturally occurring groups of one to four hairs, for hair transplantation. The other method is called strip harvesting.

The follicular units obtained by either method are the basic building blocks of follicular unit transplantation (FUT).

Follicular unit extraction was first described in 1988 by Masumi Inaba in Japan, who introduced the use of a 1-mm needle for extracting follicular units.

The survival of follicular units upon extraction from the scalp is one of the key variables of successful hair transplantation. If follicular units are transected in the extraction process, there is a greater likelihood that they will not survive the transplant, and the hair transplant will fail. This is why Best Hair Transplant employs one of the most renowned hair transplant surgeons in the country.

While FUT procedures using strip-harvesting of follicular units typically guarantee a large number of non-transected follicular units, FUE procedures can, and often do, transect grafts, rendering them useless in a transplant.

FUE harvesting of grafts may cause “pit” scarring, small, round, and typically white scars in the patient’s donor area where the grafts have been removed. This is why the team at Best Hair Transplant offers complimentary consultations. We can assess each patient’s needs and determine which procedure or combination of procedures will be best for each client’s needs.

Follicular unit extraction generally has a quicker patient recovery time and significantly lower post-operative discomfort than follicular unit transplantation. Additionally, FUE provides an alternative to FUT when the scalp is too tight for a strip excision.