FUE Hair Transplant, Follicular UnitExtraction (FUE) is the most advanced hair transplantation method alongside Direct Hair Implantation (DHI). After the technique first surfaced around the year 1988, it slowly took the place of its predecessor, FUT. The main advantage of FUE over FUT was the lack of scarring post-operation, and thus, it quickly rose in popularity. We will inform you about the procedure and compare the operations.
Transplantation before FUE method
Before FUE, the main method of follicle extraction was Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT or FUSS). In theFUT method, surgeons have to make an incision around the head. The incision ranges from behind one ear to another around the occipital part of the scalp. After taking the strip of skin, the surgeon sutures the ends of skin together. This method of hair transplantation is quite outdated now, and most surgeons abandoned this procedure.
FUE Transplant Workflow
During FUE hair transplant, multiple personnel work at the same time throughout the operation. They share the work to speed up the process.
After the selected follicles are grafted with the micromotor operators,they start extracting follicles with a tweezer. Meanwhile, another operator cleans and sorts the grafts in the background.
To clean the grafts, another operator first takes the collected follicle and lines them up on a strip of surgical gauze.
Then the operator takes a bottle of spray and squirts it on the grafts.
Hair follicles do not survive for long outside our body. That’s why, after the grafts are clean; it is put into a serum solution.
Serum maintains follicle protection from environmental effects, especially dehydration.
Follicles can stay viable in this serum solution for about 8-10 hours outside the body.
All the while, hair transplant operations usually take less than 8 hours in total.
Is Anesthesia needed?
Throughout the operation, operators will anaesthetizethe patient at least two times. The first administration of anesthesiaisright before the extraction process.
The doctor draws a line around the occipital area.
The line will begin from the nape and extend around behind the ears.
The line ends at the crown area, and this area has the sturdiest follicles.
The anesthesia may hurtat the moment of administration. When the anesthesia of the donor area is complete, patients often stop having sensation around areas that got anaesthetized first. Therefore, the patient will not feel anything during the operation.
Local anesthetics often have an effect lasting around 3-6 hours.
After the extraction and right before opening the canals, theseconddoseofanesthesia is given. This time the recipient area gets anaesthetized. Again, the physician will draw a line, this time around the area to get implantations.
Some patients also opt for hair grafting from under the beard and chest too. In this case, the same procedure applies to these parts as well.
How Do We Determine Where The Grafts Go?
When the dissection and clean up are complete, the physician prepares to open canals.
Canals are tiny holes physicians punch with micro blades.
The physician assesses the hair’s natural growth patterns and draws a pathway accordingly.
Our hair tends to grow inclined to a certain angle. That’s why they don’t just stick out with a 90-degree angle.
So the operator looks at the natural angles and makes incisions to resemble these angles.
The operator who lines up the grafts also counts how many grafts are harvested from the patient.
Physician plans the number of canals according to the existing number of grafts.
So the physician determines where to put more canals and how much coverage which part gets.
The physician opens canals to match the number of grafts.
But moving for a long time can become uncomfortable. That’s why teams take a small break to give the patient some time off after opening the canals.
Sapphire FUE Hair Transplant
Thanks to advancing technology, we can now make blades off the sapphire mineral.
Sapphire is a precious gem. What makes sapphire FUE hair transplant special is the hardness of the material. Metal tools start going blunt after a certain amount of punctures and lose their sharpness. This is because metals can bend. Minerals such as sapphire, on the other hand, do not bend or lose sharpness. With sapphire hair transplants, doctors can open canals with higher precision.
The Implantation Process
Now that both the grafts and the canals are ready, the implantation process can begin. After the break, the operators each take a collection of grafts and start theimplantation. The grafts judged to be healthier, often go into the front line of the canals.
Operators take each graft with a very small tool resembling a tweezer. Usually, two or more operators implant hair follicles simultaneously to gain time. Frequently, this phase takes up most of the time during the operation since each graft is delicate, and they need attention when planting.
Sometimes during this phase, anesthetics may wear off. The patient should inform the team if theystart feeling something. If a small amount of anesthetics was given during the operation, more anesthesia will be given.
What About FUT Method?
FUT method came a decade before FUE and thus, the FUE and DHI methods have some improvements than FUT. Years of development in the field of medicine and medicinal equipment allowed a different approach to hair transplantation.
FUE and FUT methods have a reasonably similar implantation phase (DHI is a bit different). Towards the end, the physician comes and opens canals for implantation. Then the rest of the team starts implantation with the same tool resembling a tweezer.
What Is Different In the FUE Operation?
The main difference between the two is the approach to taking grafts. Thephysician slits a strip out and uses this to create grafts. In FUE and DHI surgeries, however, physicians do not open any incisions.
In FUE and DHI hair transplantation operators use an electrical device called micromotor. These devices have a high torque motor built inside, and they have a round tip called punch. This punch opens tiny holes around the hair follicles that are going to be grafted.
The size of the punch varies according to the patient’s follicle type. The radius of the punch usually falls somewhere from .6cm to .9cm. Bigger punches exist, but they are not used as often.
If the patient has very curly hair, a bigger punch may be necessary. Because curly hair follicles usually tend to be curly themselves. Using a small punch on this kind of hair may lead to damages on the follicle.
The Extraction Process in FUE Hair Transplant
After the operator using the micromotor covers a certain area, another operator steps in and begins the harvest. The micromotor punches very small holes, but that is about all it does. Follicles need to beextracted individually. The operator in charge of the harvest uses the same tweezer-like tool to take out grafts. This time, single follicle grafts are collected. Another operator takes these grafts and cleans them with the help of a spray bottle. After follicles are clean, the operator sorts and counts them just like in FUT.
In FUT procedure, patients get a big permanent scar at the back of their head. Often, this scar is not visible unless the patient’s hair is short. Due to these reasons, we recommend our patients FUE and DHI methods rather than the FUT method.
In FUE procedure, however, there is no need for any incisions. Micromotor handles the extraction with minimal damage to the scalp skin. Thanks to this minimally invasive tool, patients do not get permanent scars. After all, tiny holes heal pretty well compared to surgical incisions. Micromotor extraction scars are almost invisible to the naked eye even when the hair is cut short.
In the past, facility’s did FUE extractions by a handheld mechanical device. Today this is done with a micromotor. Though, handheld devices were more popular during the ’90s, with the emerging technology, advanced micromotors are now the tools of choice.
Today, you can have both DHI and FUE hair transplant in Turkey with reasonable prices. Moreover, by visiting our website and consulting withour experts, you can have all the information you need at your fingertipsabout both the procedures and fees. As a result, the operationwill be a success.
FUE Hair Transplant Results
Both surgery types offer reliable results when it comes to coverage. FUE and DHI methods do not cause scarring, which iswhy these procedures are currently popular.FUT operations done on patients nowadays is quite rare.
In FUE and DHI, follicles are extracted homogeneously from all around the donor area. This way, areas are not overharvestedwhich causes a patchy look post- operation. In FUT, a strip of hair-bearing skin is removed straight away. Today, this procedure is no longer as efficient as the other methods.
In FUE and DHI, patients do not get permanent scars. This is a major advantage of these operations. When you consult us, our experts will help you with any of these methods.
Post- Operation
After FUE hair transplant is complete, the team sitsthe patient up and starts bandaging. The recipient zone does not get bandaged. Because at this point, the implanted grafts are too sensitive to withstand any physical contact. Great care must be taken to leave the head untouched and refrain from getting hit or bumped.
FUE Hair Transplant Risks & Side Effects
Like every surgical intervention, hair transplant operation has certain risks and possible side effects. Some patients will not notice most side effects. However, some will have mild side effects. It all depends on the care thefacility puts in, and the effort the patient makes. Some of the common side effects include :
Crusting around the recipient area
Itching around the scalp
Hair follicle oedema (folliculitis)
Temporary loss of sensation around operated areas
Inflammation
Since we treat our customers with the first-class service and medical quality, we keep the risk of side effects down to aminimum. For more information about the possible side effects and risks of your situation, please get in touch with our experts.
Sleep Instructions
After the bandaging, instructionswill be given about how to proceed for the first few days. After the operation, sleeping flat on ones back for the first seven days is imperative. This helps avoid unwanted friction when sleeping. Neck pillows are recommended-this helps maintain the sleeping position.
Morning After FUE
Medications will be given upon waking up post-operation. Information and detailed instructions will be given about its use and proper self-care going forward.
Once the procedure is completed, a check-up appointment will be made. At our facility, bandages will be removed, head will be cleanedand a headband provided. After the operation, some inflammation is to be expected. This is a result of the operation and the medication. The body accumulates fluids as a first-line response to injuries and foreign agents (anesthetic).
How To Deal With Inflammation
Due to gravity, the headband helps keep fluids from travelling downwards. If fluids are to travel downwards, they usually end up on the patient’s face. This creates an unpleasant look and sometimes mild discomfort. Follow doctor’s instructions and keep the band on as long as specified.
Bad posture after the surgery may lead to the same result. Bending the neck and looking down poses as a risk. Patients need to maintain good posture to avoid complications. Inflammation subsidesin 3-7 days, depending on how the patient’s body responds.
FUE Hair Transplantation Cost
Having hair transplantation in Europe or America costs around 4000 to 14000 Euros. Most people fail to fulfill their wish of having thick hair due to theextravagant hair transplantation costs, though doctors in Turkey use this to their advantage.
It all boils down to two factors:
Low cost of living in Turkey
The exact same equipment in Europe costs less in Turkey
Higher service quality
Having hair transplantation in a Turkish facility can cut down the cost of more than 50%. Many patients have second doubts about the procedure when they hear how much it costs in Turkey.
FUE Hair Transplantation In Turkey
Turkey has been gaining popularity among international patients. The quality of service and costs are the main reasons behind this rise in popularity. Doctors saw the potential of offering the exact same quality of hair transplantation service as clinics in developed countries.
Doctors realized they could operate clinics with a much smaller overhead. Therefore, more and more doctors invested in opening state of the art clinics as the popularity rises. These clinics are mainly based in Istanbul.
Majority of the people who choose to have a hair transplant operation in Turkey extend their stay. As the cost of FUE hair transplantation in Turkey is quite affordable, many people consider this a medical trip with a bonus of a holiday package.
In most cases, patients can return to work 3-7 days after the operation, provided they do not do heavy physical work. Many patients decide that they could use a holiday in Turkey with an extended stay. For more information, you can simply get in touch with us and a tour package can be customized according to your schedule/requests.
Am I a suitable candidate for Hair transplant ?
It depends on the donor area and your hair loss pattern. Of course, you need a doctor’s consultation to assess your exact situation,number of grafts needed, total coverage, expectation and aftercare.
Can I smoke after my hair transplant ?
It is not advisable to smoke after hair transplant forat least for 48hours because this will affect the healing process and increase the possibilityoflosing grafts in the future