AGA Treat Rev 66 Hair Transplantation FUE Method

Autologous Hair Transplantation Method 2: FUE Method - Non-Invasive Approach

Another method for autologous hair transplantation is the FUE method, which is becoming increasingly mainstream today and is also adopted in our clinic. FUE stands for Follicular Unit Extraction.

Follicular Unit refers to the unit of hair follicles, similar to the previously mentioned FUT. The term "Extraction" implies the meaning of "removal" or "harvesting." In Japanese, it translates to "harvesting follicular units." The significant difference between FUE and FUT lies in the method of graft extraction.

While FUT involves cutting the skin of the donor area into a strip using a scalpel to harvest grafts, FUE is a "non-cutting" autologous hair transplantation method, meaning no scalpel is used during extraction. Both FUE and FUT follow the Donor Dominance Theory, and in FUE, just like in FUT, the grafts are harvested from the back of the head.

In FUT, a strip is cut from the back of the head, while in FUE, individual grafts are extracted one by one. In this regard, FUE can be considered a more patient-friendly procedure compared to FUT.

Another point I would like to emphasize is the absence of certain risks in FUE that exist in FUT. This perspective is based on my experience as a former neurosurgeon. In cases where diseases like brain tumors or strokes occur, surgery is often necessary. During such surgeries, a portion of the scalp, along with the hair, is peeled off, and a part of the exposed skull is cut to treat the affected area in the brain. The occurrence of brain tumors or strokes can happen anywhere in the brain. Suppose it happens in the back of the head; in that case, the skin from the back of the head needs to be peeled off.

Now, imagine if, by chance, the area where the skin was cut into a strip for FUT and the area where skin needs to be peeled off for a brain condition overlap. What do you think would happen? Most neurosurgeons would likely avoid re-cutting the previously removed skin. There is a potential decrease in blood flow in the area excised through FUT, and re-cutting it may worsen the blood flow, leading to necrosis in the worst-case scenario.

Certainly, avoiding the area cut through FUT in cases where brain surgery is required is probably more common. However, brain conditions can be life-threatening. When faced with the necessity of surgery for such conditions, it is better not to mimic actions that might restrict the freedom of the procedure. In that sense, I believe choosing FUE over FUT is a more prudent decision.

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