Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a method of obtaining donor hair for Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), where individual follicular units are harvested directly from the donor area, without the need for a linear incision. In this hair restoration procedure, a 1-mm punch is used to make a small circular incision in the skin around the upper part of the follicular unit, which is then extracted directly from the scalp.
FUE : day1 FUE : day10
Advantages
- No linear scar; important for those who wear their hair short
- Decreases healing time in the donor area
- Useful for those with a greater risk of donor scarring
- Ideal for repairing donor scars that cannot be excised
- No limitations on strenuous exercise after the procedure
- Less post-op discomfort
- Provides an alternative when the scalp is too tight for a strip excision
- Enables one to harvest finer hair from the nape of the neck to be used at the hairline or for eyebrows
- Makes it possible to harvest non-scalp hair; ex. beard or body hair
- More useful when a limited total number of grafts are needed
Disadvantages
Maximum follicular unit graft yield is lower than with FUT
Size of session is limited :
- Requires multiple sessions to equal the size of a single FUT