FUE India

HAIR TRANSPLANT BY FUE TECHNIQUE

The full form of the acronym "FUE" is Follicular Unit Extraction. It is the older technique prior to strip method (FUT) but the resurgence has been high tech and is becoming more popular by the day in all parts of the world like USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and many parts of Europe and even now in India. In this technique, essentially, the individual follicualr units are extracted one at a time with micropunches and then transplanted to the recipient site. The recipient transplantation is similar to all methods.

FUE- How it developed?

The procedure is sad to have been pioneered by Dr Ray Woods of Australia. In India the finest FUE is done at 2-3 centers of which one is this center. The technique developed very fast since it promised the patient a "scarless", "stitchless" procedure. Like any other technique with great potential, there are innumerable FUE theories, techniques and instrumentation available in the market. FUE, FOX, CIT, FUSE, FLUTE all mean the same. FUE continues to evolve from strength to strength each year. With many more refinements coming, this is et to be a very sought after procedure for hair transplant.


FUE and FUT- pros & cons

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is the other name for “strip” hair transplant procedure. I FUT, the plastic surgeon removes a linear strip of hair and tissue from the back of the scalp which is then dissected into single follicular units by technicians and then relocated into bald or thinning areas over the crown. The donor site wound is closed by surgical technique.

The only major drawback of the strip method is that the patient is left with a linear scar on the back which shows when he takes a buzz cut. However, in praise of good plastic surgeons- in their hands the scar is so minimal that it does not show even when the back hair is cut till half a centimeter.
However, the biggest advantage of FUT is that there is very little graft loss while harvesting unlike FUE which is a blind technique. So, in individuals who would require more grafts in their lifetime, FUT technique is far superior since it does not deplete the precious donor site which has just 6000 roots to donate at any time.


The many Advantages of FUE

FUE on the other hand, does not leave a linear scar. It is also a less invasive hair transplant procedure. Most good plastic surgeons who offer hair transplant also do FUE but restrict it to certain indications -
1. Small areas of hair loss.
2. Male pattern baldness where the total requirement is not more than 2000 in a lifetime.
3. Beard , moustache , eyebrow and eyelash transplant
4. Sikh Alopecia
5. Other miscellaneous indications- Pubic hair transplant

The number of hair an individual plastic surgeon ca harvest is directlly proportional to his skill and experience with FUE. FUE maximises hair if hair is taken from non-scalp sources like- chest, leg, etc. However, inexperienced doctors are known to harvest hair from above the "permanent zone". This folly is realized when this hair falls after 2-3 years when the hairline continues to recede. This is the greatest error of judgement very common with inexperienced FUE surgeons.

The time out of the body for FUE grafts is much lesser than that in FUT. This increases survival of the grafts.


Selecting a FUE Hair Transplant Plastic Surgeon-

This is the more difficult part. You shall have to do your own research. make the world wide web your friend. It can guide you well. Narrow down your search to plastic surgeons who are doing both FUT and FUE methods. They have the widest experience and shall offer you an unbiased opinion on what is good for you- a customized approach. In case a plastic surgeon just does FUE or FUT, his judgement is naturally clouded since he wears the blinkers. Always leave the option open before you go to your plastic surgeon for a hair transplant. The "cost of FUE hair transplantation" is almost double that of "cost of FUT hair transplantation". This can be a factor. However, while choosing FUT over FUE and to minimize your scar of strip surgery, it is important to go to a skilled plastic surgeon who shall deliver more than he promises.
Also, keep in mind that mastering any procedure is an uphill task. All doctors offer hair transplant in their practice. However, in case the doctor does not perform enough procedures, he is not likely to deliver. This is where your research shall come in handy.


FUE IS STILL EVOLVING-

Though a good technique which holds much promise in the years to come, it is not yet fully evolved. This is due to the following detrimental forces an FUE graft is subjected to and which have still to be addressed with more research-

1: Torsion (twisting)
2. Compression (squeezing)
3. Traction (pulling)

If it were not for these forces that decrease graft survival, FUE would have replaced FUT some 10 years back. None of these 3 malafide forces are seen in strip surgery. This is the reason why strip surgery maintains its dominance and is still the gold standard of hair transplantation procedures.

However, it is my strong belief that FUE is the procedure of tomorrow. More research and dedicated practice shall catapult FUE far ahead of FUT in a time span of 2-5 years. With more doctors adopting the procedure in their practices, the world wide acceptability is on the ascendancy.
Scientific research is presently on and once deficiencies in the procedure are addressed, this shall be a mainstream procedure for all times to come.