Table Of Contents
How Does Hair Transplant Work?
Hair follicles at the back and sides of the scalp are usually resistant to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that causes hair loss in certain regions. By relocating these resilient follicles to thinning or bald areas, they maintain their original characteristics and continue to grow healthy hair in the new location. This principle underpins the durability and natural appearance of hair transplant results.
Hair transplants have a strong track record for success, especially when performed by an experienced surgeon like Dr. Welter. Most patients enjoy significant improvements in hair density and coverage, with results that look and feel natural. Unlike topical treatments, transplanted hair is permanent and continues to grow for a lifetime, provided there is no underlying condition affecting overall hair health.
How Does Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) Work?
This method involves removing a thin strip of scalp from the donor area, typically the back of the head. The strip is carefully dissected into individual follicular units, which are then transplanted into thinning or balding regions. FUT allows for the transplantation of a large number of grafts in a single session, making it an efficient option for patients seeking significant coverage. However, this procedure typically leaves a linear scar at the donor site that can be concealed by surrounding hair. This technique is also commonly referred to as follicular unit strip surgery.
FUT Procedure (Strip Method)
1. Anesthesia
To ensure patient comfort throughout the hair transplant procedure, local anesthesia is applied to both the donor and recipient areas. This numbs the scalp, allowing the patient to remain awake and comfortable while Dr. Welter performs the transplant.
2. Strip Harvesting
A thin strip of scalp containing healthy hair follicles is surgically removed from the donor area. The incision is then carefully closed with sutures, resulting in a fine, linear scar that is typically concealed by surrounding hair. The harvested strip is then microscopically dissected into individual follicular units for transplantation.
3. Recipient Site Creation
Tiny incisions are created in the thinning or balding areas of the scalp. These incisions are carefully placed with consideration for natural hair growth patterns, angles, and density, ensuring the transplanted follicles blend seamlessly with the existing hair.
4. Implantation of Follicles
The dissected follicular units are meticulously implanted into the recipient sites. Dr. Welter positions each graft to maximize coverage and achieve a natural-looking result, restoring a fuller, more youthful hairline over time.
How Does Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Work?
Also known as follicular unit excision, this procedure is a minimally invasive form of hair replacement surgery. Instead of removing a strip of scalp, individual hair follicles are extracted one by one from the donor area and transplanted to thinning or bald spots. FUE leaves tiny, dot-like scars that are usually unnoticeable, allowing quicker healing and less post-operative discomfort than FUT.
FUE Procedure
1. Anesthesia
To ensure comfort throughout the procedure, local anesthesia is administered to numb both the donor and recipient sites. This allows the patient to remain awake and pain-free while Dr. Welter performs the hair transplant surgery.
2. Extraction of Follicular Units
Using specialized micro-punch tools, individual follicular units are carefully extracted one by one from the donor area, typically the back or sides of the scalp. This precise method minimizes trauma and preserves the health of each follicle for transplantation.
3. Recipient Site Creation
Next, tiny incisions are made in the bald or thinning areas where the extracted follicles will be implanted. These sites are strategically placed to mimic natural hair growth patterns, ensuring a natural appearance once the transplanted hair begins to grow.
4. Implantation of Follicles
Finally, the harvested follicular units are gently implanted into the prepared recipient sites. Dr. Welter carefully positions each graft to achieve optimal density and direction, enhancing the overall aesthetic outcome.
What Is Micro FUE™?
Micro FUE™ is an advanced form of FUE that uses ultra-fine instruments and specialized techniques to harvest and implant individual follicles. This method enables higher precision, reduces trauma to the scalp, and promotes improved healing times. Micro FUE™ is especially beneficial for patients who want a natural-looking hairline with minimal scarring.
What Is Long-Hair FUE?
Long-hair FUE is an advanced hair growth treatment that allows patients to undergo follicular unit excision without shaving their donor area. This technique involves harvesting long hair strands directly from the scalp using precision tools, allowing patients to see how the transplanted hair will appear after the procedure. It is especially beneficial for individuals seeking discreet restoration, as the donor area remains camouflaged. Long-hair FUE is ideal for treating areas of thinning or a bald scalp while preserving the patient’s natural appearance throughout recovery. Dr. Welter performs hair transplant surgery for both female-pattern hair loss and male-pattern baldness using this refined approach, offering a personalized solution with minimal downtime.
Automated Hair Transplant Methods
ARTAS Robotic System
This cutting-edge system utilizes robotic technology to assist with follicle harvesting, providing accuracy and consistency throughout the procedure. The ARTAS system helps optimize the selection and extraction of healthy follicles from the hair-bearing scalp, improving graft survival rates and overall outcomes.
Neograft™
NeoGraft™ is a semi-automated FUE device that streamlines both hair graft extraction and implantation, reducing manual labor and improving procedural efficiency. It allows plastic surgeons to transplant precise amounts of hair based on how much hair the patient needs restored, ensuring natural density and coverage while minimizing trauma to the donor area.
What Is Flap Surgery and Is It Still Used to Combat Hair Loss?
Flap surgery is a hair restoration technique that involves moving a larger section of hair-bearing scalp from a donor area to a bald or thinning region, keeping the tissue’s blood supply intact. Unlike most hair transplants, which move individual follicular units or small grafts, flap surgery transfers an entire strip of scalp to cover a larger area in a single procedure. While this method can provide immediate coverage, it is more invasive and carries a higher risk of complications and scarring. Due to advances in less invasive techniques like FUT and FUE, flap surgery is now rarely used and considered outdated for most patients seeking hair restoration today.
What Is Body Hair Transplantation?
Body hair transplantation is a specialized procedure in which hair follicles are harvested from areas of the body with hair-bearing skin, such as the chest, back, arms, or beard, and transplanted to the scalp or other regions experiencing hair loss. This technique is typically considered when scalp donor hair is insufficient or has already been depleted.
As part of the broader field of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery, body hair transplantation offers an alternative for patients who continue to lose hair but still desire fuller coverage. While body hair’s texture and growth characteristics may differ from those of scalp hair, it can still provide valuable improvements in density and appearance when carefully matched and transplanted by an experienced surgeon.
Consider consulting our hair transplant surgeon, Dr. Ryan Welter, for expert evaluation and personalized treatment. Dr. Welter offers a range of advanced hair restoration options, tailoring each approach to the individual needs of every patient. If you want to learn more about how hair transplants work or explore your options for hair restoration, scheduling a consultation is a great first step.
Conclusion
Hair transplantation involves redistributing your own healthy follicles to restore natural hair growth in areas where hair is thinning or balding. With ongoing advancements and options tailored to your specific needs, hair transplantation provides a proven and lasting solution for hair loss. Schedule a consultation today to receive professional guidance and excellent treatment!
Ready to Live
with New Hair ?
with New Hair ?
June 16, 2025
