Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Conveniently located to serve the Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. metro areas. 

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) delivers incredible cosmetic improvement for candidates with hair loss. This procedure is more popular than follicular unit transplantation (FUT) procedures. 

FUE is frequently called a “scarless” procedure. No strip of skin gets removed from the donor area. Instead, a small, round surgical punch extracts each follicle. This process eliminates linear scars, and patients can cut their hair short without disturbing the styling of the donor area as long as the total follicular units are contained.

Treating hair loss requires specialized knowledge of FUE and other surgical procedures. Hair transplant surgeons need to have an in-depth understanding about the differences among each technique, including the tools and instruments available for FUE and which hair transplant method suits the needs and desires of each patient. 

The range of tools and instruments for FUE and the special features of each technique are revolutionary. Even experienced hair transplant Virginia specialists like those on our team need to keep up with rapidly changing innovations in the field.

At The Hair Transplant – Virginia, we employ various FUE tools and techniques to obtain natural-looking results that can help you achieve freedom from your hair loss concerns.

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Contents

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Explained
Tools Used in FUE Procedures
What Is the ATERA FUE System?
What Is the WAW FUE System?
What Is the Ellis FUE System?
FUE Versus FUT: Which Method Is More Effective?
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Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Explained

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a hair transplant procedure lauded as one of the latest advances in hair restoration. The highly skilled nature of this procedure requires the skill and competence of a hair restoration specialist and a team of hair transplant experts. To assist with an FUE hair transplant procedure, many tools and instruments are available for hair transplant surgeons to use.

At The Hair Transplant Center – Virginia, we use these instruments to perform state-of-the-art FUE hair transplant procedures. 

Follicular unit extraction is also called a FOX procedure. Other names are follicular unit separation extraction (FUSE), Wood’s technique, or the FU isolation method. FUE essentially collects hair follicles of naturally occurring groups of one to four follicles for hair transplantation. 

FUE can extract hair from the donor area of the scalp without making a linear incision in the scalp. Consider the following benefits:

  • Decreased pain as the balding and thinning areas of the scalp undergo treatment.
  • No linear scar in the donor area.
  • Quicker patient recovery.
  • Reduced postoperative discomfort compared to follicular unit transplantation (FUT).
  • Ability to have short hairstyles without having any marks from a procedure visible to others.

The holes created by surgical punches may result in round white scars visible in the donor area that usually require several days to heal. Many surgical punches get used for this procedure, each one offering slightly different benefits and disadvantages. New tools are being continually developed. 

At The Hair Transplant Center – Virginia, we take pride in having a hair transplant surgeon who specializes in FUE procedures by offering the ATERA, WAW, and Ellis FUE systems.

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Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Tools Used in FUE Procedures

The development of tools for extracting follicular units (FUs) in FUE has developed from manual instruments to mechanically or electronically-assisted instruments and the development of a robotic FUE device. 

Strip harvesting of donor hair involves removal of a strip of scalp tissue with hundreds of FUs for transplantation. These FUs may or may not be transplanted as FUs and could be divided into individual follicles for transplantation. 

When performing FUE, a hair transplant specialist removes a unit one by one, focusing on the FUs that will most likely survive and produce hair in the recipient site. Preventing physical damage to the follicle by transection, slicing, or tearing it at a cross-sectional angle will harm the follicles during an FUE procedure. 

If you’re thinking about an FUE procedure for harvesting donor hair, ask about FUE transection rates. A transection rate of 3% or lower is rated as good to excellent. A transection rate of more than 5% is poor. 

Using state-of-the-art surgical instruments should be within the skill set and experience of hair transplant specialists who use these tools in their work.

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01
What Is the ATERA FUE System?
02
What Is the WAW FUE System?
03
What Is the Ellis FUE System?

What Is the ATERA FUE System?

ATERA offers one of the most advanced forms of hair transplant technology available for FUE. This procedure uses automated tools that facilitate the extraction of follicles during a follicular unit extraction, enhancing the precision and speed over manual hair extraction methods. ATERA FUE’s  patented lubrication technique during harvesting and extraction connects with a digital graft counter to make the technology distinctive and unique.

What Is the WAW FUE System?

The WAW FUE hair transplant system permits FUE to work faster, easier, and more productive. The minimally invasive FUE procedure offers superior benefits compared to the traditional strip or FUT technique.

What Is the Ellis FUE System?

The Ellis FUE system facilitates a sharp-punch procedure and a rotational hair transplant model. Today, several hair transplant doctors who specialize in hair restoration surgery use the Ellis FUE system. This simple, affordable automated punch device can enhance a strip harvest procedure, or a hair transplant specialist can employ the Ellis FUE system as a standalone method for a full FUE hair transplant. Automating a conventional FUE procedure contributes to the Ellis FUE system’s overall improvement in several ways.

FUE Versus FUT: Which Method Is More Effective?

Individuals who do not want noticeable scars can benefit from FUE versus a traditional strip harvesting technique. FUE scars are small, round, and less evident because the scars become scattered throughout the scalp. FUT scars are long, linear, and are localized and much larger, making them more visible. 

Other reasons to select FUE as a harvesting technique are personal to the patient. Only a small number of grafts are needed to satisfy an individual who wants to achieve a desired outcome for their hair loss or a patient with progressive hair loss who undergoes previous strip harvesting but has no donor area that remains for strip harvesting. 

At The Hair Transplant Center – Virginia, our hair transplant surgeon uses several tools or instruments for FUE hair transplant procedures. Schedule a consultation at The Hair Transplant Center – Virginia today.

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