Advanced Hair Restoration with FUE Toronto at Follicle HT
Follicular unit extraction, or FUE is a minimally invasive hair transplant technique that involves harvesting individual hair follicles one by one from the donor areas, which are typically at the back and sides of the scalp. By using only naturally occurring follicular units and paying meticulous attention to natural patterns and angles of hair growth, we are able to achieve results that are truly undetectable.
While follicular unit strip surgery or “FUT” can be appropriate for certain patients, the main advantage of the FUE method is that it does not leave a linear scar in the donor area. This is important for men who prefer to cut their hair very short at the back and sides, or who wish to preserve the option of a fade or head shave.
FUE is sometimes marketed as a “no-scar” or “no-cut” technique, but this is somewhat misleading. While it is true that FUE does not involve a scalpel incision or require stitches or suturing, it does leave tiny “dot” scars interspersed among the remaining hair in the donor areas. With the specialized instrumentation and techniques that we use at Follicle HT, the tiny donor scars left by FUE are less than 1mm and in most patients are difficult, or even impossible to detect even when the hair in the donor areas is trimmed very short.
At Follicle HT, we use what we believe to be the world’s most advanced FUE techniques and instrumentation, including proprietary hybrid punch technology in order to provide completely natural-looking, individualized results for each patient with high graft survival and an absolute minimum of visible scarring.
Precision and Minimal Scarring
At Follicle HT, all of our hair transplants are performed using only individual follicular units, but there are different techniques that we can use in order to obtain the grafts that we use to achieve totally natural looking results.
Follicular unit strip surgery (“FUT”) involves removing a strip of skin from the donor area, and then meticulously dividing that strip into individual follicular units under a high-powered microscope. The donor area at the back is closed, leaving a fine-line scar that with our trichophytic closure method, is generally undetectable unless that hair in the donor area is cut very short.
While FUT has certain advantages and can be the preferred technique for certain patients, the alternative is what is referred to as the follicular unit extraction method, or “FUE”. With this method, we use highly specialized instrumentation to extract each individual follicle by hand from the donor area.
At Follicle HT, we utilize proprietary hybrid punch technology, with punches that are 1mm or less in width, and that yield grafts that approach or exceed those obtained via FUT in terms of graft quality and survival. When placed expertly with attention to natural patterns and angles of hair growth, we can achieve remarkable results that look completely natural and undetectable.
The main advantage of the FUE technique is that it does not leave a linear donor scar, so that when performed using the best possible techniques and instrumentation, the scarring in the donor area is minimal and generally very difficult to detect, even when the hair is cut very short. For this reason, FUE is the preferred technique among men who prefer to cut their hair very short at the back and sides, or who wish to preserve the option of shaving the head.
Faster Recovery and Minimal Downtime
A hair transplant procedure at Follicle HT generally takes most of a day. There is minimal discomfort involved with the procedure itself and most patients pass the time listening to music, or watching movies or television. Before and during the procedure, we provide detailed information about the aftercare and what to expect in order to ensure a smooth and rapid recovery.
Immediately after the transplant, there can be some minor discomfort that can be easily managed with cool packs and over the counter pain medications like Tylenol or Advil. We do provide prescription pain medication as well as medication to help minimize swelling. Scabbing and crusting in the recipient area is quite normal, as can be some swelling in the forehead and face. Swelling usually peaks around day three and then rapidly subsides over the next few days.
There is no cognitive downtime after a hair transplant, and patients can be back on their phones and computers within one day. We would typically recommend planning for at least one week away from in-person work and most social activity. Non-strenuous activities like walking, and driving can be presumed almost immediately. Physically demanding activities, such as running, weightlifting, and swimming can generally be resumed in 10 to 14 days. We provide patients with detailed instructions on showering and hair washing in order to properly care for their grafts.
All patients are provided with their prescriptions, and detailed pre-and postoperative care information well in advance of their procedures so they will know how to prepare, and what to expect afterward. Patient also have access to helpful information about postoperative care and timelines for recovery that is available on our website. During the recovery period, our doctors and support staff are always available to answer any questions and to provide any necessary guidance along the way.
Natural-Looking Density and Hairline Design
At Follicle HT, we work exclusively with individual follicular unit grafts. The follicles are our paint and brushes so graft quality is the foundation of the results that we have come to expect. Whether obtained by the FUT “strip” approach or by follicular unit extraction (FUE), our dedicated team of experienced surgeons and technicians will obtain grafts of the highest quality possible to ensure maximum survival and growth. When placed expertly, with meticulous attention to natural patterns and angles of hair growth, we can achieve results that look incredibly natural. We often confidently tell our patients that even their stylists will not be able to tell that they have had a hair transplant.
While totally natural looking results can be achieved in expert hands, we will often see patients that have had a transplant performed elsewhere or overseas, and then come to us for repair of results that look pluggy or unnatural. At Follicle HT, we are experts at evaluating the characteristic of our patients, taking into account age, gender, race, facial structure, and natural hair characteristics. We are meticulous in our recipient site creation and graft placement, with the result being completely natural hairlines, backed up by balanced density.
Long-Term Results with High Graft Survival
At Follicle HT, patient experience, and long term results with excellent graft survival are our top priorities. We accomplish this by handling the delicate hair follicles with upmost care. FUE grafts are harvested using proprietary hybrid punches which minimize trauma to the grafts and the surrounding follicles. We firmly believe our technology to be the best that is currently available anywhere in the world. Once harvested and prior to implantation, grafts are stored in a temperature controlled solution that is enriched with growth factors derived from platelet rich plasma in order to optimized their survival and growth.
Following the implantation, scabs will form around the follicles, anchoring them in place as they take root and establish their new blood supply. As the scabs fall away over the first week or two, the transplanted hairs will enter a shedding phase, which is part of the normal hair growth cycle. The implanted follicles will remain dormant under the skin until they re-enter a growth phase, typically at around the three month mark after the transplant. As the new hairs begin to grow in, they may look finer at first, but coverage and density improve as the hairs grow in length and thickness over time, with the full effect of the transplant generally seen within about a year. Some patients will choose to have further PRP treatments over that interval in order to encourage graft growth.
