Follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplants involve taking individual hair follicles from your skin and implanting them elsewhere, usually on the head. The result is a hairline that looks thicker and fuller.
This type of hair transplant was developed to replace traditional follicular unit transplantation (FUT) techniques, which involve removing a piece of skin or scalp and grafting it elsewhere.
FUE has become more popular and widely practiced than FUT because follicular unit extraction can result in a fuller, more natural-looking hairline. In addition, scarring is unlikely with FUE hair transplants.
SpaMedica offers expertly performed hair transplants in Toronto under the guidance of Dr. Bell, who has 25+ years of experience with cosmetic surgery and helping people look and feel their best.
At SpaMedica, FUE hair transplants start at $5,999. The total cost will depend on the number of hair follicles being transplanted or the size of the area being treated.
SpaMedica was the first plastic surgery clinic to bring automated and robotic FUE to Canada. The SpaMedica FUE expert team is skilled at using the NeoGraft and Artas devices to create an efficient, painless experience for patients. We are experienced in providing patients with long-lasting results that appear dense and natural. Over 1,000,000 FUE grafts have been transplanted by the SpaMedica team.
Our team, fronted by our Lead Surgeon, Dr. Bell, understands that multiple sessions may be required for your FUE transplant. We will design the ideal hairline and densification that can be properly maintained throughout your life. Book a consultation today to enjoy thicker, fuller hair.
During a FUE hair transplant, old hair follicles are replaced with new ones that can still grow hair. These follicles are transplanted from elsewhere on the body. Following transplantation, healthy blood will rush to the new follicles in order to nourish them and support their continued growth.
Generally, hair transplants are performed on the scalp – FUE targets areas on the head where there is thinning or lost hair to give you a full head of thick hair that can last a lifetime. However, a hair transplant can be performed anywhere on the body where hair is absent or thin, including the:
The best candidate for a FUE hair transplant is someone who is experiencing hair loss or balding from their head. You should also still be able to grow hair elsewhere on your body for use during the transplant.
In addition, patients should be in generally good health and without any medical conditions that may compromise the success of the treatment or cause complications during recovery.
FUE hair implants take 4-10 hours, depending on the number of grafts needed and placed. For a large volume, 3000 FUE graft case, extracting FUE hair follicles takes approximately 4 hours, and inserting into the area takes 4 hours.
The initial recovery of the FUE hair transplant lasts just 2-3 days. During these first days, a soft dressing covers the tiny 0.9 to 1.2-millimetre extraction holes at the back of the scalp. This dressing goes around the front of the forehead and wraps to secure the bandage over the back.
A FUE hair transplant treatment can have a number of benefits, including:
While some scarring may occur after a FUE hair transplant procedure, they will just be tiny white dots where the new follicle was transplanted. They will fade over time.
This type of procedure is very low-risk, and you should alert your surgeon and/or physician if you notice any of the following side effects:
At SpaMedica, we only perform non-surgical, non-linear scar, FUE hair transplants that enhance hair restoration. However, some patients come to SpaMedica looking to improve scarring at the back of their head from a traditional Strip Graft Hair Transplant procedure. Book a consultation with Dr. Bell and his talented team to see which hair transplant option is best for you.
Female pattern hair loss is a common condition among women, and while it mostly occurs in women in their 50s and 60s, it can also occur earlier in life. Female pattern hair loss is characterized by all-over hair loss on the head, while male pattern baldness generally affects the hairline and the top of the head.
Women who experience female pattern hair loss often feel low self-esteem which can be resolved with a FUE hair transplant.
The transplant is performed the same on a woman as on a man, but optimal results may take longer to reveal themselves if the patient suffering from female hair loss has a longer hairstyle that she wants her new growth area to blend into.
The procedure will also take longer, as there is a larger surface area to cover and more follicles to extract.
When using the NeoGraft technique, hair follicles are removed with a wand that extracts them with suction.
NeoGraft is highly accurate and advanced, and your surgeon will not need to make an incision for new hair follicles. Rather, a special tool is used to make the incision and implant the follicles at the same time.
This procedure is different from traditional FUE in that it does not require your surgeon to make individual extractions and implantations themselves.
Artas FUE is a robotic, automated procedure. During an ARTAS hair transplant, an advanced robotic device extracts and harvests healthy hair follicles before implanting them in the treatment area.
As a result, the procedure reduces recovery time, produces lasting results, minimizes scar trauma, and eliminates the risk of human error. Best of all, the scars from the procedure will not be noticeable to most people – even at shorter hair settings.
The main difference between FUE and FUT hair transplants is the extraction method from the donor area.
With FUE, hairs are extracted individually, and the process can take 1-4 hours. The tiny extraction sites leave no visible scarring, making it a preferred method for those attached to short hair.
With FUT, all the hair is removed in just 15-30 minutes. This results in a small scar on the back of the head, easily hidden by hair half an inch long.
During your consultation, your doctor will determine the best hair transplant option based on your preferences, hair loss pattern, size of the thinning area, and the quantity of available donor hair.
Using plasma-derived growth factors, nutrients, and high-intensity, low-level light therapy provides a non-FUE option for some patients. This same non-FUE transplant program is also offered after the FUE procedure for best results.
These elements can be found in numerous hair transplant procedures you can ask Dr. Bell about during your consultation at SpaMedica.
Before the FUE extraction, the harvest area is shaved (some patients prefer to shave all their hair) and numbed with local anesthesia. Our team will administer laughing gas (nitrous oxide) to ensure the local anesthesia injection is as painless as possible.
Following local anesthesia, the Artas robotic or NeoGraft automated FUE hair transplant system is used to harvest your FUE grafts painlessly by our surgeons. This second stage involves our team implanting the new FUE grafts into the targeted recipient areas.
SpaMedica uses the stick-and-place technique, which uses a small hypodermic needle to create tiny slits between hairs or along the frontal hairline. The method gives patients the densest, most natural-looking hair you can achieve.
Before your hair transplant, you will be asked to follow these steps:
To get more detailed information on how to prepare for your FUE hair transplant, contact the SpaMedica team today and book a consultation.
Compared to traditional hair transplant methods, after a FUE hair transplant, patients experience less discomfort and faster recovery times. There is no specific maintenance required by patients, either.
The tiny slits from deploying the hair follicles in the target area don’t require any stitches and will simply scab over – barely noticeable to the naked eye.
Past clients at SpaMedica have expressed extreme satisfaction with their FUE hair transplant results – and they say that the recovery time is worth the wait. We love to hear from our clients and see their full hair growth results!
Day 1: Rest and relax for the first day following your hair transplant, and keep your head elevated for proper blood flow.
Day 2: Patients can resume low-impact regular daily activities.
Day 3-4: Swelling peaks around this time.
Day 7-10: Any mild pain will subside.
Day 14: New hair growth.
Exercise must be avoided for the first 4 weeks.
FUE hair restoration is commonly combined with blepharoplasty eyelid surgery, double chin lipo, or a face and neck lift. Non-surgical treatments that pair well include Botox injections, dermal fillers and energy-based treatments for skin enhancements.
SpaMedica offers many procedures to help you look and feel your best, so discussing your options with Dr. Bell during your consultation is best.
The FUE hair transplant procedure shouldn’t hurt at all. Local anesthesia is used to numb the scalp area, which means you won’t be able to feel any pain throughout the procedure. Recovering is also less painful than traditional hair transplant methods.
Because the hair follicles are extracted from the preferred sites at the back and side of your scalp, they are permanent and do not fall out. However, patients may require additional hair transplants when genetic hair on the top of their head continues to thin over the years.
The low-invasive nature of the treatment means that most FUE patients return to work-related tasks the following day of the procedure unless their work is physically strenuous.
After a hair transplant, your scalp may be red and swollen, and you will experience some scabbing, so it’s no wonder that many are eager to wear a hat following surgery. However, to avoid compressing or dislodging newly implanted hair grafts, it’s best to wait at least six days before donning headwear.
Once your scalp heals, you are free to choose any hairstyle you want. While many patients remain loyal to the shaved look they wore pre-surgery, it’s worth growing your hair out so you can see the results you’ve worked so hard to achieve!
The sides and back of the head typically serve as the donor sites for FUE hair transplant surgery because these are the areas of the scalp where growth tends to be the strongest and most consistent and the least susceptible to shedding. For all these reasons, hair taken from the donor areas grows back after your FUE hair transplant.
It is widely recommended that patients wait at least until their mid-20s to early 30s. Male pattern baldness is a progressive condition that could continue for many years, which means that the ‘permanent’ results provided by FUE and FUT may need to be redone several years later as hair continues to thin. Bottom line: the best time for a FUT or FUE hair transplant depends on your hair loss’s current stage rather than age.
Fortunately for those coping with hair loss, hair transplantation has advanced to the extent that it is difficult to tell when someone has undergone surgery. Results will appear just as natural as your non-transplanted hair.
The expert FUE team at SpaMedica has transplanted over 1,000,000 FUE grafts and is highly skilled at providing patients with long-lasting results that appear both dense and natural. You’re in excellent hands at SpaMedica! Schedule your consultation today to learn more about your hair transplant options.
