What are the advantages and disadvantages of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)?
FUE is a method of obtaining individual FU directly from the scalp, instead of microscopically dissecting them from a strip of donor tissue that has been excised from the scalp. A small sharp punch, similar to a cookie cutter and usually 0.8 – 1.0 mm in diameter is used to superficially incise the skin around the FU which is then extracted with a combination of pressure and tension. I believe FUE is ideal for some people with very tight scalps and for most of those who have noticeable linear scars from prior old-style hair transplanting in their donor areas (Fig. 22). FUE can always be used to camouflage or eliminate even a good linear scar after the last strip is excised. I also believe that a combination of single scar strip donor harvesting and FUE—after all the strips that could and should be excised have been removed—will increase the number of FU that can be obtained from any donor area. Some have called this “hybrid donor harvesting”. But remember, the farther this FUE strays fr
