Operation stages with FUE – follicular unit extraction
During a hair transplant, hair is relocated from one area rich in hair to an area where an increase in hair growth is desired. Hair follicles that have been transplanted take root within 24 hours and immediately begin producing natural, growing hair.
The hair transplant is always performed under local anesthesia. The method that is used by almost every clinic is called FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction).
What is FUE – follicular unit extraction?
- Your own hair is relocated and takes root in the area that it is transplanted to.
- A modern technique resulting in natural looking results.
- Permanent solution for female and male hair loss.
What happens during a hair transplant?
Consultation
A hair transplant always starts with a consultation where we go through your hair’s condition. Read more about what happens during a consultation here.
Preparation
On the day of the hair transplant it is important that you start your day with a full meal so that you have plenty of energy for the procedure. We recommend that you wear comfortable clothes and a blouse or a shirt so that you avoid having to pull anything over your head after the operation.
When you arrive at the clinic, you will be asked to get changed into an operation shirt. Thereafter, we will go through the different elements of the operation with you.
Drawing the transplant area
We draw out your new hairline and the transplanted area. Should you wish to make any smaller adjustments to the shape or the placement, there will be time to make changes.
Shaving of the donor area
The next step is to prepare the donor area. This area is where your hair follicles will be extracted from. The area is marked out and shaven. Many choose to shave the whole head, depending on how large the donor area is and the length of the hair, but we prefer that you visit the clinic unshaven on the day of your hair transplant so that we can see how your hair grows naturally.
Local anesthetic
First you will get local anesthetia in the donor area. This step may sting a little, but afterwards you will not feel anything in that area.
Extraction of the hair follicles
To extract the hair follicle groups, we drill around each graft, one by one. Each graft is then extracted from the donor area with forceps.
Chanells in the transplant area
When all the grafts have been extracted from the donor area, it is time to turn over and receive local anesthetic in the transplant area. Thereafter, small incisions are constructed in the transplant area in a slightly irregular pattern so that the hair will mimic your natural hair as much as possible.
Bandaging
When the procedure is done, vaseline is applied to the donor area in order to create an additional protective layer against dirt. The wounds are larger in the donor area than in the newly transplanted area, where only small incisions have been made. A bandage is placed over the donor area and shall stay in place for 24 hours. The newly transplanted area will not be bandaged as it is highly sensitive and must be allowed to heal undisturbed.
Review of aftercare and medication
Once your hair transplant is completed, we will go through aftercare and medication with you. You will learn how to wash your hair, when you may start wearing a hat again, and what to consider in terms of exercise and alcohol. We will also verify what time you will visit us for your first PRP aftertreatment. Read more on PRP here.
The difference between FUE and FUT
FUE – natural results and does not leave scars
With the follicular unit extraction technique, a microdrill is used to loosen the hair follicles in the donor area. The hair follicles are then extracted with foreceps. When everything has healed, there will be no scars in the area where the hair follicles were extracted from or in the area where the hair follicles were transplanted. At Nordic Hair Clinic, we use manual FUE, administered and performed by our hair technicians.
FUT – leaves a scar in the donor area
When performing a hair transplant using the follicular unit extraction technique, or the strip method, as it is also called, a strip of skin is removed from the back of the head. Then a scalpel is used to extract the hair follicles from the skin strip. FUT leaves a large scar in the back of the head once everything is healed. For this reason, Nordic Hair Clinic does not use the FUT technique.
