A hair transplant can be defined as the ‘permanent solution for hair loss.’ A hair transplant treatment can be expressed as a microsurgical procedure performed in a surgical hospital setting. The concept of ‘microsurgical treatment’ implies that a hair transplant procedure will be performed with minimal surgical interventions, unlike traditional surgery.

A hair transplant is an effective and permanent solution for people suffering from ‘male pattern baldness,’ also known as androgenetic alopecia. Apart from this, people who have scars or lost hair due to various types of hair diseases can also safely undergo a hair transplant.

THE FUE HAIR TRANSPLANTATION

Hair transplants have come a long way since their inception, but it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that hair transplantation began to take shape, performed with techniques now applied worldwide. Hair transplants performed in the 1990s using the FUT technique were replaced by the FUE method developed in the early 2000s and introduced in 2005.

Even though the technique is constantly evolving with some further refinement, the basic principles of FUE remain the same. Today, the technique is still considered the gold standard for hair transplant surgery. So, the most advanced technique in hair transplantation is the FUE technique. Nowadays, people with hair loss can be provided with naturally looking hair with the latest modern FUE technique, the gold standard for hair restoration.

The main difference between the FUT technique and the FUE technique for hair transplantation is that the FUE technique leaves no scars, and the recovery time is much shorter. The success of the treatments has also increased due to advances in medical devices used in the FUE technique.

THE FUE TECHNIQUE CAN BE PERFORMED WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS.

As a result, the technique is known by a few different names, such as:

• Classic FUE (via micromotors)
• DHI-Choi (FUE performed with Choi implanters)
• FUE-Sapphire (FUE performed with sapphire blades)

For example, the FUE-Sapphire hair transplantation technique using sapphire blades is a significant technique to transplant a large number of hair follicles in one session. The difference between classic FUE and FUE-Sapphire can be explained that the channels opened with sapphire, which is much smoother material, heal much faster and leave fewer scars. Also, with the FUE-Sapphire method, even more grafts can be transplanted, providing an even more natural result for all patients.

The DHI technique also stands out in achieving high-density hair transplants. With this hair transplantation technique using Choi needles, very natural and satisfying results can also be obtained. The DHI-Choi method is not suitable for patients with advanced-stage hair loss. It is a technique applied to achieve more hair density in patients with lighter hair loss.

PROCESS OF HAIR TRANSPLANTATION

Every technique used in hair transplantation shares 3 basic principles, these principles are:

• Harvesting of the hair follicles
• Opening of the channels
• Transplanting the hair follicles

HARVESTING OF THE HAIR FOLLICLES

This is a feature of FUE that allows hair follicles to be collected with an extremely high aesthetic success rate. With the FUE method, hair follicles are harvested one by one using fine punches. This way, the follicles can be harvested with minimal distortion.

Depending on the length of each follicular unit, it is important to use needles with a diameter of 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm, or if the follicular unit grafts contain 3-4-5 hairs, needles with a diameter of 1.0 mm should be used. The sharpness of the needles and the fact that they can be used only once for each patient are the elements that have a significant impact on the success of the treatment.

Another crucial factor is to extract hair follicles with maximum accuracy to prevent follicular damage. For example, if the person undergoing a hair transplant has very curly hair, the risk of follicular damage can be eliminated by using a curved punch called a U-graft during the follicular unit extraction process. All these elements are refinements planned by the doctor prior to the treatment and specifically tailored to each patient’s condition.

OPENING OF THE CHANNELS

In the classic FUE technique, steel blades are used to create the receiving sites within the transplanted area.

Today, much sharper and smoother sapphire blades are used with the FUE-Sapphire technique. Using sapphire blades makes it much easier to determine the correct angle and direction of transplantation. When creating slits in the receiving area, it is very important to follow the direction and angle of the existing hair in that area. Also, when using sapphire blades, the healing process is even shorter.

For each patient, depending on the thickness of the hair follicles, only a few blade tips are needed. The blades should only be used during a single procedure for an individual patient.

TRANSPLANTING THE HAIR FOLLICLES

The final stage, transplanting the hair follicles, is the process where the follicles are transplanted one by one at an angle of 40-45 degrees within the incisions made in directions that allow precise placement. All three phases have certain specific technical details, and the most important technical aspect in all phases is undoubtedly experience.