A hair transplant is a procedure that gives excellent results, provided you choose the right technique. The two main techniques are FUE and the strip technique. The criteria for choosing a particular technique are based on a bundle of arguments that we explain in this article.
1st step: hair transplant removal
The surgeon takes a strip of scalp from the crown of 1 to 2 cm, the length of which can go from one ear to the other up to 20 cm.
2nd step: micro hair transplant cutting
This band of hair is cut into small fragments each containing one to three hairs: these are the hair micrografts.
3rd step: hair transplant implantation
Hair transplant in turkey offered by Hayatmed is then implanted in the area of baldness by making small slits with a scalpel in the scalp. The reimplantation of each hair micrograft is done along the natural axis of hair implantation, for a natural result. The baldness is then filled.
Newer hair micrografting technique: FUE follicular extraction
FUE is the most recent hair transplant technique. It takes the follicular unit directly, that is to say the micrograft, without removing a strip, and therefore without scar.
Sampling for FUE: fue follicular extraction hair transplant
The surgeon takes the micrografts one by one using a punch shown opposite, the diameter of which ranges from 0.9 to 1 mm. The micrografts are taken from the crown area at its posterior part, because the hair is permanent there. The intervention is therefore much longer because the grafts are taken one by one. The consequence is an additional cost for the patient.
Choi’s injector
This new graft removal and removal system allow extremely natural removal and implantation of micrografts, without leaving the slightest scar visible. It is the technique of choice today.
Implantation of micrografts
Each hair transplant is then implanted in the area of baldness by making small slits with a scalpel in the scalp. The reimplantation of each hair micrograft is done along the natural axis of hair implantation, for a natural result. The baldness is then filled.
How is the scar from the harvest?
Strip technique: In the case of the strip technique, the scar is horizontal, on the posterior face of the skull. The scar is beautiful, as long as you follow the rules of surgical suturing well known to the plastic surgeon. Often, the scar is presented as an argument to decry the technique of the strip.
FUE follicular extraction technique
The follicular extraction technique leaves no visible scars. However, there is always a risk of creating “holes” by lesion of the follicles adjacent to the grafts taken, when taking micrograft by micrograft. The Choi injector reduces this risk by its extremely thin caliber.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of FUE?
The advantage put forward by the promoters of the FUE is the absence of the long scar of sampling that one finds during the technique of the strip.
The disadvantages are:
- need to shave the sampling area to be able to easily remove the hair while respecting the orientation of their implantation
- significant risk of cutting the bulbs of the hair follicles adjacent to those which are taken: a slight variation in angulation in the sample is the cause. This results in small areas of alopecia, linked to FUE
- multitudes of 1 mm scars, which can be seen when the sample is large. These numerous hard fibrous scars cause a decrease in the elasticity of the scalp, which can compromise other FUE sessions.
- very long interventions (more than 4 hours), for moderate amounts of micrografts (300 on average)
- low yield of the intervention, because the length does not allow to bring more than 300 micrografts. Several sessions will be necessary to cover extensive baldness.
- High cost of filling baldness due to the frequency of sessions and their duration
Why does FUE have detractors?
Critics of FUE highlight its very long duration, its very high cost, and the multiple scars that affect the scalp when covering large bald spots. Its constraints of FUE are true, but should not make abandon the technique. On the contrary, this technique has very good indications which are essential:
the moderate baldness: small tonsure temporal gulfs, little advancement of the anterior hairline
small areas: eyebrows, mustaches, burns …
What is the best hair transplant technique: strip or FUE?
There is no best technique in absolute terms. Each technique has its indications. To understand, forget all the biases that you will see in the press or on commercial internet sites that preach their unique technique! Depending on each patient’s requirement, one technique is preferable to the other. The patient will make his choice based on a grid:
- small baldness: FUE
- extensive baldness, but the desire for correction in 1 or 2 sessions maximum: strip
- extensive baldness, but the patient agreement for more than 2 sessions: FUE
- hair worn short: FUE
- good scalp flexibility and severe baldness: strip
The right hair transplant technique, therefore, results from a set of arguments, and an informed choice of the patient, after explanations of the advantages and disadvantages of each technique.
