Integrating Follicular Unit Extraction Into a Hair Restoration Office

In 2003, Dr. James Harris integrated Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) into his hair restoration practice, overcoming initial challenges such as the learning curve and maintaining high-quality grafts. Over the past decade, the clinic developed a workflow incorporating both strip surgeries and FUE, offering patients more surgical options. The role of surgical assistants shifted but remained critical to the success of the surgical outcome. The learning curve for FUE was similar to that of traditional grafting, with smaller surgeries of 300-500 grafts recommended initially. The size of the surgery and the speed of extraction determined the number of assistants needed. The clinic also developed a system for scheduling multiple surgeries in a day. The surgical assistants played a crucial role in patient preparation, graft inspection, graft placement, and post-operative care. The clinic found that a team approach contributed to the success of the surgeries, and that FUE offered a viable choice for natural results without a strip excision.