Paradigm Shift from Linear Strip to Follicular Unit Excision in Hair Restoration Surgery

December 2023 in “ Facial Plastic Surgery ”

Konstantinos Anastassakis

follicular unit excision FUE donor hair follicles hair restoration surgery graft injuries cosmesis

TLDR Follicular unit excision (FUE) is a popular hair transplant method that avoids a linear scar but has potential challenges and side effects if not done properly.

Follicular unit excision (FUE) is a method for obtaining donor hair follicles without a linear donor scar, making it ideal for patients who wish to hide signs of surgery. Over the past 20 years, FUE has become increasingly popular, driving the global market size of hair restoration surgery to new heights. However, FUE is often falsely advertised as "minimally invasive" or "scarless," leading to misconceptions among patients. Many clinics offer low-cost FUE surgery performed by nonprofessional technicians, which can lead to graft injuries as FUE is a blind technique. FUE presents unique challenges and potential long-term side effects if not performed correctly. The surgeon must have a thorough understanding of the FUE surgical technique to ensure consistent graft quality and favorable cosmesis of both donor and recipient areas. FUE requires dexterity, training, dedication, devotion, enthusiasm, cognitive clarity, scientific knowledge, experience, and an extended learning curve.

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