The recipient site (balding area) is anaesthetised and numerous micro-incisions are made using a specially shaped micro-needle. The grafts are then placed into these incisions. Another method that I use is a hair follicle implanter.

The hairline is constructed with one terminal hair unit follicles as this gives a natural wavy contour. Two & three unit follicles are placed further into the hairline. This gives hair density. Each and every follicular unit is meticulously transferred by hand. 

FUE (& FUT) are the most successful hair transplant techniques available today. The hair survival rate is typically between 95 to 98% at one year with a very slow decline thereafter. FUE yields a natural outcome with minimal, if any, scarring.

FUE does not cure baldness, it repurposes hair follicles that are more resistant to baldness / hair fall & transfers them to sites of low hair density. Ideally your dermatologist will discuss the need for medical therapy as this ensures long term-lifetime results post-transplant.

After the anaesthetic wears off at 4 to 6 hours the scalp will feel a bit tight & sore but this soon eases and returns to normal in a few hours. Simple paracetamol or co-codamol will help. Swelling is normal & subsides in a few days. If a dense low hairline is constructed, you will have some swelling of the forehead & upper eyelids.

The tiny one millimetre holes in the donor site will seal within 2 to 3 days. The recipient site (area of thinning) will be red for a few days. Bleeding stops within 12 hours of the procedure.

The transplanted hair falls out within a couple of weeks. This is absolutely normal and due to transient  shock. Hair will then grow normally from the hair root and will be noticeable by approximately 3 months and carry on growing as fast and as long as your normal hair. Full density is reached at the 8 to 10 month mark.

If hair is transplanted into a thinning area, then this can occasionally cause temporary shedding of some existing nearby hair shafts. They then regrow, so don’t stress.

It depends on your age, the progression of hair loss & the density of your donor site.

In most cases we can recreate your old hair line, however in younger patients it is prudent to be more conservative.

With strip harvesting a section of the donor site is cut out. This means that hair density in the occipital areas (back of the head) is higher compared to the FUE technique. The latter reduces density globally in the occipital area, & repurposes hair to the bald / less dense areas. The overall look of FUE is more natural.

An FUE hair transplant can be undergone in either one long session (known as a giga session) or several smaller sessions. The length of time for an FUE procedure can vary, & is dependent on the number of grafts. A typical session takes 3-5 hours. 

A larger procedure of around 2,600 to 3200 grafts will require a session that stretches over two days. Other factors that extend the length of the procedure include-

• Wavy hair
• Unshaven FUE
• Blonde or lighter coloured hair
• Sebaceous or oily skin, thick dermal scalp layer
• Excess bleeding

Unlike traditional strip surgery, FUE hair transplantation does not require large areas of the scalp to be harvested. There is also no linear incision on the back of the head, nor does it leave a linear scar, hence recovery is super fast. 

The donor site typically closes off within 2-3 days without the need for sutures. The recipient site takes around a week to settle down. Scabs fall off around day 8 to 10. You may experience swelling at day 2-4 if your frontal hairline is recreated.  Your dermatologist will give you an accurate indication of recovery.

Yes. Much akin to transferring a patch of lawn/grass to another area, you do need to water & fertilize it.

Dermatologists encourage the use of simple topicals including minoxidil & or topical finasteride to preserve your remaining follicles.  Your physician will also discuss the benefits of minoxidil taken orally.

3-6 months, with best results in 9 to 12 months. Be patient as it take time for the repurposed hair follicles to adapt to their new home.

FUE is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is administered under local anaesthetic. You will be conscious for the entire time however we do give you a mild sedative on the day of the procedure. Post-surgery there may be mild discomfort & swelling.

If you are on oral tablets such as minoxidil, finasteride or dutasteride you can continue on your current dose.

Stop all topicals 48 hours prior to FUE, & recommence 10 days after your procedure. This will reduce scalp irritation. Do not just stop your minoxidil without first consulting your dermatologist as rebound telogen (hair fall can occur). If you have just started minoxidil, you may get a temporary telogen 2-4 months after commencement of this medication. Discuss this with your treating dermatologist.

Side effects are rare. It is important to differentiate the expected outcomes from events that are unexpected.

Common events include: scalp redness, itchiness, transient pimples in both transplanted & harvested areas. Transient hair loss is also common, mild & self- limiting.

Rare side effects include infection, scarring in donor & recipient areas, & cysts.

The only sure way to tell if you are a good candidate for FUE hair transplant is to schedule a consultation with a dermatologist. A clinical examination will give an accurate diagnosis. Most cases of hair loss is due to male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia, however skin specialists can differentiate other rare hair loss disorders.

The next step is to optimise your medical therapy before the transplantation. This prevents further hair loss & maximises growth post transplant.

If the cause of your hair loss is compatible with a hair transplant & you have adequate hair density in the donor areas, your surgeon is likely to deem the FUE procedure suitable for you.