Is your dream to have thick, full hair, but nature hasn’t been generous to you in this regard? Fortunately, we live in an era where modern aesthetic medicine technologies can provide you with a head full of hair in no time. Read on to learn about different hair transplant methods and how they differ from each other.
Although the idea of instantly achieving thick hair is appealing, it is essential to understand that hair loss treatment is a complex process that involves much more than just the transplantation procedure itself. A doctor will consider all the factors that may have contributed to hair loss when planning therapy.
What Is a Hair Transplant?
Before diving into specific techniques, it is important to clarify what hair transplantation entails and who is a suitable candidate.
A hair transplant is a surgical invasive procedure aimed at restoring hair growth in individuals suffering from alopecia or excessive hair loss. While hair transplants are often associated with men, this procedure is also available for women. Before deciding on a hair transplant, we recommend undergoing a thorough diagnosis, which is the first crucial step for effective hair loss treatment.
The foundation of every hair transplant method is the extraction of hair follicles—grafts—from a donor area, usually located at the back of the head. This area is chosen because the hair there is typically resistant to even severe forms of hereditary alopecia. The extracted grafts are then transplanted into the recipient area where the patient is experiencing hair loss.
Hair transplantation is suitable for both men and women at various stages of hair loss. However, this method cannot be used for individuals who have no hair at all, as there is no way to extract their own grafts. In such cases, artificial hair is the only option. However, this solution is not ideal, as an average of 10% of artificial hair falls out annually and does not grow naturally.
What Is a Hair Graft?
A hair graft is a small piece of a patient’s tissue that contains hair follicles. These are tunnel-like structures in the upper skin layer from which hair grows. Hair grafts can be classified into micro-grafts, containing 1–3 hair follicles, or macro-grafts, containing 3–5 follicles.
Before the procedure
In most cases, local anesthesia is used for hair transplants, keeping the patient fully conscious but pain-free in the treated area. If the transplant involves a large area and requires extensive work, general anesthesia may be an option, requiring the presence of an anesthesiologist.
Once anesthesia is administered, the doctor proceeds with the transplantation. The approach depends on the chosen method. Below, we outline the different techniques and their procedures.
FUT Method – Follicular Unit Transplantation
The FUT method is a well-known hair transplant technique that was very popular before the introduction of the gentler FUE method. Nowadays, this technique is no longer commonly used.
Procedure of the treatment
The first step is obtaining hair grafts. In the case of the FUT method, the surgeon removes a strip of skin from the back of the patient’s head, approximately 1.5 cm wide and 10 cm long. Since a relatively large portion of skin is removed, a visible scar will form at the donor site, and there is also a risk of permanent numbness in the area.
The trained medical staff then divides the obtained strip of skin into hair grafts. This separation is performed in a nutrient solution using microscopic incisions, through which the tissue is divided into individual grafts containing one or more hair follicles. The number of grafts obtained using the FUT method is usually insufficient.
At the same time, the surgeon prepares the area where the grafts will be implanted. Using a steel scalpel, they create hair channels or incisions.
The extracted hair grafts are carefully placed by the surgeon into the pre-prepared incisions in the transplant area of the scalp. During implantation, the surgeon ensures the natural orientation and direction of hair growth to achieve the most natural-looking result.
The final phase is recovery. Since FUT is a relatively invasive method, the overall healing process and suture removal can be very painful, which is one of the reasons why this technique has been largely abandoned. During recovery, it is essential to follow the doctor’s recommendations. In the first few days, it is important to avoid any mechanical damage to the newly transplanted hair. After a few weeks, the transplanted scalp will begin to regain a natural appearance.
The advantages of the FUT method:
- It allows for a simple and efficient extraction of hair follicles. As a result, the entire procedure can take 3–4 hours, although the duration always depends on the extent of the transplantation.
- It is a suitable method for moderate to severe alopecia.
- Compared to the FUE method, it is generally a more affordable option.
Disadvantages of the FUT method:
- A visible scar will form at the site where the strip of skin was removed.
- The healing of the donor area can take up to one month.
- It is a relatively invasive procedure, so the patient may experience pain during the postoperative phase.
- There may be numbness in the area where the strip of skin was removed.
Metoda FUE – Follicular Unit Extraction
The FUE method is an advanced and modern hair transplantation technique that allows for the precise extraction of individual hair follicles from the donor area and their transplantation into areas with thinning hair. It is a popular and gentler alternative to the traditional FUT method.
Procedure of the treatment
In the first step, the surgeon collects hair follicles. In this case, instead of removing a whole strip of skin from the patient, the follicles are extracted one by one. To do so, the surgeon uses special circular hollow needles with a diameter of 0.6–1 mm.
After the follicles are collected, the doctor assesses their quality, and a trained assistant cleans them of excess tissue and places them in a nutrient solution.
Next, the surgeon creates hair beds using a steel scalpel, into which the harvested follicles are placed. In addition to the standard steel scalpel, the surgeon may use a specialized tool – the Sapphire Pen. This is a very sharp instrument with a sapphire tip instead of a steel blade. Thanks to this, the surgeon can create a highly precise channel for the hair follicle.
The recovery phase for the FUE method is shorter and less demanding than for the FUT method. However, it is still a relatively invasive procedure, and to achieve a successful outcome, it is important to follow the doctor’s recommendations.
Advantages of the FUE method:
- Less invasive; unlike the FUT method, no scars are formed.
- Minimal or no postoperative pain.
- A suitable method primarily for mild to moderate alopecia, such as hair transplantation for receding hairlines.
Disadvantages of the FUE method
- Compared to the FUT method, it is a more expensive option.
- It is more time-consuming because each hair follicle is extracted individually.
- It is not suitable for severe alopecia, as the surgeon can only extract a certain number of hair follicles in one session.
- Only 40-50% of the hair follicles may successfully graft.
Metoda DHI – Direct Hair Implantation
It is one of the latest methods, developed with the aim of improving the accuracy, speed, and success rate of hair transplantation.
What makes this method different? The technique uses extraction and implantation tools with a diameter of less than 1 mm. This allows for more natural results and faster healing compared to other hair transplantation methods.
Procedure of the treatment
The procedure begins similarly to the FUE method. The main difference compared to previous methods lies in the way the harvested hair follicles are implanted. Using a special tool, the Choi Pen, the surgeon can directly place the extracted and cleaned hair follicle into the desired location without first creating hair channels. Additionally, the tool allows the surgeon to properly orient the hair follicle and control the depth of its insertion.
This shortens the time the hair follicles spend in the nutrient solution, which increases the chances of successful grafting. The likelihood of follicle death increases with the time they spend outside the body.
Advantages of the DHI method
- It allows for the transplantation of 70–90 hair follicles per cm², which is more than with other methods. This enables patients to achieve truly dense hair.
- Speed – thanks to the Choi Pen tool, the DHI method is faster than the FUE method.
- There is no need to create hair channels, making it the least invasive method.
- Quick postoperative recovery.
- The ability to implant follicles between existing hair, so there is no need to shave the hair before the procedure. This is a significant advantage, especially for hair transplants in women.
- Effectiveness – with the DHI method, up to 95% of the hair follicles take, which is higher than with other methods.
Disadvantages of the DHI method
- Cost – several implantation tools are used during a single procedure, making it more expensive.
Tip: Book a no-obligation consultation to find out if the DHI method is right for you.
Robot-assisted hair transplantation
Robot-assisted hair transplantation uses the methods described above, with the difference that a robotic system automates certain steps of the transplant, specifically the extraction and implantation of hair follicles.
This method has gained a lot of attention recently, but it is often misunderstood. In reality, it is usually a semi-transplant, where the robot automates some of the steps. Typically, the robot trims and extracts the hair follicles, while the subsequent steps of the transplantation are performed by the doctor using the FUE technique.
Whether you choose any hair transplantation method, make sure to entrust your care to a reputable aesthetic medicine clinic and, most importantly, to a surgeon with the necessary education and experience. Only experienced staff and a professional approach can ensure 100% natural results. Book a free consultation with our experienced surgeon and try the DHI method. We are the first aesthetic medicine clinic in the Czech Republic to use the DHI method. The procedures are performed only by doctors and staff who have undergone training and certification.