Follicular unit extraction

With up to 85 percent of American men suffering from hair loss by the time they reach age 50, there's no denying many men are searching for solutions. Treatment options for hair loss range from over-the-counter creams and special shampoos to advanced surgical procedures. One permanent way men chose to restore their hairline is through a procedure called follicular unit extraction (FUE).

Understanding the follicular unit extraction

Follicular unit extraction is the process of harvesting donor hair for transplantation. A follicular unit is a bundle of one to four hairs and their attached oil glands, muscles and tissue. According to information from the Bernstein Medical Center of Hair Restoration, during the procedure a specialized surgeon uses an instrument to make a small, round incision in the skin surrounding a follicular unit. Then, he or she removes the follicular unit and its surrounding tissue from the scalp. The process is repeated until the surgeon has collected enough follicular units for hair restoration.

Pros and cons of the follicular unit extraction

Though a follicular unit extraction can result in a permanent solution to hair loss, it isn't without risk or scarring. Because each donor wound leaves an opening up to 2 millimeters in diameter, tiny white scars typically appear on the scalp. Information from the International Hair Restoration Surgery Society suggests these scars can be white and dimpled, comparable to the texture of a golf ball. Though the scars are eventually be covered by hair, healing may be painful and take up to 10 days according to the Bernstein Medical Center of Hair Restoration.

Despite the risks, many men chose to address their hair loss with a follicular unit extraction because the end result can be a head of thicker, naturally growing hair that can last a lifetime.