6 FAQs About FUE Hair Transplant

There are many reasons why we lose our hair — stress, medications, or even our own genetic makeup. If you’re dealing with excessive hair fall, know that you are not alone. A whopping 35 million men and 21 million women suffer from hair loss. 

In Singapore, about 50 percent of respondents in a study aged 35 to 44 reported hair loss as their primary concern in 2019. Another study showed that 63 percent of men have androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness. The number increased to 100 percent among those in their 80s.

Even though hair loss may seem inevitable, there is hope. Thanks to technological advancements, hair restoration is now possible. A popular hair restoration method is follicular unit extraction (FUE). So, let’s dig deeper and learn more about FUE hair transplants.

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1. What is a FUE hair transplant?

FUE hair transplant is a modern surgical hair restoration technique that reshapes your hairline using your growing hair. To do this, the hair surgeon harvests each follicular unit from another area of the scalp. Then, the doctor will remove hair follicles randomly, gathering hair with less noticeable thinning. The follicular units are then transplanted to the scalp’s balding areas. Hence, your hair will grow naturally, giving you a full head of hair.

The doctor may perform the transplant by a manual, motorised, or automated method, depending on the characteristics of hair follicles, such as curliness, shaft thickness, and exit angle. Further, the doctor will create micro incisions sized 0.8 to 1 mm, which helps minimise scarring and conserve future available areas for harvesting. The procedure is possible thanks to a very high-powered microscope, allowing the doctor to perform accurately, which is crucial to make natural-looking transplants. Local anaesthetic is used to make the procedure comfortable for the patient.

2. What is the advantage of FUE hair transplant?

FUE hair transplant has many benefits over the more traditional method, follicular unit transplantation (FUT). FUT hair transplant, also called the strip method, involves a long incision to extract a strip of the scalp containing donor site hairs. Though this method is still performed today, FUE is a less invasive approach. 

FUE hair transplant has less postoperative pain or discomfort because of its less-invasive nature, and there are only micro incisions on the scalp. These incisions are barely noticeable and will heal within days. Also, there’s minimal scarring, in contrast to the linear incision in the FUT method. Moreover, donor hair follicles are extracted randomly from dense donor areas and redistributed to the balding areas. As a result, the hair will look even and well-distributed on the scalp.

3. Who is eligible for FUE hair transplant?

To qualify for an FUE hair transplant, you should have stable overall health. Though FUE is generally safe, it’s better to consult your doctor to ask for a medical clearance. Further, those in their 20s who have hair loss problems, can undergo FUE hair transplant. Finally, if you’re struggling with hair loss and have scarring from a previous FUT procedure, this is a good technique to hide the scars.

4. What can be expected from FUE hair transplant?

Following the procedure, you will be able to observe increased hair density in the transplanted area. However, full recovery from the transplant may take about 7 to 14 days. There will be scabs, and they will fall out in two weeks. 

From there, new permanent hair will become more noticeable in 2 to 4 months. The good thing is that FUE hair transplant may require fewer days to recover since there is minimal scarring. Additionally, Downtime may take a few days, so some patients opt to have the surgery on a Friday so they have the weekend to rest.

5. How much does it cost?

The price of an FUE hair transplant will depend on the size and severity of hair loss. Typically, it costs about $6 – $10.80 per graft in Singapore. The price of a transplant depends on whether the area is shaved or not. It would help if you also asked your doctor whether surgical and professional fees are already incorporated into the quote. This way, you know if there are additional costs to prepare for.

6. How long will an FUE hair transplant last?

Transplantation takes a certain amount of time, depending on the number of grafts transplanted. The larger the balding area, the longer the transplant will be. 

Furthermore, many people wonder if it is permanent. Yes, professionally performed procedures have lifelong results. Thus, choosing the right hair transplant doctor is crucial. Choose a clinic with quality services and an experienced doctor.

Read: 6 Treatment Options Besides A Hair Transplant in Singapore

Is it worth it?

A hair transplant is a permanent option to combat hair loss and reduce the appearance of balding areas. FUE hair transplant, for instance, is one of the most popular procedures because it promises natural-looking hair. Don’t forget that undergoing a hair transplant is a personal decision. However, choosing a long-term solution to your hair loss can help you in many ways. As well as boosting your confidence, it boosts your self-esteem.

We offer hair transplant services at Dr Tyng Tan Aesthetics & Hair Clinic to restore your crowning glory. Do you want a thorough discussion on how to ensure surgical success? To get a personalised surgical plan, talk to Dr Tyng Tan or call us at +65 6235 0010 .