Hair loss, or alopecia as it is known in medical circles, is a widespread problem of our society, affecting not just men but to an increasing extent also women. Full hair is seen as an ideal of beauty, a symbol of a dynamic character, youth and success. It therefore comes as no surprise that hair loss is often experienced as disturbing by those affected. The morning glance in the mirror gives witness to the hair loss, often causing a loss in self-confidence and consequently in quality of life. 

THE FUE-METHOD

Follicular Unit Extraction is a technique for extracting hairs from a donor area - generally the tonsure, but in certain cases the back or chest. In contrast to the FUT method, the FUE method involves extracting individual hair root groups or hair units, the so-called follicular units, from the scalp, using extremely small cylindrical punches with a diameter of 0.8 to max. 0.95 mm. These make very small incisions in the scalp in the area directly above the follicular unit. The size of the punches is of major importance. When too small, it often proves to be impossible to extract the right number of hairs per follicular unit, increasing the risk of damaging the hair root to be extracted. When the diameter is too large, we end up not actually using the FUE method, but the outdated plug technique, a technique not really deserving to be called FUE.

FUT and FUE are sometimes seen as being two completely different extraction methods, though this is not quite right. FUE should really be seen as a sub-form of FUT. In the latter, follicular units from the scalp are extracted on a strip of skin and then microscopically prepared for transplantation, whereas FUE extracts the FUs directly from the scalp. The difference between FUE and FUT is solely the way used to extract the follicular units, with implantation taking place in the same way in both cases. This means that FUE is a perfect extension of FUT, giving young people in particular an option not previously available.

THE FUT-METHOD

Follicular Unit Transplantation is a method in which a strip of the scalp is taken from the donor area - generally the back of the head. It then involves extracting from this strip individual hair follicles / follicular units under the microscope and preparing them for implantation. These Follicular Units, or FUs for short, grow in groups of 1 - 4 or sometimes even 5 follicles. The transplant material thus obtained is then implanted into a prepared recipient area. Hairs extracted this way retain their genetic information, growing again naturally in the recipient area after transplantation. To obtain the requisite number of hair follicles needed for the transplant to look natural, the patient's existing hair density in the donor area is determined as exactly as possible (density measurement). This is done by counting the number of FUs per square cm before FUT treatment and is the basis for determining the size of the strip of scalp to be removed. The strip of scalp (or any other area covered in hair) is then removed using a scalpel. This is done under local anaesthesia, meaning that no pain at all is felt.

WHN offers you successful and trustworthy treatment options. We manage all the procedures for you at the most affordable cost while serving you with highly successful doctors in the world-standard hospitals.