Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Name: Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
Brand: Dr. Wolfeld
Rating: 4.7 (59 reviews)

FUE, or follicular unit extraction, is a breakthrough in hair transplantation technology. This procedure allows your hair follicles to be relocated to thinning or balding areas of your scalp. This technology has reduced downtime with minimal scarring. If you are experiencing hair loss or baldness, then our FUE hair transplant in NYC could be the treatment for you.

Dr. Wolfeld and patient during treatment

Hair Transplantation

In the past, hair transplantation relied solely upon techniques commonly called “hair plugs,” which involved surgically removing patches of skin from areas with healthy hair growth and placing them in thinning areas. These procedures generally achieved outcomes that appeared unnatural and resulted in larger scars on the back of the scalp. Over time, new approaches to transplantation have developed that are less invasive, and that can lead to hair restoration with far more natural results. An important development is called follicular unit excision (FUE).

What is Follicular Unit Extraction?

The term “follicular unit” refers to a group of one to four healthy hairs growing from the scalp. In FUE, these units are harvested individually from the back and sides of the scalp. The purpose of our FUE hair transplant in NYC is to extract these follicles and transplant them to areas of the scalp where hair loss has occurred, enabling new hair growth in these areas.

How is FUE performed?

The units are harvested randomly from the back and the sides of the scalp. The hair restoration surgeon makes a small circular incision around the hairs and then extracts them from the scalp. When enough follicular units have been harvested, they are then implanted individually in the target areas.

How is FUE different from FUT hair transplantation?

This is a very different procedure from the strip method (when a strip of scalp is removed) or follicular unit transplant (FUT). With FUE, there is no need for surgical removal of a band of tissue from the back of the scalp to harvest healthy hair follicles for transplantation as in FUT. FUT leaves a linear scar that may be visible with shorter hairstyles. FUE creates tiny scars on the back of the scalp, and the procedure is especially beneficial to individuals who have had multiple FUT treatments and whose donor areas have been impacted or compromised.

What are the advantages of FUE?

Our FUE hair transplant in NYC offers a number of benefits, including:

Due to the fact that the incisions are very small, there is minimal scarring.
The small extraction sites heal quickly, speeding recovery.
You will have fewer restrictions on your activity during the recovery period.
You will be able to wear your hair as short as you like – no worries about a linear scar on the back of the head.
The FUE post-operative period generally has less discomfort than with the FUT method

Advances in using robotics in hair transplantation

Advanced technology has developed robots that can assist surgeons in the FUE process. By using robotics specializing in FUE, hair transplant procedures are more accurate and provide consistent and even spacing of follicle extraction and placement. Dr. Wolfeld performs arguably the best FUE hair transplant NYC has to offer, using a specialized FUE robotic system known as the ARTAS iX.

What is the ARTAS iX system

The ARTAS iX system is a specialized precision robotic device designed to assist the surgeon in performing the follicular unit excision. The ARTAS iX robot:

Removes the potential for human error and fatigue associated with manual procedures
Surgically harvests healthy follicular unit grafts from the information programmed into the robot
Has the ability to harvest healthier follicular unit grafts, minimizing any damage to the grafts, as may be seen in the manual methods
The robotic cameras have built-in artificial intelligence that can calculate the angles of the hair, depth of the follicles, and donor density, and the robot can learn as the procedure progresses to further harvest the healthiest grafts for transplantation

The benefits of using the ARTAS system

FUE performed with the ARTAS iX system is more accurate with less damage to the grafts than when FUE is performed manually. ARTAS allows for precision extractions and placements of follicles using special algorithms to select and place them. This protects the donor area and helps to maintain its natural look. It also ensures that you get the natural hairline designed for you for results that are far superior.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Wolfeld to see if you are a candidate for this procedure. He and his team are knowledgeable and welcoming. They will be able to help you with any questions or concerns that you may have regarding the treatment.

Am I a candidate for FUE hair transplant?

Candidates for FUE are experiencing hair loss or premature balding and are looking at restoring their natural hairline and enhancing the hair fullness. Candidates are ideally:

Medically safe to receive treatment
Have enough healthy follicles in the donor area to be harvested for use in the transplant
Are non-smokers or willing to quit for a period of time
Have realistic expectations for the procedure

What is a FUE treatment like?

Due to the fact that each follicular unit must be carefully and correctly harvested, the procedure requires some time and patience. The harvest site will be shaved to facilitate the precise harvesting that the procedure requires. You will be seated in a specialized chair to maximize your comfort.

A local anesthetic will be injected in to your scalp to help you remain comfortable. The process of collecting and placing the follicular units requires several hours. The exact length of time required will depend on your transplant design. Though this can be a long procedure, there will be time for you to take breaks so you that you are comfortable throughout your treatment.

When can I expect to see results?

One can start to notice the results from a FUE procedure in about six months, but full results can take a year or longer. Dr. Wolfeld will be easily available throughout the entire post-operative period to answer any questions that may arise. He may suggest further treatments that can help to accelerate healing and improve hair growth, such as platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP.

How long is recovery?

FUE is a precision surgical procedure that does not require the use of scalpels, stitches, or staples. It is a minimally invasive procedure that, for most, can be completed comfortably in a single day. Recovery from FUE is much faster than was possible with earlier hair transplant techniques, with minimal scarring and faster healing. FUE is performed using a long-lasting local anesthetic and any minor pain or discomfort from the procedure can be managed with over the counter pain relief medication. Most patients can be back to normal activities within a few days.

Why choose Dr. Wolfeld?

Dr. Michael Wolfeld is an acclaimed hair restoration specialist in New York City and the first hair restoration specialist in the country who is double board-certified in both plastic surgery and hair restoration surgery. At his boutique practice, which is focused strictly on hair restoration, he draws upon his extensive experience in the field of aesthetics to assist his patients in overcoming hair loss and improving their quality of life and self-confidence. Dr. Wolfeld is a regular expert on national TV shows and is the first physician to have ever demonstrated a simulated ARTAS iX procedure on a live TV show – and this was done on the Today Show on NBC, Good Day NY on FOX, and the Dr. Oz show.

FUE Hair Transplant FAQ

Will I need additional FUE hair transplants in the future?

Will people be able to tell I’ve undergone a hair transplant?

Is the Procedure Painful?

Am I Too Old for FUE?

How Long Until I See New Hair Growth?

Will I need additional FUE hair transplants in the future?

Each patient’s long-term experience with FUE hair transplants is unique. Typically, the results are very long-lasting, but it is possible that you’ll need an additional treatment years down the road to maintain your full head of hair. However, this depends on multiple variables, including genetics and lifestyle factors; many individuals remain permanently satisfied with their results.

Will people be able to tell I’ve undergone a hair transplant?

Once your results have had time to fully develop, it will be difficult if not impossible for people to tell that you’ve had a hair transplant. With Dr. Wolfeld’s expertise and the advanced ARTAS iX system, the complete effects of your FUE hair transplant will look exceptionally natural.

Is the Procedure Painful?

You should not experience significant discomfort during or after FUE. Any discomfort is typically easily managed with over the counter pain medication for the first day or two.

Am I Too Old for FUE?

Age is not a factor with regard to this procedure. It can be provided to patients in their twenties or in their seventies, providing they are medically eligible.

How Long Until I See New Hair Growth?

You should begin to see new hair within three months after your surgery, and significant new growth after six months have passed.