FUE (follicular unit excision or extraction) is a modern hair restoration technique in which individual follicular units (grafts) containing 1‑4 hairs are removed from a donor area (usually the back or sides of the scalp) and transplanted into thinning or balding areas. A surgeon uses a tiny micro-punch to extract each follicular unit, leaving small circular scars that are usually difficult to see. This approach avoids the linear scar associated with the older strip‑harvest technique (follicular unit transplantation, FUT). After harvesting, the surgeon creates tiny incisions in the recipient area and the grafts are inserted at an appropriate angle to match natural hair growth. Because FUE removes follicles one by one, the FUE hair transplant procedure takes longer than strip surgery but has become the most popular method worldwide.

The number of hair graft implants required depends on the degree of hair loss, hair characteristics and desired density. Each graft can contain 1–4 hairs. For frontal hairline restoration, surgeons often transplant 1,500–3,000 grafts as long as it is safe to do so and this is ultimately dependent on the quality of your donor area; restoring the entire scalp may require 4,000–6,000 grafts or more. Only a surgeon can calculate an accurate graft count based on a scalp assessment and factors like donor density, hair calibre and the Norwood scale of hair loss. Many clinics offer online graft calculators, but a personalised consultation remains the gold standard

No. Although more men undergo hair transplants, women also benefit from FUE to treat female pattern hair loss or to restore hair after trauma or surgery. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery reports that about 87 % of hair transplant patients are men and 5.3 times more men seek treatment than women. Nevertheless, FUE can be customised for female patients, often avoiding complete shaving of the donor site.

Most FUE procedures require shaving or trimming the donor area to allow precise extraction. Unshaven or no-shave FUE is where only small windows of hair are trimmed or the donor site is concealed, but this approach is more time‑consuming and expensive. In most hairline cases we are able to perform a part-shaven procedure which is a high fade back and sides with minimal trimming in the recipient area – you may visit the barbers at 2 weeks and this allows you to return to your baseline relatively quicker.

Before considering FUE, patients should stabilise hair loss with non‑surgical treatments:

• Medications: Topical minoxidil and oral finasteride (for men) are licensed treatments that slow hair loss and can thicken existing hair. Women may use minoxidil or, under medical supervision, finasteride or spironolactone.

• Platelet‑rich plasma (PRP): PRP therapy involves injecting concentrated platelets from the patient’s own blood to stimulate follicle growth. Recent studies show that PRP may have significant benefit in areas of thinning.

• Low‑level laser therapy (LLLT): Red‑light devices can stimulate follicles and slow hair loss.

• Hair‑loss camouflage: Scalp micropigmentation, cosmetic fibers and hairpieces provide non‑surgical coverage for those not suitable for transplantation.

FUE vs FUT: FUT (strip surgery) involves removing a strip of scalp from the donor area, dissecting it into follicular units and closing the wound with stitches. FUT yields a linear scar but allows harvesting many grafts quickly, which may be useful for extensive hair loss. FUE extracts individual grafts with tiny punches, leaving dot scars but taking longer. FUE recovery is faster and generally less painful. FUT may be a more suitable option in female patients or those with longer hair which may conceal the scar.

FUE vs DHI: DHI is a variation of FUE where grafts are implanted with an implanter pen. It allows more control over angle and density but is more time‑consuming and often more expensive; it usually suits smaller graft numbers and younger patients. FUE remains more widely used and can cover larger areas.

Newer variations: Unshaven FUE employs micro‑FUE tools to minimise visibility without shaving the donor area. These techniques may provide more discretion but require specialised skills and may be more costly.

Most patients resume desk work within a few days. Light exercise can usually be reintroduced after one week, but strenuous workouts, swimming, contact sports and heavy lifting should be avoided for at least 2-3 weeks. Smoking, alcohol and sauna use should be minimised for several weeks to improve healing. Sleeping with the head elevated for 5-7 nights can reduce swelling. Always follow your surgeon’s specific instructions.

When performed by experienced surgeons, FUE has high success rates. Our success rates for FUE surgery are approximately 99.5%. Success depends on factors such as surgeon skill, proper graft handling, patient health, adherence to aftercare and continued hair loss management.

FUE is safe when performed by a qualified surgeon, but like any hair implant surgery it has potential risks:

• Bleeding and infection: Minor bleeding may occur during extraction or implantation. Infections are uncommon but can happen if aftercare is neglected.

• Swelling and numbness: Temporary swelling of the forehead or eyes and numbness in the donor area are common and usually resolve in a few days to weeks.

• Scarring: Tiny white scars (1 mm or smaller) may remain at extraction sites. These are usually inconspicuous unless hair is shaved very short.

• Shock loss: Some transplanted or neighbouring hairs may shed within weeks of surgery. Most regrow, but a small percentage may not.

• Cysts or folliculitis: Small cysts can form if buried grafts become inflamed, but these typically resolve with minor treatment

• Unnatural appearance: An inexperienced surgeon may implant grafts at incorrect angles or densities, leading to an unnatural hairline. Choosing a skilled surgeon mitigates this risk.

Recovery is generally swift:

• Day 1–2: Bandages are removed within 24 hours. Patients can usually wash their hair gently after 4 days using a mild shampoo.

• Day 3–5: Most people return to desk work within 2–5 days

• Weeks 1–2: Scabs fall off, and minor redness or swelling subsides

• Weeks 3–4: redness in the recipient area continues to improve, donor area has started to heal well at this point and it is difficult to see any signs of a procedure.

• First two weeks: Avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and contact sports for at least three weeks to prevent bleeding and graft dislodgement. .

Proper aftercare includes sleeping with the head elevated, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and keeping the scalp protected from sun and trauma.

The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, so patients typically feel only pressure or minimal discomfort. After the anaesthesia wears off, there may be some soreness, swelling or tightness at the donor and recipient sites. Most clinics prescribe pain medication for the first few days. Overall FUE is considered a very tolerable procedure with minor discomfort. Most of our patients wake up the following day and have no significant pain or discomfort.

After surgery, tiny scabs form around each graft and fall off within 1–2 weeks. The transplanted hairs often shed in the first few weeks (“shock loss”), and new hairs begin to grow around 3–4 months. Visible improvement is usually noticeable at 6 months, and the final result may take 12 months or longer. Approximately 60% of new hair growth occurs within 6–9 months. Patience is essential because hair grows in cycles.

Yes—in conventional FUE cases, transplanted hair grafts are harvested from the permanent zone at the back and sides of the scalp, which is genetically resistant to pattern hair loss. When transplanted to the balding area, these follicles continue to grow for a lifetime. However, untreated native hair may continue to miniaturise, potentially requiring additional surgery or medical treatments. Longevity also depends on proper aftercare and avoiding trauma to the grafts.

Good candidates for FUE include:

• Men and women with pattern hair loss who have stabilised their hair loss with medications or other treatments. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery emphasises selecting patients with sufficient donor hair and realistic expectations.

• Adults with adequate donor hair: People must have enough healthy follicles in the donor area to achieve their goals.

• Individuals in good overall health: Candidates should not have uncontrolled medical conditions that impair wound healing (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes or bleeding disorders).

• Those with realistic expectations: FUE improves hair density but cannot restore a full adolescent hairline in severe baldness. Further treatments or a second surgery may be required.

FUE may not be ideal for people with extensive scarring alopecia or advanced hair loss when donor supply is insufficient. Alternative treatments such as scalp micropigmentation or hair systems may be recommended.

• Consultation and planning: The surgeon assesses hair loss, determines if the patient is a suitable candidate and calculates the number of grafts needed. Surgical design includes defining the hairline shape and density.

• Marking donor and recipient areas: The donor site (usually the back of the head) and recipient area are marked, and high-resolution photos are taken for reference.

• Local anaesthesia: Local anaesthetic is injected into both regions to numb the scalp. Conscious sedation may also be used.

• Harvesting grafts: Using a micro‑punch, the surgeon extracts individual follicular units from the donor area. Extracted grafts are sorted and stored in a holding solution.

• Creating recipient sites: Tiny incisions are made in the thinning area. The surgeon pays attention to the angle, direction and density to mimic natural hair growth.

• Implanting grafts: Each graft is placed into the prepared sites with forceps or an implantation device. Advanced variations such as Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) use a pen‑like instrument to create the incision and implant the graft simultaneously, while newer methods like no‑shave FUE or line-shave techniques employ micro‑FUE tools to minimise trauma and conceal the harvested area immediately post-op

• Post‑operative care: The scalp is cleaned and bandaged(not always necessary). The patient receives thorough post-op instructions and follow-up visits are arranged.

In hair transplantation, a graft is a small piece of tissue containing one or more hair follicles. Each follicular unit graft comprises the epidermis, dermis and sometimes subcutaneous tissue surrounding the follicles. During FUE, the surgeon uses a punch tool (often 0.6–1 mm in diameter) to extract these follicular units from the donor area. The grafts are then carefully stored in a chilled saline or specialised solution to keep them hydrated, sorted by size and counted before implantation. Proper handling is critical because grafts are living tissue; dehydration, crushing or extended exposure to air can reduce survival rates – it is likely that these are amongst the most likely factors contributing to poor results in low-quality clinics that focus on fast turnaround.

Many patients and clinics describe FUE as the best FUE hair transplant method because of its advantages over traditional FUT:

1. No linear scar: FUE leaves tiny dot scars that are usually hidden by hair, whereas FUT leaves a linear scar that may limit short hairstyles.

2. Faster healing and less discomfort: Because FUE does not involve removing a strip of skin, there is less postoperative pain and recovery is quicker.

3. Donor versatility: FUE can harvest follicles from non‑scalp areas such as the beard or chest if scalp donor hair is insufficient. This flexibility can be crucial for patients with extensive baldness.

4. Natural‑looking results: Each follicular unit is placed at a natural angle and density, producing a hairline that looks authentic when performed by an experienced surgeon.

5. Popularity and success: According to 2025 statistics from the ISHRS, 66.2 % of hair transplant surgeries are FUE, compared with 31.5 % FUT and 2.35 % mixed techniques. The same report notes that overall hair transplant success rates exceed 97%.

While FUE tends to cost more than FUT due to the labour involved, many patients consider the trade‑off worth it for minimal scarring and faster recovery. Ultimately the best FUE hair transplant is performed by an experienced, dedicated surgeon who tailors the technique to the patient’s goals and hair characteristics. It is important to note that FUT may be the preferable option in some cases – this is usually where there is a larger graft requirement or the patient wears longer hair which would conceal the scar.

We routinely see patients at 6 month, 12 month and sometimes 18 month visits.

At 6 months: we are not judging density but wish to see that the growth has started to come in

At 12 months we would expect to see a full result for frontal procedures

At 18 months we would expect to see near full results for crown procedures.