Hair Transplant (Standard Follicle Unit Excision - FUE)

The FUE technique involves extracting follicular units - tiny natural groupings of 1–4 hairs - using a micropunch tool. These follicles are then implanted into small recipient sites in the balding or thinning area.

Unlike the older FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation or “strip” method), FUE does not involve a linear incision, resulting in minimal scarring, faster recovery, and greater flexibility in hairstyle choices.

FUE can be used for:

• Male and female pattern baldness
• Hairline lowering or redesign
• Eyebrow, beard, and moustache restoration
• Scar camouflage from injury or previous surgery.

Who is a candidate?

• Men or women with:
  
  • Androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss)
  • Adequate donor hair density at the back or sides of the scalp
  • Stable hair loss pattern (not rapidly progressing)
  • Good general health and realistic expectations
• Not ideal for those with extensive baldness and limited donor supply.

Recovery timeline

May vary with provider

• Hospital stay: Outpatient procedure (typically 4–8 hours depending on graft number)
• Initial recovery:
  
  • Mild redness, swelling, and scabbing for 5–10 days
  • Gentle hair washing after 2–3 days
• Return to work: Within 3–5 days (depending on job type)
• Shedding phase: Transplanted hairs may fall out within 2–4 weeks - this is normal
• New hair growth: Begins around 3–4 months, with visible thickening by 6 months
• Final results: Typically seen at 9–12 months post-surgery.

Benefits

• Permanent, natural hair restoration
• No linear scar - only tiny dot scars hidden within existing hair
• Faster healing and minimal downtime
• Customisable hairline design and density
• Improved self-esteem and appearance.

Risks

• Swelling, redness, or temporary numbness at donor or recipient sites
• Folliculitis (infection or inflammation of grafts)
• Shock loss (temporary shedding of native hair near transplant area)
• Uneven or patchy growth (may require touch-up session)
• Scarring or cyst formation at extraction points (rare)
• Overharvesting can thin donor areas if not performed conservatively.

FUE hair transplant is the most advanced and popular technique for permanent hair restoration, offering natural, scar-minimised results with short recovery. Success depends heavily on surgeon expertise, donor hair quality, and patient aftercare.

This is just an outline. Your specialist surgeon will be able to talk to you about these issues in more detail and make sure that there is informed consent.