FUE Hair Transplant (Follicular Unit Extraction)

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is an innovative hair restoration procedure that produces remarkable cosmetic improvement for candidates. This procedure is more popular than follicular unit transplantation (FUT).

FUE is frequently referred to as a “scarless” procedure since no strip of skin gets removed from the donor area. Instead, a tiny round surgical punch extracts each follicle. This process eliminates any linear scars, and patients can cut their hair short without interrupting the styling of the donor area as long as the total follicular units become restricted. 

Treating hair loss requires in-depth knowledge of FUE and other surgical procedures. Hair transplant specialists must have an in-depth understanding of the differences among each technique, including the tools and instruments available for FUE and which method suits each patient. 

The breadth of tools and instruments for FUE and the distinctive features of each technique are evolutionary. Even experienced hair transplant surgeons must stay updated with rapidly changing developments.

At The Hair Transplant – Dallas, we use different FUE tools and techniques to yield natural-looking results that can help you achieve hair loss freedom.

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Contents

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Explained
The Tools of FUE Procedures
The ATERA FUE System Explained
The NeoGraft FUE System Explained
The WAW FUE System Explained
The Ellis FUE System Explained
FUE vs. FUT: Which Is More Effective?
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FUE Hair Transplantation Procedure Explained

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a hair transplant procedure regarded as one of the latest advances in hair restoration. Its intricate, extensive nature demands skill and competence by a hair restoration doctor and team of hair transplant experts. To assist with an FUE hair transplant procedure, a range of tools and instruments are available for hair transplant surgeons worldwide. 

At The Hair Transplant Center – Dallas, we use these tools and instruments to perform state-of-the-art FUE hair transplant procedures. 

Follicular unit extraction is also known as the FOX procedure. Other names are follicular unit separation extraction (FUSE), Wood’s technique, or the FU isolation method. They are one of two primary methods of collecting hair follicles of naturally occurring groups of one to four follicles for hair transplants. 

FUE is a method of extracting hair from the donor area without the need for making a linear incision in the scalp. Consider these benefits:

  • Decreased pain as the balding and thinning areas of the scalp undergo treatment.
  • No linear scar in the donor area.
  • Faster patient recovery time.
  • Reduced postoperative discomfort than follicular unit transplantation (FUT).
  • Ability to have short hairstyles so that any marks from a procedure would be invisible to others.

The holes created by surgical punches may result in small, round white scars in the patient’s donor area that usually require several days to heal. Various surgical punches get used for this procedure, each one has its benefits and disadvantages. New ones are being formulated continually. 

Typically, using natural follicular units for hair restoration can result in more complications. A skilled hair restoration team is essential to produce significant results. 

At The Hair Transplant Center – Dallas, we pride ourselves in having Dr. Stefan Thiele as our hair transplant surgeon among our team of hair restoration experts. We specialize in FUE procedures by offering the ATERA, NeoGraft, WAW, and Ellis FUE systems.

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FUE Hair Transplant Dallas Follicular Unit Extraction

The Tools of FUE Procedures

The development of instruments for extracting follicular units (FUs) in FUE has evolved from manual instruments to more mechanically or electronically-assisted instruments and the latest development of a robotic FUE device. 

Strip harvesting of donor hair takes a strip of scalp tissue containing hundreds of FUs for transplantation. They may or may not be transplanted as FUs and may be divided into individual follicles for transplantation. 

When performing FUE, a hair transplant specialist removes a unit one by one, focusing on the FUs that are most likely to thrive and produce hair in the recipient site. The follicles should be all physiologically healthy and anatomically intact. Preventing physical damage to the follicle by transection, slicing or tearing it at a cross-sectional angle, is detrimental during an FUE procedure. 

If you’re considering FUE for harvesting donor hair, you should ask about FUE transection rates. A transection rate of 3% or lower is considered good to excellent. A transection rate of more than 5% can be considered poor. 

The use of technologically advanced surgical instruments should be within the scope of the skill and experience of hair transplant specialists who use the instruments.

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01
The ATERA FUE System Explained
02
The NeoGraft FUE System Explained
03
The WAW FUE System Explained
04
The Ellis FUE System Explained

The ATERA FUE System Explained

ATERA is one of the most advanced technologies available for the follicular unit extraction process. This procedure uses an automated tool that promotes the extraction of follicles during FUE, enhancing the precision and speed over manual methods. Its patented lubrication technique during harvesting and extraction unites with a digital graft counter to make the technology unique in the industry.

The NeoGraft FUE System Explained

NeoGraft is the commercial name for a mechanical device that improves the speed and efficacy of incising and harvesting follicular units. The mechanical device delivers a rotating sharp punch to incise the follicular unit and a suction instrument to extract the follicular unit and move it to a collection tray that holds up to 50 follicular units awaiting transplantation.

The WAW FUE System Explained

The WAW FUE hair transplant system has made FUE faster, easier, and more productive. The minimally invasive FUE procedure offers many advantages over the traditional strip or FUT technique.

The Ellis FUE System Explained

The Ellis FUE system involves a sharp-punch procedure with a rotational model. Today, several hair transplant doctors who specialize in hair restoration surgery use the Ellis FUE system. This simple, affordable automated punch device can enhance a strip harvest procedure or use it as a standalone device for a full FUE hair transplant. Automating a conventional FUE procedure contributes to the method’s overall improvement in several ways.

FUE vs. FUT: Which Is More Effective?

The primary reason for choosing FUE over strip harvesting involves individuals who do not want noticeable scars. FUE scars are small, round, and less evident because the scars are scattered throughout the scalp. FUT scars are long and linear. They are localized and much bigger, making them more visible. 

Other reasons to select FUE as a harvesting technique are personal to the patient. Only a small number of grafts are required to satisfy a patient’s desired outcome or a patient with progressive hair loss who underwent previous strip harvesting but has no donor area remaining for strip harvesting. 

At The Hair Transplant Center – Dallas, Dr. Stefan Thiele uses various tools or instruments for FUE hair transplantation procedures. Schedule your complimentary consultation today.

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