Follicular Unit Extraction Myths: If you are thinking about getting a hair transplant, you are probably researching different types of procedures. Of course, there are pros and cons inherent with each one.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is time intensive and costly. However, in the hands of a skilled surgeon, it is capable of giving the most ideal results and high patient satisfaction ratings.

Being a relatively new hair restoration technique, it is still gaining more awareness and recognition. As such, there is misinformation about FUE or Follicular Unit Extraction Myths that deserves to be addressed.

Follicular Unit Extraction Myths Debunked

This patient case study disproves a couple of the main myths about Follicular Unit Extraction

Follicular Unit Extraction Myth 1

According to many sources, the hair yield of Follicular Unit Extraction is poor compared to Strip Surgery.
The patient in the video had chosen strip surgery for his first hair transplant procedure. His dissatisfaction led him to undergo FUE at another clinic prior to seeing Dr. Umar.

Here is the hair yield of the strip and first FUE procedure.

FUE and Restoring Strip Scar Surgery — Both Strip surgery and FUE can produce poor yield, where hair growth is very minimal. After the patient’s second FUE procedure with Dr. Umar, the yield had improved considerably.*

Myths about FUE — Follicular Unit Extraction can result in poor or excellent yield depending on the skill of the surgeon*

Follicular Unit Extraction Myth 2

Debunking Follicular Unit Extraction Myths — Follicular Unit Extraction leaves tiny round scars in the donor area in contrast to a large linear scar*

The second most common myth about Follicular Unit Extraction is that the degree of scarring is the same in FUE and strip surgery.

Strip surgery requires the surgeon to cut a horizontal strip of the scalp in the lower back part of the head. This will result in a linear scar, making it difficult for patients to wear their hair short.

FUE results in tiny round scars that are cosmetically insignificant. Patients can choose to wear their hair short as there is no need to hide anything.

Follicular Unit Extraction Myth 3
Many sources claim that FUE cannot be done on large scale hair transplant. The number of hair grafts that can be harvested from strip surgery is limited to about 5000-6000. Some cases require more than this.

With Follicular Unit Extraction, donor hair can be harvested from other areas outside the region that is targeted in strip surgery. Extractions from the nape or even behind the ears not only expand the donor supply, but the finer quality of the hair shafts can be used to reconstruct natural looking hair lines.

Furthermore, it is now possible to use body hair in uGraft Follicular Unit Extraction. Body hair can supplement the donor supply from the head significantly to even restore hair of severely bald patients (Norwood scale 6 or 7). In body hair transplant, hair can be harvested from the chest, legs, arms, shoulders, nape, stomach and beard area.

This concept of transplanting body hair in a severely bald patient was executed for the first time here at Derm Hair Clinic. 8,000 grafts were used in this restoration procedure.

FUE — Follicular Unit Extraction using beard hair proved to be the best hair loss treatment option for this severely bald patient.*

Here is the video of this case study:

FUE can give stunning results. However this depends on the skills and experience of the doctor. It is important to research wisely and choose the best hair transplant surgeon
for the best outcome.

Video on what the follicular unit extraction process is like