What Are FUE Hair Transplants?
Hair loss is a natural process that begins in the 30s and continues in later life. For individuals, it can cause severe emotional stresses, leading to loss of self-confidence. New hair transplant technology and techniques can help to restore hair and a sense of self. FUE or Follicular Unit Extraction transplants can typically be completed in just one day. It has a number advantages over older procedures. It is minimally invasive and the healing process is faster.
Hair loss is a natural process
Hair growth and loss are natural life cycle processes, which change with age. Each individual strand of hair grows for anywhere between two to six years, and then goes into a resting phase before falling out. Hair loss is likewise a natural process that increases with age. Occasionally hair loss can be due to illness, injury or stress. Over 95% of hair loss in men is due to androgenetic alopecia or common male pattern balding.
Hair loss in men begins long before it becomes noticeable. In fact, half of the hair on the head is typically lost before it becomes apparent. By the time they are 35 years old, about two-thirds of all men have suffered hair loss to some extent. After this age, the process speeds up and by the time they are 50, most men have thinning hair.
Can anything be done about hair loss?
Hair loss can cause a severe crisis of confidence and lead to depression and avoidance of social occasions. It may even affect the individual’s work performance. There are many hair clinics as well as shampoos and creams that claim to prevent hair loss, but the results vary widely. Hair transplants have been used to restore hair, but until recently, these processes were invasive, time-consuming and sometimes painful.
For example, Follicular Unit Strip Surgery or FUSS is an invasive surgical procedure which removed a strip of scalp from a non-balding area. This strip was grafted onto incisions in the balding area. This is frequently a painful operation, and there can be complications in the recovery process. Recovery is slow in any case, and leaves scars. Newer hair transplant techniques like FUE eliminate many of these problems.
What are FUE transplants?
FUE is a minimally invasive procedure that uses natural hair groupings of one to four follicles. These are transplanted to the balding areas. Recovery times are much quicker than in older procedures like FUSS. FUE grafts take in a few days and the redness subsides in four to five days. The risk of complications is low, and there are no scars.
FUE transplants are used to rebuild the hair line and to improve hair density in areas where it is thinning out. New hair growth begins to show within four to six months, though full results will not be apparent until 12 months after the procedure. FUE hair transplants are stronger and the hair transplants can be shaved or cut.
Most men begin to experience hair loss in their 30s, and by the time they are 50, most men have noticeably thinner hair. Hair loss is a natural process but it can be a difficult and even life-changing experience for many people. New hair transplant techniques like FUE are minimally invasive, with a quicker recovery time. Full results of the procedure, including improved hair density and growth, can take up to 12 months to become visible.