FUE Hair Restoration

FUE hair restoration is a category of surgical procedures that involve the harvesting of small, individual hair follicles to be transplanted. Having thick, healthy hair is a signal of youth and a healthy lifestyle, and sudden thinning can cause distress and self-consciousness in many patients.

Dr. Andrew Wolin is a double board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in technologically advanced hair restoration using NeoGraft. He pays special attention to each individual patient’s desires to give the best care possible. If you are struggling with hair loss, schedule your consultation with us today by calling (480) 945-8440. You can also fill out our contact form at your convenience.

What is FUE Hair Restoration?

Traditional hair transplantation is done with a method called follicular unit transplantation (FUT). This involves removing a strip of the scalp from the back of the head that contains viable and healthy hair. The strip is then separated and dissected into individual follicular units (FU) or grafts that contain 1-4 hairs each. The follicular grafts are then transferred to the thinning areas of the scalp after the surgeon creates slits using a needle or small blade.

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) on the other hand, does not require long incisions or removing a strip of skin from your scalp. For this type of hair restoration, the follicular units are extracted using a small punch. Traditionally done manually, this method requires the surgeon to remove individual grafts with a tiny punching tool, one by one. This can be tedious and time consuming, but this method considerably lessens the pain inflicted on the patient. Modern technology makes the process even easier and less uncomfortable by using hair transplantation equipment like the NeoGraft system. ⁽¹⁾

NeoGraft

In recent years, it has become increasingly commonplace to utilize advanced technology for hair restoration procedures. Dr. Wolin uses the advanced NeoGraft system, which makes the transplantation process much faster and more accurate than traditional techniques. NeoGraft uses suction-based extraction to collect follicular grafts that are later implanted into the thinning areas of the hairline. ⁽²⁾

The NeoGraft system essentially works like a tiny punch with a vacuum attached. The punch cylinders can vary in size, sharpness, and design in order to accommodate many different types of patients and their natural hair. The device is a motorized handpiece that provides constant suction. Dr. Wolin uses the punch to stamp out individual follicular units, and once they are separated from the surrounding subcutaneous tissue, they are sucked into a chamber at the end of the handpiece.

In order to preserve healthy and viable follicular grafts, Dr. Wolin evaluates the angle of the donor hair before he makes his punch. This step is important to ensure the follicle stays completely intact to improve the chances of it surviving transplantation. With traditional FUE, this part was done manually by the surgeon. With NeoGraft, the extraction of the grafts is much smoother and can be done with ease. This can dramatically shorten the length of the procedure process, and allows Dr. Wolin to concentrate more on the transplantation.

Benefits of FUE Hair Restoration

There are many benefits to receiving FUE hair restoration treatment, especially when done with the NeoGraft system. This technique is often regarded as more efficient than traditional FUE methods. The suction mechanism allows the surgeon to collect viable grafts much faster and with more accuracy than ever before. The NeoGraft system is semi-automated to eliminate a degree of human error often seen with manual graft extraction.

For patients, benefits of FUE hair restoration include:

FUE can also be used on the face. You may qualify if you have thinning hair in the eyebrow region, beard and mustache area, or if you are transitioning. It can be used almost anywhere that hair grows on the human body.

NeoGraft works on all types of hair textures. The technology is much more precise than manual extraction can be, so there is a better chance that the grafts survive the transplantation, even if the follicle is curved or coiled.

Dr. Wolin creates personalized treatment plans customized to your needs. Each patient’s circumstances are evaluated by him personally, allowing him to fully understand you and what techniques may work best for you.

Best Candidates

The best candidate for FUE hair restoration procedures are:

Ideal candidates for FUE hair restoration are those who are in good overall health. This procedure might not be the best option for you if your hair loss is caused by stress or certain medication. Dr. Wolin will ask you about your lifestyle during your consultation to determine if FUE hair restoration with the NeoGraft system is right for you.

Personal Consultation

Dr. Wolin takes great care to understand your special circumstances during your private consultation. He asks thorough questions about your experience with hair loss, your current medications, and any prior treatments you may have received thus far for hair restoration.

After performing a scalp exam, Dr. Wolin will explain in detail the whole procedure process to make sure you are fully prepared. You will have plenty of time to ask any questions you may have and voice any concerns.

How Do I Prepare for FUE Hair Restoration?

Dr. Wolin may ask you to stop using hair loss medications that could interfere with your procedure. You should refrain from smoking and taking certain herbal supplements. Stop taking any NSAIDs like ibuprofen or aspirin at least a week before and after your procedure. These medications can increase your risk of bleeding.

To prepare the donor area, this procedure requires each patient to trim or shave a part of the back of their head. You may be asked to do this before you arrive on the day of your procedure. Make sure to find someone you trust that can take you to and from Wolin Plastic Surgery Center on the day of your hair restoration treatment.

NeoGraft Procedure

Before Dr. Wolin starts, the back and sides of your head must be shaved down to about 1 mm in length for easy extraction. He will then apply local anesthetic to the donor area. This will be the most uncomfortable part of the procedure. Once you are properly anesthetized, he will begin the extraction process using the NeoGraft system.

Working with precision, Dr. Wolin extracts follicular units carefully until he has the necessary amount to transplant. The grafts are then prepared and stored in a sterile condition. The recipient area is then prepared. Dr. Wolin uses a special tool to implant the grafts that measures exactly what depth is needed. Paying close attention to the angles the hair seems to grow in, the hair is transplanted into the recipient areas.

This procedure can take anywhere from several hours to more than one session depending on the extent of hair loss and the patient’s needs. Dr. Wolin will inform you about the projected timeline during your consultation.

Recovery and Results

Since NeoGraft is much less invasive than traditional methods of hair transplantation, the recovery period is much shorter. You will be able to return to work within the week, and can resume your regular routines after one or two weeks. You may notice the donor hairs falling out, but new ones will grow in quickly after.

Results of hair restoration are considered permanent. It may take 6 months to a year for you to see the full result, but your transplanted grafts will not be susceptible to hair loss since they are new, healthy follicles. They will grow for the rest of your life, allowing you to enjoy a full head of hair for many more years.

Beard and Mustache Grafting

Dr. Wolin also performs hair restoration procedures for patients that have thinning facial hair. For these procedures, he uses the NeoGraft system for beard and mustache hair restoration. He is an expert at this technique, and he and his team of experts perform many of these procedures to successful outcomes.

The process is similar to a scalp hair restoration, only the donated hairs are transferred to the chin and upper lip areas instead of the hairline. The NeoGraft system makes this possible by using the same gentile and minimally invasive techniques, allowing for follicle health to be preserved.

Cost of FUE Hair Restoration in Scottsdale

The total cost breakdown of your FUE hair restoration procedure using the Neograft system will be discussed during your consultation with Dr. Wolin. Each patient’s circumstances are their own, and there are many factors that influence your final price.

If you are interested in restoring your hairline, adding fullness back into your hair, or repairing hair loss caused by alopecia or pattern baldness, please contact us today to schedule your consultation. Reach us by filling out our contact form, or call us directly at (480) 945-8440 to speak to a member of our team immediately.

References

1. Sharma R, Ranjan A. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Hair Transplant: Curves Ahead. Journal of Maxillofacial & Oral Surgery. 2019;18(4):509-517. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-019-01245-6
2. Kayiran O, Cihandide E. Evolution of hair transplantation. Plastic and Aesthetic Research. 2018;5. doi:https://doi.org/10.20517/2347-9264.2017.86