FUE hair transplant is a surgical procedure that can help you regrow hair in balding or thinning areas. FUE hair transplant is among the most innovative hair transplant techniques and it’s mainly known for achieving a natural appearance and allowing a quicker recovery.
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quick details
WHO IS THIS FOR
- FUE hair transplant is suitable for individuals with partial baldness due to male-pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia)
- Men and women with a receding hairline
- Individuals with traction alopecia
- FUE hair transplant can also be an option for people who had a head trauma and subsequently lost hair
RECOVERY TIME
- In the first 2 weeks after FUE hair transplant surgery, your scalp and forehead may be tender, red, or swollen. After 2 to 3 weeks redness and swelling should subside.
- Light routine activities can be resumed 2 days after FUE hair transplant surgery.
- You can go back to the office after 3 days
- You can work out again after 1 month
- You can swim and do steam baths after 1 month
- You can wear hats after 10 days, and hard hats after 4 weeks
TREATMENT DURATION
- FUE hair transplant can last from 4 to 8 hours, depending on how many grafts you need. If you’re having an FUE hair transplant abroad, you should plan to be away from home for a minimum of 2 nights.
SUCCESS
- 95 to 98% of FUE hair transplants are deemed successful. Full results are typically visible after 12 to 18 months.
POTENTIAL RISKS & SIDE EFFECTS
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Swelling or redness of the scalp and/or forehead
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
Costs
The cost of a hair transplant depends on how many grafts you need and in which country you are receiving treatment. Cost differences depend on many factors, such as cost of living, exchange rates, practicing costs or regulatory conditions, which may differ greatly from country to country.
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Turkey
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Hungary
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India
Before And After Pictures (292)
HOW DOES FUE HAIR TRANSPLANT WORK?
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) is an innovative, increasingly popular hair transplant procedure where a surgeon manually harvests individual hair follicles from your donor area and then grafts them into your recipient area. FUE hair transplant is performed under local anaesthesia. The donor area is usually the back and sides of your head or other parts of the body, like your beard or chest, if the donor hair on your scalp is not sufficient. FUE hair transplant is amongst the most popular techniques as it allows the scalp skin to fully recover leaving little to no scarring.
Hair follicles naturally grow in groupings of 1 to 4 hairs, known as follicular units or grafts. During an FUE hair transplant, the surgeon will harvest grafts from a donor area and insert them into the target sites, areas where hair is thinning or has been completely lost. The donor area contains hair that is resistant to the hormone that is thought to contribute to the miniaturisation and eventual loss of a hair, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). When this hair is transplanted from the donor area to the target site, it keeps that resistance to DHT and should remain permanently implanted. The number of grafts extracted in one session ranges from 500 up to 5000.
What does an FUE hair transplant surgery involve?
An FUE hair transplant surgery is carefully planned based on individual needs, preferences and clinics’ practices. However, there are a few main stages that apply to all hair transplant procedures.
Below is a step-by-step guide for FUE hair transplant surgery.
1. FUE hair transplant consultation
To find out if you are eligible for an FUE hair transplant, you can send us a few pictures of your head (from all angles: top, front, left, right, back). One of our hair transplant specialists will give you an initial assessment of the number of grafts required. You will be also asked questions regarding your overall health, including:
- If you have any medical conditions
- If you take any medication on a regular basis
- When your hair loss started
- If hair loss runs in your family
This will allow the doctor to understand the underlying causes of your hair loss and what procedure would best work for you. This initial assessment will also indicate a cost estimate for your FUE hair transplant. Our hair loss treatment option guide gives you insightful information on hair loss and what your options are to stop it.
The pictures needed for an estimation of grafts and a price quote.
2. Planning your visit to the clinic
Once you decide to go ahead with your FUE hair transplant procedure, we will schedule the operation on the date you prefer. Surgery typically starts in the morning or early afternoon, so it is recommended to fly the day before to take proper time to rest and run medical tests beforehand.
3. On-site consultation with FUE hair transplant surgeon
You will discuss with your surgeon what coverage you aim to achieve with your FUE hair transplant, also depending on the quality and amount of your donor area. Once you’ve decided, the doctor will draw a line that will mark the beginning of your new hairline.
4. Medical exams
At the clinic, you will have physical and blood tests done to make sure you are in good health to start FUE hair transplant surgery. General blood tests will also check for major infectious diseases to make sure you are healthy and sound to proceed with the treatment and to rule out any medical reasons that could be of any harm.
5. Preparation for surgery
Once tests and drawing of new hairline are done, you will receive local anesthesia for the donor area to be desensitized. During an FUE hair transplant, the donor area is usually shaved down (although there are surgeons who utilize the no-shave technique). If you are afraid of needles, don’t hesitate to let us know! We work with selected doctors who offer in needle-free anaesthesia (which usually comes with an additional charge).
6. FUE hair transplant procedure
Below a step-by-step breakdown of how an FUE hair transplant is performed:
a. Harvesting/extracting the grafts
Once the anaesthesia has taken effect, the surgeon will start surgery. Hair grafts are extracted manually one at the time and placed in a container with a storage solution that will maintain the grafts' vitality.
b. Making the incisions
After the extraction, the surgeon (or a team of expert technicians will use microblades and fine needles (between 0.6mm and 1.0mm in diameter) to create the incision sites that will receive the hair grafts. The incisions determine the direction of hair growth and will be angled in a consistent pattern for a natural look and density.
c. Implanting the grafts
Once the incisions are made, the hair grafts are inserted into the target sites.
The whole procedure can last 4 to 8 hours and is performed on the same day. During the procedure, many patients read, take a nap, or watch TV. You will also be given breaks during the procedure.
There are surgeons who offer Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment as a complementary procedure to FUE hair transplant surgery to promote hair growth and healing after the surgical procedure. PRP treatment is typically performed during the implantation or after the grafts are implanted.
7. Post-op check up
After your FUE hair transplant is done, your head will be covered in bandages and you will be given painkillers. If you’re staying abroad, you will spend the night in a nearby accommodation. The day after surgery, you will meet with the surgeon for a post-operative check up and will receive precise instructions to follow during your post-operative time.
What shall I expect from an FUE hair transplant?
Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from an FUE hair transplant, from right after surgery until one year later. For a more detailed overview of what to expect after an FUE hair transplant surgery, check our Post-op guide on hair transplant surgery!
Percentage of new hair regrowing over a year after a hair transplant surgery.
First 2 weeks
Your scalp and forehead may be tender, red, or swollen for the first 2 weeks after surgery, and you may notice pimples in the recipient area. All the scabs will fall off during the second week after your FUE hair transplant, many of them with hair. Don’t panic!
Week 2 - 8
During this time, 90% of your transplanted hair will fall off. This is a normal process, occurring in 95% of FUE hair transplant cases.
Some of the natural hair located next to the transplanted grafts may fall off as well. This phenomenon is known as “shock loss”. Shock loss is a natural, transient process.
The donor area will recover gradually as your hair grows back.
Month 2 - 6
Between the second and the fourth month there will be a stationary phase. Around 5% of new fine hair may begin to grow during this time.
Between the fourth and the fifth month after your FUE hair transplant, 20% to 25% of the transplanted hair will start to grow.
Month 6 - 12
Between the sixth and the ninth month, most transplanted hair will grow (around 75%). At the same time, hair gets denser and thicker.
After the ninth month an additional 20% - 25% of new hair will grow. In some cases, it may take up to 18 months for the hair in the crown area to fully regrow.
WHERE CAN I FIND A DOCTOR?
The cost of an FUE hair transplant varies depending on the number of grafts required and the location where the procedure is performed.
Top destinations
Displayed locations reflect average package prices (treatment, hotel, airport transfer) booked through Qunomedical. Cost for transport to the destination (e.g. airfare) is not included. Prices may vary depending on individual needs and conditions.
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Turkey
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Hungary
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India
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Reviews
4.8
628 Reviews in All Countries
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Although the clinic had many patients on the say day as me, I still felt that I was cared for by the staff. The guys [Qunomedical] there are brilliant and are very responsive to any concerns or messages sent to them.
Overall my experience with the procedure was excellent. All the transport was arranged with the clinic and they even looked after my partner who came along with me. The whole treatment was great from start to finish. It was clear that the clinic was well run and have a great team of people that work well together. The staff were great and they also had a translator there in case the technicians didnt understand. The clinic itself was very clean but I did find it odd that I was told to eat in the room were I was having the procedure done during the break. Although the clinic had many patients on the say day as me, I still felt that I was cared for by the staff The guys [Qunomedical] there are brilliant and are very responsive to any concerns or messages sent to them.
Thz doctor was very attentive. Good communication but no real contact.
Good organisation. Thz doctor was very attentive. Good communication but no real contact. It could be better with a real contact
I was very happy from the start to finish
Yes great I was very happy from the start to finish, there is no thing you could do better
Verified Patient
Gary,
United Kingdom
From beginning to end the whole process was so smooth. Mark T was fantastic, so helpful and friendly was always at the end of the phone to us couldn’t ask for any better
From beginning to end the whole process was so smooth. Facilities, staff, transfers that were arranged and most of all Dr Yavuz who did my hair Transplant. I couldn’t be happier. We Dealt with Mark T and he was fantastic, so helpful and friendly was always at the end of the phone to us couldn’t ask for any better
Verified Patient
Waseem,
United Kingdom
Recommended
Amazing kate, she was always helpful
Everything was very good only fault I could find was with the airport pickup
Everything was very good only fault I could find was with the airport pickup the guy wasent very friendly or helpful hotel food could have been better apart from that everything was good
Verified Patient
Andrew L.,
United Kingdom
Keep up the good work
From getting to Istanbul airport. To getting back there after everything. I could not fault it. The before service was helpful. Keep up the good work
Verified Patient
David,
United Kingdom
Dr Yavuz talked me through the whole process and within no time I was receiving the treatment. His team of nurses where also very professional. The whole experience will change my life for the better and I can't thank the team enough.
I was picked up from the airport, in a short space of time was taken to my driver who was very professional and dropped me at my amazing hotel. Picked up again the next day for the treatment. I arrived at the clinic greater by Dr Yavuz assistant who was very friendly and put me at ease right away. Dr Yavuz talked me through the whole process and within no time I was receiving the treatment. His team of nurses where also very professional. The whole experience will change my life for the better and I can't thank the team enough. Everything was perfect. The chauffeur driven car Was a nice touch
I found him [Dr. Mahmut Kaya] to be incredibly professional and courteous. He knew exactly what I needed, he drew me a hair line which matched my face perfectly.
I’ve recently been to the memorial hospital in Istanbul for a hair transplant which was carried out by Dr. Mahmut Kaya. I found him to be incredibly professional and courteous. He knew exactly what I needed, he drew me a hair line which matched my face perfectly. The hair transplant itself is flawless, the hairline he has created is perfect. The hairs are evenly distributed and are tightly packed together. I can not recommend him enough, when you’re having a plastic surgery such as this you need it to be perfect as it lasts forever.
The staff from the start to finish couldn’t have been any more helpful and as I already said we thank them enough. The clinic was absolutely spotless and made us both so very comfortable. My experience with yourselves [Qunomedical] has been 100% excellent.
I honestly don’t how to thank the staff enough for the quality of care I received. My wife and I were driven to the hotel straight from the airport and then picked up again each morning and taken to the hospital, it was so straightforward. My wife was was quite anxious the morning of my procedure but the staff quickly made her feel at ease. The staff from the start to finish couldn’t have been any more helpful and as I already said we thank them enough. The clinic was absolutely spotless and made us both so very comfortable. My experience with yourselves has been 100% excellent. I cannot rate it enough!!!! You all do an amazing job x