FUE: ( Follicular Unit Extraction) A process of transferring follicles from donor to recipient area by decreasing density of the donor region.

With FUE, the formation of multiple scars are spread out rather than forming a linear scar.  FUE is advantageous in younger patients- usually with hair loss classes of 2 or 3 and possibly early hair loss 4.  FUE is another tool to add density for patients who have had previous FUT procedures and lack laxity in the donor region.  Scar repair in the donor area can be achieved with FUE.  FUE extraction sites heal quicker in the donor region, (the recipient sites heal the the same as FUT) .  After the first FUE procedure a patient can usually wear a shorter hair style than FUT (as graft extractions progress with future hair loss this is not an advantage).  Dr. Keller uses the manual extraction technique and the motorized SAFE System to perform FUE extractions.

The disadvantages of FUE are that the grafts are thinner and have less support tissue. The grafts are more susceptible to damage and have a higher transection rate. There are healing scars, or spots, that could show due to decreased density in the donor region. For the FUE procedure the hair has to be shaved in the donor area, which could take a few months to grow back.  FUE is a variant of the "plug" procedure. It is more labor intensive, time consuming and has a higher cost. FUE for the most part should not be used with women. Women have different hair thinning characteristics, classification and hair loss physiology.  The follicles are thinner and with less support tissue (usually there is some adventitia only around the follicle). The maximum number of grafts from the "Safe Zone" is 2,500-3,000 grafts. With FUE approximately every 3rd follicular unit is extracted resulting in decreased density in the back of the head. In cases of over 3,000 grafts, follicular units would be taken in regions lower than the "Safe Zone", ( nape hair), or higher than the "Safe Zone", (upper hair fringe). In large cases, our patients are informed that above 2,500-3,000 grafts the hair might not be permanent.