Long Hair FUE

[fitzy123]

Hi all, I €™m just wondering if anybody has any experience regarding long hair FUE? Aside from a couple of videos on YouTube, I €™m struggling to find out much genuine feedback. I €™m thinking about visiting Dr. Erdogan for an HT in the summer but wanted to broach this topic with you guys first.
I assume that shedding will still occur? And this will be followed by an ugly duckling phase as with any HT, so aside from the first two weeks (where scabbing etc is obvious) is there any difference? I €™ll be holed up for the first two weeks post HT so I €™m not really sure if there €™s any benefit. Thanks in advance

 

[JoeTillman]

I know there are many clinics offering this procedure but I'm not a fan. I remember when FUE first came on the scene and one of the benefits over strip was that once you shave the donor region then it will only be a matter of three or four days before it heals up and you simply look like you have a buzz cut. The only indicator of anything being done was the redness in the recipient area for the first week that eventually just turned into a light pink.

For FUE to be the most effective the extraction zone must encompass the entire donor area, regardless of how few or how many grafts you're getting. This is so that your donor has no single area with a higher concentration of extractions, therefore a lower density, than the rest of the donor area. You've seen the results of clinics taking too much from one area and the patients that complain about it. Well, this is the same thing, or has the potential to be. What I mean is that because your donor will not be shaved it is much more difficult, and time consuming, to spread out the extraction pattern like one would if the donor were shaved. Many clinics will take the hair from a concentrated area, or multiple concentrated areas, and what the patient can wind up with is a significant drop in density that stands out unless the hair is grown longer which is completely contrary to the idea of FUE to begin with.

In my view, to get the best result in the donor as well as the recipient, you shouldn't try to have your cake and eat it to. Shave your donor, and inside of a week it looks like you have a buzz cut. No one will know and your donor will not only be better off cosmetically because of it, you'll have more hair overall for future harvest.

 

[fitzy123]

Evening Joe, Thanks for the quick and honest reply. Agreed that the main criticism appears to be that it €™s harder to accurately extract and implant long hairs (which make sense by definition.) It also appears to be that the main €œpro € seems to be that you get to see how the transplant will look in 12 months time. You €™re still going to have to go through shedding etc. So for the risks you highlighted and the fact it €™s more expensive, it seems that the better option is to go for standard FUE.
Thanks Joe

 

[Bigmac]

Hi Fitzy.
How many grafts are you looking at?
In nearly all case`s the shedding will occur, a tiny percentage don`t for some reason but don`t bank on that. Depending on your post op care, some have very mild scabbing and no real ugly duckling stage.
Staying holed up for two weeks will provide you enough time to recover and look normal.
Keep us informed on what you decide.
All the best.
Bm.

 

[fitzy123]

Thanks BM,Erdogans clinic informed me that I €™d need 4,500-5,00 grafts.This obviously rules out long Hair FUE. The figure seems a little high to me. I visited DHI recently who suggested 3,000 grafts and Vinci suggested 1700-2,200. Having seen a few different consultants the number has ranged from 1,500 to 5,700 leaving me quite perplexed! I think some consultants feel that it €™s only my hairline that needs work and finstaeride and minoxidil will suffice for the vertex and mid scalp where as others want to do the lot (idon €™t feel that €™s necessary!) All a bit overwhelming to be honest. I €™m in at Farjo next week (who seem highly recommended) so will see what they come back with!!

 

[Bigmac]

Those estimates vary greatly.
Just take your time until you're happy you've found the clinic you're happy with.