Q:
Hello,
I wanted to get more information like FUE vs FUSS…I have been doing a lot of reading..How do you know if one is best and using a FOX test??..I like the idea of the FUE but hear manny claims that it is not good..However, I am not a big fan of getting a piece of my sking taken off. There is so much differnet information.. also all the normal questions that come with the procedure….I hope to hear from you.
Thank you for taking the time to read this,
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A:
Thank you for your question. It is a very good one.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a method by which we remove hair follicular units individually as opposed to taking a strip of scalp and dissecting it, extracting the follicular units.
You are absolutely right in the fact that there is a lot of different information online, for and against FUE procedures. The truth is that many hair restoration surgeons and facilities promote one method versus another due to their specific surgical capabilities. FUE, if done right, might be a great solution for some hair loss sufferers – primarily those with minimal hair loss, those who (for any reason) cannot have any type of scarring on their scalp, those who have had problems associated with previous strip procedures, and those with a compromised donor area wherein a strip procedure just isn’t possible.
Having said that, most hair transplant surgeries are still performed utilizing the strip method, for a number of reasons:
Strip hair transplantation allows the surgeon to maximize the quality and viability of the hair follicles. We anticipate a maximum hair follicle transection rate (“transaction rate” referring to hair follicle ‘grafts’ that are cut during surgery, resulting in follicles no longer capable of growing healthy hair) of 1-5%, since the grafts are harvested under 3-D magnification with stereotactic microscopes.
In FUE cases, patients may experience significantly higher hair follicle transection rates of up to 10% or more. A FOX test is performed, primarily, on patients with curly hair to determine whether or not they are candidates for an FUE procedure. (It is basically a small FUE procedure.)
Although mega and giga session hair transplant procedures of 4,000 grafts or more can be performed using the strip method, individual FUE procedures cannot harvest more than 1500 to 2000 grafts. Sessions larger than this will keep hair grafts outside of the body for an extended period of time, potentially jeopardizing their survival.
Today, we have several methods to minimize the visibility of any scarring resulting from a strip procedure.
An FUE procedure is labor intensive, and as such the cost for performing an FUE procedure is significantly greater.
I think it’s best that you be evaluated by a hair transplant surgeon, skilled in both FUE and strip techniques before deciding which procedure is right for you.
Please don’t hesitate contacting us if you have any additional questions.
Thanks,