A stitchless method of FUE hair restoration in which hair root (follicles) are extracted from the back of head under local anaesthesia with the help of special micropunches and implanted in the bald area. In this procedure, no scalpel is required which is used for cutting skin in the ‘strip’ surgery. The entire procedure is done by the surgeons and not by technicians. It is most useful for people who keep small hair or shave their head or have tendency of hypertrophic scars because they will not have any visible scars. This is the only method by which adequate cover can be given for NH Gr VI-VII as the hair can be extracted from the head as well as the body in multiple sittings. In the strip technique, the number of hair are limited as only those hair which are removed in the strip can be used for transplant. It is also the preferred technique for eyebrow or moustache transplant or in patients having tight skin. It is ideal for revision cases i.e. those who have already undergone surgery by strip method. Multiple sittings can be given on consecutive days or later on to give “add-on” hair.

Planning of surgery
Once you decide to undergo hair transplantation from us, we will fix an appropriate date which is convenient to you. You will be required to undergo some routine blood tests. A file folder containing your medical records, pre-op instructions, basic facts about the procedure, post-op instructions will be made.

On the day of surgery, please have a head bath and a heavy breakfast.

Once you arrive at our clinic, we will click the pictures of you bald as well as the donor area. Then we trim and prepare the donor area from the back of the head.

Surgery
We make the patient lie down in prone position on the operating table. We then take utmost care to give local anesthesia with minimal discomfort in the donor area.

The grafts are then extracted from the donor area with the help of 0.8 and 1 mm special micropunches. The extraction of follicles is done under magnification. The extracted grafts are then preserved in cool Ringer Lactate solution. Each follicle may be consisting of 1,2,3,4 or rarely even 5 hairs. This is the most time consuming and tedious part of the whole procedure.

The position of the patient is changed to supine position. He can watch a movie or TV depending on his choice. Then the recipient (bald) site is then prepared by giving local anaesthesia. The slits are made with the help of special blades 0.8-1 mm in diameter and the extracted follicles are then implanted into this area.

Implantation of the hair follicles is the most skilful step. We discuss in detail again the hairline creation as it is the most creative work in this whole procedure and utmost care is taken to ensure a natural look in this area.The follicles containing single hair are implanted in the front to give a natural hairline and subsequently followed by units containing 2-3 hairs to give density to the area.

During the procedure we give a tea as well as a lunch break so the patient should not feel tired during the surgery. Infact during the surgery, the patient keeps on chatting and discussing about himself or herself that we become “friends” with them.

After the procedure is done, the patient is again shown the transplanted area and a simple dressing in the donor area and front on forehead is given to prevent any swelling.

The transplant area is covered with a loose cap. The patient is discharged to go on his own. He can go to the market, watch a movie or just do anything he wishes to do!

After the surgery
You are required to spray normal saline in the implanted area 2 hourly for first 5 days after the surgery to prevent drying of the graft area.

It is recommended that the patient (if he is in-station) should turn up the next day for review of the donor area, cleaning of the area and fresh bandage if required. The dressing on the forehead is usually removed. If he cannot turn up, he can remove the bandage on his own also.

Small crusts start appearing in the donor area. There is nothing to worry about as the scabs start falling and the hair start growing in the donor area again.

Just like any other hair transplant, swelling may appear on the forehead 24 hours after surgery. If it does come, then it increases for about the 3 days, comes around the eyes and cheeks and takes about a week to settle down. This is totally physiological, there is nothing to worry about it as it occurs because of the gravity and settles on its own without any further medication. During that time you can wear sunglasses and a baseball cap.

There might be some redness in the implanted area in the post-op period but this is again part of the natural healing phase.

You can clean your hair with a mild shampoo 5 days after the implantation without rubbing them and then subsequently after 10 days by gently rinsing them.

Avoid direct exposure to sunlight for about 3 weeks.

Avoid the following strenuous activities for 3 weeks: Body building, soccer, swimming.