4 to 8 hours.
FUE hair transplant has a success rate of 90-95%.
Follicular Unit Excision is an effective hair transplant technique that is gaining popularity among patients. The difference between the FUE and FUT techniques is in the extraction process. FUE hair transplant is a minimally invasive method in which your hair follicles are harvested – using a special micro punch – from the donor to the receiving area while you are under local anesthesia.
Your surgeon can extract 500 to 5000 grafts in one session. Hair follicles are usually harvested from the back and sides of your head, but if the number of follicles that will be extracted is not sufficient, your surgeon can also extract the follicles from your beard or chest.
Your scalp skin will fully recover in a number of days post-surgery. Patients usually prefer the FUE technique because the approach minimizes scarring.
For your online consultation, we will kindly ask you to send your photos as shown in the Photography Guide down below, so we can evaluate your case.
Each and every FUE Hair Transplant surgery is tailored to suit every individual’s needs, preferences, and the clinic’s best practices. But the procedure normally includes the following 7 stages:
First things first, an online consultation (between you and the FUE Hair Transplant specialist) will be conducted –this is done in order to make sure that you’re a suitable candidate for the hair transplant surgery. You will be asked to send some pictures of your face and head (from the top, front, left, right, and back angles).
After a Hair Transplant specialist reviews your pictures, you will be told the approximate number of grafts that you need. During the online consultations, expect the following questions:
It is during this consultation that your surgeon will learn about motivation, expectations, and goals –in regards to the surgery.
When you decide to have a hair transplant, our first step will be to present to you several detailed options of clinics and doctors. After you have chosen your preferred clinic and doctor, we will then set up an operation date and arrange your trip. All the dates are set according to your preferences!
This surgery is usually performed in the morning or afternoon, so we always recommend that you arrive in Turkey a day before the surgery –so that you can have enough time to rest.
When you arrive at the clinic, you will have a face-to-face consultation with your hair transplant surgeon. Part of the discussions will be about your expectations and goals. After this, the surgeon will make an illustration of what to expect by drawing marks of your new hairline.
Before the surgery commences, your surgeon will conduct physical and blood tests to make sure that you are in a good health state. Every patient is required to undergo medical tests so as to ensure that nothing can hinder the success of the surgery.
To make you feel comfortable during the surgery, your surgeon will give you local anesthesia. Your surgeon will also shave the donor area, but some surgeons prefer performing the procedure without shaving the donor area. If you have Trypanophobia (fear of needles), you should let us know so that we can offer you doctors who can give you anesthesia without using needles.
When the preparation phase is done, your surgeon will start the procedure. Expect your surgeon to follow these steps during the surgery:
While you are still anesthetized, your surgeon will extract hair grafts one by one, then he/she will place them in a container filled with a special solution that helps keep the grafts alive.
Upon completing the extraction process, your surgeon (or a team of expert technicians) will begin to make incisions – on the recipient area – using a microblade and 0.6 to 1.0 mm special micro punches. The incisions will determine the growth direction of the hair, and they will have an angle to make a consistent pattern for a natural look.
Hair grafts are inserted into the recipient area soon after the incisions are made. Hair transplant surgery can take between 4 and 8 hours, and it is performed on the same day. To avoid boredom, we have seen some patients read a book, watch a movie or take a nap during the surgery. Considering that the surgery is quite lengthy, you will have breaks during the surgery.
Your surgeon can offer you PRP treatment as a complementary procedure so as to accelerate the healing process. PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) treatment is usually performed during the transplantation or after the grafts are implanted.
When the transplantation is over, the nurses will cover your head with bandages, and they will give you meds in case you feel any pain or discomfort. If you have traveled just to have this treatment, we will make sure that you spend the night in a 5-star hotel after the surgery.
We will also transport you to the clinic on the following day for medical review with your surgeon. It is during this review that your surgeon will give you instructions you need to carefully follow during the recovery period.
a) First 2 weeks
It is normal to feel some bits of pain in the first 2 days after the surgery —so there is no need to be alarmed. You should also expect your scalp and forehead to be tender, red, or swollen in the first 2 weeks post-surgery. Some patients notice pimples in the recipient area. Scabs will be given to fall off in the 2nd week after the surgery –this is normal and we urge you not to panic when this happens.
b) From 2 weeks to 8 weeks
During this period, expect 90% of your transplanted hair to fall off. This is an ordinary occurrence that happens 95% of the time. Some of the natural hair located next to the transplanted hair can also fall off; this situation is known as ‘shock loss’. Shock loss is natural and temporary, and surgeons consider it as part of the recovery process.
c) From 2 months to 6 months
What happens between 2 and 4 months is regarded as the steady phase of the recovery. Expect 5% of your new hair to begin to grow during this period. From month 4 up to month 6, you should expect 20% to 25% of the transplanted hair to start growing.
d) From 6 months up to a year
Between the 6 and 9 months, expect to see 75% of the transplanted hair start growing. At this point, the hair will be getting denser and thicker.
After month number 9, an additional 20% to 25% of new hair will begin to grow. In some instances, it may take up to 18 months for the hair to fully grow.
Is FUE Hair Transplant Painful?
You may feel pain or soreness after the procedure is done. However, your surgeon may prescribe painkillers to relieve this pain and discomfort.
Does FUE Hair Transplant Leave a Scar?
Considering that the FUE technique requires hair units to be removed one by one, there is no linear scalp scar is created in the donor area.
Is FUE Hair Transplant Permanent?
Since transplanted hairs will behave as they are in the donor area, it is not guaranteed that a hair transplant will last forever. But your new hair will probably stay with you for a very long time.
Our team will dedicate their effort and time to help you choose the clinic best for you. Our goal is not just to find ‘a doctor’ for you, but to find ‘the right doctor’.