FUE Hair Transplants
For over 20 years, Hasson & Wong have been pioneers and world leaders in the field of hair restoration surgery. Patients come to our clinic from all over the globe to achieve their hair restoration goals.
Over the last several years, a technique known as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) has increased in popularity due to the lack of linear scarring that FUT produces and faster healing times. Because follicular units (hairs in groups of 1 to 4 as they occur naturally in the scalp) are selectively harvested or “cherry-picked” one at a time in the donor area using a small precise punch rather than scalpel, patients can wear their hair cropped exceptionally short without showing any noticeable signs of scarring. However, to achieve results with FUE that are on par with FUT, hair restoration surgeons have to overcome the additional stressors placed on the follicles during the extraction process. While many hair restoration clinics have still not learned how to overcome these obstacles to date, we successfully have at Hasson and Wong.
Several years ago, we introduced cutting-edge technology in Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and started offering it to our patients. After performing thousands of FUE hair transplant procedures, we have now mastered the technique and can deliver superior, industry leading results as good if not better than our world renowned Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) procedure results.
While it remains true that certain patients are better candidates for different methods, we are able to offer patients the choice (FUT or FUE), with the assurance that no matter which technique they choose, they will be getting the best results – anywhere in the world.
What is a FUE Hair Transplant?
A FUE hair transplant (Follicular Unit Extraction) is a far less invasive alternative to traditional strip surgery. There is no use of scalpels, staples or sutures. As such, FUE is more accurately described as a “procedure” than as a “surgery.” The donor area is shaved down to the skin so the individual follicular units (FU’s) are exposed. Once the individual follicular units are visible, we can cherry-pick the most ideal FU’s to be extracted. Usually the units with the most follicles are chosen for removal. This allows us to maximize the number of follicles per graft excised. The average number of follicles per graft is considerably greater with this technique than with traditional strip harvesting and microscopic dissection.
Once the follicular units have been extracted, they are passed on to technicians and trimmed of excess tissue – thus rendering them the perfect size for our custom recipient sites. There are multiple modifications possible with the FUE technique – one such example being unshaven FUE. In this case, only the follicular units selected for extraction are shaven, while the surrounding hair is left longer. In this way, the entire donor site appears unchanged with no evidence of a procedure apparent. This technique takes longer, but offers the advantage of complete undetectability and is thus suitable for individuals requiring no visible interruption to their donor areas postoperatively. Because it is more labor intense, the costs are much higher and only as small amount of grafts can be harvested in one session.
The term ‘FUE’ may be applied to any extraction technique that does not involve a scalpel. Any size punch will qualify – be it sharp, dull, manual or motorized.
The longer the punch, the greater the trauma to the scalp and the increased likelihood of donor scarring. Since the primary purpose of FUE is to reduce the amount of visible scarring on the scalp, flat hybrid punches are our tools of choice for producing grafts with the least possible trauma to both the graft and the donor area.
How Are FUE Grafts Harvested?
The harvesting of FUE grafts is a highly specialized skill requiring exceptional fine motor coordination and patience. At our Clinic, we currently employ a team of 24 technicians who have been working with microscopic dissection for many years. Only four of these technicians – each selected for their high level of skill in the field – have been trained to perform FUE extractions. This training has taken place at two of the best clinics in the world, both known for their expertise in the execution of the FUE technique. We believe that our technicians can match (and most likely exceed) the skill of even the very best extraction physicians available anywhere in the world. In addition, our technicians are able to perform their work without any time constraints whatsoever. In contrast, physicians possessing comparable skills likely have busy practices, and thus would simply not be able to devote the same amount of time to extractions.
We currently make use of the WAW system with motorized handle and reciprocating motion in conjunction with a flat, hybrid punch in the 0.8 – 0.9 mm range. This highly refined motorized punch is thought by many physicians to be the best motorized punch in the world. We concur. It is now possible to produce grafts as good as, if not better than, those produced by strip excision and microscopic dissection. The only real difference is the amount of perifollicular fat surrounding the follicles.
At Hasson & Wong, we have spent years perfecting the FUE technique to a level comparable to that of our strip technique. For many of the well informed, our reputation now includes our ability to provide the very best FUE available in the world today.
Watch a FUE Hair Transplant in Action
FUE Hair Transplant Before And After
We have prepared a new photo gallery exclusively for our FUE results. Now you be the judge