The structure called the follicular unit is surrounded by a dermal sheath and contains 1-4 hair follicles and forms an anatomical and physiological integrity with the vascular and neural network around it. Follicular unit transplantation, defined in 1996, has become a revolution in the 40-year history of hair transplantation. The follicular unit is a structure that usually contains two or three hair follicles (hair follicles) and presents a whole in itself. It has been revealed that the follicular units, whose existence was not even known before, are inviolable structures that should not be divided and that hair transplantation should be done with this situation in mind. The follicular unit must be obtained very precisely under the microscope and planted meticulously. Therefore, hair transplantation, and especially the FUE method, should be performed by plastic surgeons who are experienced in microsurgery and who know the scalp anatomy and surgery best.
The follicular unit extraction method is the follicular unit extraction process, which is mainly used to obtain follicular units. It is a technique in which only the follicular unit is removed from the scalp without cutting and sewing. Lumen needles of different diameters with a specially designed tip structure are used to remove follicular units. In Hairplast, which is a hair transplantation unit, follicular units are taken with a diameter of less than 1 mm and with a ‘Hair Follicular Extractor Needle’ (Follicular Unit Extractor). Again, sowing is done in a special way and it is possible to plant 50-60 follicular units (100-120 hairs) per square centimeter (more can be planted if desired).
Before follicle removal, the hair in the donor area is cut and shortened to 1 mm. With local anesthetic drug, the hair follicle will be taken and the area to be transplanted is anesthetized. The needle is brought close to the skin in such a way that its lumen is centered on the hair shaft, and it is inserted and pulled into the skin by 6-7 mm, in accordance with the angle of hair growth. The hair, together with the follicle and the surrounding microscopic tissue, is cut in a cylindrical fashion (click for images) (click for video). It is gently pulled with a micropence and the follicular unit comes separated from the loose base.
After the follicular units are collected in this way, it is possible to place them through much smaller holes opened in the hairless area. Each follicular unit contains an average of 2 follicles. The advantages of this method over other methods are:
1. There is no cutting and sewing process in the place where the hair is taken. Holes with a diameter of less than 1 mm occur in the area where the roots are taken, but these skins close in a few days and heal without leaving a trace.
2. Hair follicles can be taken from all parts of the head, not just the back part. In fact, body hair such as chest hair can be taken and transplanted to the head if needed. Roots taken from the head can be planted in other parts of the body (such as mustache).
3. It is enough to wait 2 days between sessions. It is not expected for months for the second session. 4-8 sessions can be done with a one-day break. Up to 600-800 roots are taken in each session. There are usually 2-3 hairs in each root, varying from 1 to 4 (sometimes 5). 5 sessions = 3000 roots = 6000 hair strands
4. Since the diameter of the removed follicular unit is smaller than 1 mm, it is possible to sow through very small holes in the planting area. This means a denser and more aesthetic planting. It is possible to plant 60-80 or even more roots per square centimeter.
There is no cutting and sewing in hair transplantation with the Fue method
There is no cutting and sewing in Fue. Hair follicles are taken one by one from their location with special needles. These needles are 0.7.09 mm diameter, special tip design, inner lumen (tube-shaped) needles. The hair and its root are removed together with the very small skin tissue surrounding it (just like removing a plant from its soil with its root). Hair follicles are taken from all parts of the head, not just the nape of the head. Hair follicles are taken in a certain order. Roots are taken with an equal distribution, roots are not taken side by side, they are not taken from the same area all the time. For this reason, there is no loss of hair and thinning in a certain area. The tiny holes in the root area contract (shrink) from the moment the root is taken. The tiny crusts formed on it fall off within 1 week and there is no trace after 1 week.
Hair transplantation, which is made with the strip removal method, is made by taking a thin flat strip from the skin that is resistant to baldness. The area from which the piece was taken is then sutured. These sutures (with rope or staples) are removed about 10 days after the surgery. Because some surgeons use dissolvable stitches, there is no need to have the stitches removed.
Once these linear cuts have healed, they remain as small flat scars on the back of the patient’s head. Since there will be hair around these scars, it is almost impossible to notice, even if the hair is short.
How is the FUE Method Done?
With the FUE method, cell units with 1,2,3 and 4 hairs are carefully removed using a small needle shorter than 1mm each time. Most of the time, doctors may want to see the scalp of the patient by taking a piece of the donor areas that the patients will use for hair transplantation.
Follicular Units are removed by placing a punch around a single Follicular Unit and cutting a small, round area on the scalp. The Follicular Unit is then gently lifted and separated from the loose tissue under the skin.
The small wound left behind heals within the week following the operation. This round incision shrinks during the healing process, becoming a scar less than 1 mm. At the end of the operation, hundreds of round, small and white-colored scars are formed in the patient undergoing FUE treatment, but once the patient’s hair begins to grow, these scars become unnoticeable.
FUE or Stripe Removal
The relatively new FUE procedure leaves less noticeable scars and does not create any tension or numbness as the sample area for hair transplantation is not sutured.
In addition, for the FUE operation, this method is very laborious and therefore expensive, since the doctors do this one-by-one removal. At the same time, the FUE procedure takes a lot of time because a certain amount of hair is transplanted to the balding area.
