Hair transplantation by FUE method - Polyclinic Pantovčak

FUE HAIR TRANSPLANTATION METHOD

From the areas of the scalp where the hair is permanent and thick enough (back of the head or left and right sides) a small part of the hair in its smallest units (1-4 hairs) is taken and transplanted into the area where hair loss is noticeable. The FUE hair transplantation results in the growth and the natural appearance of new hair, the difference between the old and the newly transplanted hair cannot be seen, which is not the case with the old techniques of hair transplantation.

After the FUE hair transplantation procedure there are no visible, often thick linear scars as in the old STRIP (FUT) technique but there are hundreds or thousands of invisible or barely visible microdots, scars evenly distributed throughout the donor region, thus it is possible to have even short hair. The procedure is painless, and the only discomfort or minor pain felt during a FUE hair transplant is the moment before the procedure when local anesthesia is given, the experience is the same as receving it by a dentist.

After the FUE hair transplant, there is no need for dressings or bandages and the patient returns on the same day to his/her daily activities The growth of transplanted hair is visible after about 16 weeks, and the transplanted hair in its new location grows naturally for life.

We always recommend free consultation examination for insight into a specific case, and assessment of the justification, size and cost of a possible FUE hair transplant procedure. Hair transplantation is the art of the possible and thus to individuals with reduced donor regions, especially if they are still very young, may be advised not to undergo the hair transplant procedure.

At our consultation examinations, it is often necessary to point out to the patients the misconceptions to which they are exposed by unrealistic marketing. The most common myths, misconceptions, are the size of the procedure with unrealistically large numbers because it sounds more “successful”, the size of the instruments where they appear smaller because it looks more “sparing”, the laser hair transplants because it sounds more “modern”…

If you are unable to come, you can send us photos and we can comment on them together over the phone. With a healthy back, the so-called donor region, of the scalp hair transplant surgery is probably possible. The ideal way to find out the experiences of patients and see the results of previous interventions is to attend an FUE hair transplant procedure for a patient that already had surgery. You will not see the face of the patient nor will the patient see you.

FUE hair transplant procedure

Although each FUE hair transplant procedure is different, we outline the basic steps of each and they are further explained in our videos about FUE hair transplantation.

In a free consultation examination for every particular case, we estimate the justification, the size, and the cost of the potential FUE hair transplant. The donor region is a limited resource. It is possible to transplant only your own hair from one part of the scalp to another, i.e. from the area where the hair is permanent in an area where it falls out. The hair can be transplanted in areas of thinned hair or complete loss of hair.
In a standard large all-day FUE hair transplant procedure, we can transplant up to 2000 – 2500 hair follicles. In some cases, we decide on a two-day procedure when a larger surgery is needed

Just before the procedure, we trimmed the hair in the donor region on the back or on the sides of the head. This lower part of the scalp is usually trimmed short in men. Traces of hair harvesting are visible for several days, and, if desired, it can all be covered with long hair from the upper parts. In women usually, only the part that can be covered with long hair is trimmed until it grows back. It is not necessary to trim the receiving region and all the others.

The area from where the hair has been taken and the area where the hair is transplanted, the so-called donor and receiving regions are anesthetized in simple local anesthesia (the same as during a dentist’s procedure). A slight pain that is felt when administering the anesthetic is the only discomfort you will feel during the whole procedure. The patient is usually awake and can exchange a few words with the surgeon or go to the toilet, and since the procedure takes up to six hours often patients fall asleep.

After a few minutes when the anesthetic takes effect the first phase of the procedure starts, that is the extraction (removal) of individual follicular units with the use of special microsurgical equipment with titanium extensions of a diameter of 0.8 to 1 mm. Only a very small portion of healthy, permanent, life-long hair is taken, so that the thinning of the area is not visible. Hair is taken in the smallest units from which it grows, the so-called follicular units. In one follicular unit usually, there are 2 or 3 follicles (hairs), and rarely 1 or 4 follicles (hairs). If necessary, the procedure can be repeated from the same region or other donor regions.

All the resulting material, i.e. follicles for transplantation, are then in the second phase of the procedure microscopically analyzed and classified according to the number of follicles under a magnification of 15 times (15x). The microscopic preparation includes getting clean roots from which 3 mm long hairs protrude and shaping the follicular units for implantation.

In the third stage of the FUE hair transplant procedure, we micro-surgically mark the place, scheme, depth, density, angle, and direction of implantation of the follicles.

In the fourth stage of the procedure with the help of implanters which are used to monitor the earlier set parameters, the follicular units are implanted one by one. In the first line of the scalp individual follicular units are placed and in all other areas multiple follicular units. Traces of hair transplantation in long hair are invisible while with shorter hair traces of the work can be seen for a few days.

The whole procedure is minimally invasive, i.e. mild for the tissue and the patient, and there is no need for folding and analgesics after surgery. 3-4 hours after the procedure you may feel tension or pressure in the scalp, but in the next few hours, the pressure disappears. There is the possibility of swelling in the forehead area, which is normal with no inflammation and no blood so it is not necessary to use ice. If desired, after the procedure the scalp can be covered with a cap.

The patient goes home after the procedure with the instructions and everything necessary for the post-operative care at home: an antibiotic is taken for 4 days (every 12 hours 2 pills), the receiving region is moisturized with a saline spray for 4 days (every 3 hours) and sterile pillow covers must be used. Often patients come and go by car by themselves, although we would recommend having a company or call a taxi.

Most or all of the hair that has been transplanted will fall out within two weeks of the procedure. The aim of the procedure was of course not that hair but the hair root from which 3-4 months after the procedure new hair will begin to grow.
The recovery is very short, usually, within 5-7 days all signs of FUE hair transplant will disappear The success is not only the natural hair growth but the subsequent natural-looking results. The check-up, if necessary, is within a month.