Follicular Unit Extraction: A Comprehensive Overview of Techniques and Best Practices

The 2013 document outlines Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), a hair transplantation method that allows for individual follicle extraction without a linear scar, suitable for patients desiring short hairstyles or those with low-density or tight donor areas. It discusses the importance of careful donor management to prevent overharvesting and shock loss, and describes various techniques for donor area preparation, anesthetic application, and graft extraction using both sharp and dull punches, with manual and motorized systems, including the robotic ARTAS System. The document stresses the need for proper graft handling and postoperative care, and recommends that surgeons new to FUE practice on strip procedure patients to achieve low transection rates. It concludes that FUE offers minimal scarring and rapid recovery, and suggests that surgeons not offering FUE may fall behind in technological advancements.