FOLLICULAR UNIT EXTRACTION (FUE)

WHAT IS FUE METHOD?

• Over the past 5 years FUE has gained a degree of popular acceptance by patients such that it is the fastest growing procedure in hair restoration.

• Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a method of graft harvest whereby punches of various types generally (0.8 mm to 1 mm in diameter) are used to remove follicular units from the donor region one at a time. Implantation at recipient site is same as in FUT.

• The principal advantages of this technique to patients are chiefly the lack of a linear scar and more rapid healing of the donor region.

INDICATIONS FOR FUE

• In general, any patient who is a candidate for hair restoration by the strip method is a candidate for FUE, as the cosmetic results in the recipient area are the same as in strip surgery.,,,

• Preference for short hair style- the obvious candidates, and most patients seeking FUE, are those who desire the option of wearing their hair short following surgery.

• Patients with low-density donor hair and tight donor region—these are poor candidate for a strip harvest, best managed by FUE.

• Maximize donor capacity (FUE/strip combo procedures)• Debulking plugs and minigrafts• Removal of undesirable hairline grafts• Body hair harvests

ADVANTAGES

• No permanent linear scar• Decreased healing time.• Less postoperative discomfort.• Few limits on postop activities• Useful in repairing donor scars• Useful in limited no of grafts required ie eyebrow

transplant• Ability to cherry pick most suitable size and caliber FUs• Good for patients who are poor healers

DISADVANTAGES

• As one by one FUs extracted, procedure is lengthy and fewer

grafts implanted per session compared to fut.ie 2500-3000 in FUT vs 2000 in FUE per session.

• Lower hair survival rate- due to more follicular transaction rate 5-10% compared to 3% in FUT microscopic dissection and also due to skeletonized vulnerable grafts

• Donor hairs need to be trimmed preoperatively• Scarring and distortion of donor area hair angles makes

subsequent FUE sessions in same area more difficult• Not ideal for curly hair• FUE is more expensive compared to FUT.

• Performing FUE requires excellent eye-hand coordination, patience, stamina, and commitment. And rejoice team stands for all…

• When performing FUE, we always wear high-quality magnification

of at least x4.5 to x6.5 and small depth guiding punches 0.8 are used hence our follicular transection rates are lower.

• Our speed of extraction is 1000/hr..• Graft storage is done in special holding solution prepared by us

and simultaneous implanting done which maximizes graft survival• Those physicians not offering FUE to patients will surely be

perceived as lagging behind the technology curve

• Thank you