Fue Hair Transplant Turkey

FUE hair transplantation is a modern method in which hair follicles are extracted one by one and transplanted into balding areas. In this technique, hair follicles are carefully collected using micro-motor devices with specially designed tips. The popularity of the FUE method is because of its ability to deliver natural-looking results without leaving visible scars. Since the procedure does not require surgical incisions, it allows patients to go through a more comfortable recovery process.

In the past, hair transplants were performed using the FUT method, which involved cutting a strip of skin from the back of the scalp. However, this method has now been almost completely abandoned. Since the early 2000s, the FUE technique has become the most widely preferred method for hair transplantation. In this article, we will provide general and informative insights about the FUE hair transplantation technique.

What is the FUE hair transplant method and how is it performed?

There are two main stages in a FUE hair transplantation operation. These are,

1. Taking the hair from the donor area (this can be done either by FUE or FUT methods)
2. Transplanting the harvested hair follicles into the recipient area (this can be done through channel opening or by using the DHI hair transplantation method)

In the older FUT technique, a strip of scalp was first removed, and then this strip was divided into follicular units. However, the FUT technique is no longer commonly used today. It has been largely replaced by the more modern FUE method. In fact, the FUE method was developed mainly to overcome the discomfort caused by the scar left by the FUT technique.

At AHD Clinic, founded by Dr. Hakan Doğanay, graft extraction has been performed exclusively using the FUE method since 2007.

In fact, FUE is the name of the 1st stage of hair transplantation, which is the way of harvesting from the donor area. In other words, it has nothing directly to do with graft transplantation, which is the 2nd stage. However, both in the world and in Turkey, this term is generally used for the 2nd stage.

The name FUE is derived from the initials of *Follicular Unit Extraction. Grafts are composed of follicular units, each containing between 1 to 4 hair follicles. On average, a single graft includes about 2 to 2.5 hair follicles. In this technique, grafts are extracted individually with special tools—without cutting a strip of scalp from the donor area. Now, let’s take a look at how grafts are taken using the FUE method.

Step-by-step FUE hair transplant

Hair transplantation with the FUE method is carried out briefly in 5 stages:

1. Preparation
2. Collection of grafts
3. Hairline design
4. Opening channels in the recipient area
5. Placement of the grafts

Now, we will examine these stages one by one.

General Preparation Before the Operation

Before hair transplantation, a general evaluation of the patient is made, and it is decided whether they are suitable for the operation. This is the subject of another article. For someone considered suitable for FUE hair transplantation:

• The necessary number of grafts is determined at the end of the examination.
• The hair is shaved to a length of 1 mm. Shaving the hair before hair transplantation is a routine procedure. However, in some exceptional cases, unshaven hair transplantation can also be performed.
• The number of grafts that can be taken from the donor area is calculated.
• The area from which grafts will be collected is marked with a pen. In the next stage, hair follicles will be collected one by one from the donor area.
• The marked area is numbed with local anesthesia. Local anesthesia is a procedure that takes 5-10 minutes. The purpose is to ensure that the patient does not feel pain while the grafts are being extracted.

Which areas are used as donor regions in the FUE method?

The fundamental purpose of the hair transplantation procedure is to transplant hair follicles that are resistant to hair loss and are healthy into the recipient area. Therefore, it is essential to transplant the strongest hair follicles. The hair follicles located between the two ears at the back of the head are the strongest. In the FUE method, these strong hairs are always the first choice for extraction. However, if the balding area is very extensive, these donor hairs may not be numerically sufficient. In such cases, alternative hair follicles can also be extracted using the FUE method. As donor area sources:

1. First choice is The hair in the nape area at the back of the head.
2. Hair from the body can be used as alternative donor areas.

Extraction of Grafts from the Donor Region

Using local anesthesia to numb the donor region, grafts can be obtained by three different methods. The grafts are consisted of follicular units that contain 1–4 hair follicles. On average, a single graft contains approximately 2–2.5 hair follicles

The three methods used for collecting hair grafts follow the same principle. They are:

• Micro motor
• Manual method and
• Artas is a robotic device.

In both the manual and micromotor methods, there is a tool called a punch that has a sharp, circular, hollow tip. The punch diameter is usually between 0.7–1 mm and should be chosen according to the thickness of the graft. The punch is inserted into the skin to a depth of 3–4 mm to center the hair follicle. This punch rotates in a circular motion around the graft to free the hair follicle. The liberated hair follicle is then individually extracted with the help of forceps. Due to the very small diameter of the incisions, they heal quickly within a few days.

Grafts are collected in a glass container called a petri dish, which contains physiological saline solution. The purpose of the liquid inside the glass container is to keep the follicles moist and wet. Otherwise, the follicles would dry out and die even before transplantation. The hairs collected in the glass container are now ready to be transplanted to their new locations.

Points to Consider During Graft Collection

• The hair follicles in the donor area are not upright but positioned at a slight angle. Therefore, the skin must be entered following the exit angle of the follicles. If this is not done, the rate of damaged grafts will increase due to incorrect graft extraction.
• There is a designated safe area within the donor region. Graft extraction should not be performed outside the safe area. This is because the hair follicles outside the safe area are not strong and have the potential to shed. However, grafts within the safe area are resistant to shedding because they are insensitive to testosterone.
• If the micromotor speed is too high, it may damage the surrounding follicles.
• Grafts must be collected evenly and homogeneously from every square centimeter of the donor area.
• Everyone has a different graft capacity based on their hair density. If this capacity is exceeded and an excessive number of grafts are taken, deformities may occur in certain areas of the donor region. In cases of excessive graft extraction, graft resources are depleted, and there will not be enough grafts left for a second session or for a revision.

As can be seen, if the rules mentioned above are not followed, very poor appearances can occur in the donor area.
If the donor capacity is sufficient, between 2000–2500 grafts can be collected with a micromotor within about 2 hours. Since manual extraction is slower, this number is generally lower.

The design of the front hairline

If a person has lost their front hairline or if it has receded and a hair transplant is planned for this area, a natural hairline must be designed. A hairline should be created in harmony with the person’s age, facial structure, graft count, and expectations.

However, only through the surgeon’s artistic skill can a personalized hairline design be achieved. If a hairline is designed too far back or too low incorrectly, natural-looking results cannot be achieved. The design of the front hairline will be explained in detail in another article.

Canal Opening Procedure

After the graft harvesting process and the design of the front hairline, it is time for the transplantation stage. First, the recipient area, where the grafts are planned to be placed, is sterilized with antiseptics.
Then, local anesthesia is applied to this area. With the application of anesthesia, no pain will be felt during the hair transplantation procedure. In some patients, anesthesia can also be administered by sedation,putting the patient to sleep, instead of just local anesthesia.

After anesthesia, micro canals were used to be opened for the new placement of the hair roots using steel-tipped slits. However, nowadays, very fine and sharp blades called Sapphire are used in the canal opening process. Micro canals are opened in the recipient area in a number equal to the number of collected grafts. Since the canals opened are very thin, they heal rapidly within a few days.

• • The canal opening procedure must absolutely be performed by an experienced hair surgeon. Because the stage of opening the channels is one of the most important phases of the FUE method. Hair will grow in the direction and angle in which the channels are opened. If the canals are opened at the wrong angle and direction, a natural appearance will not be achieved. If there is no complete baldness and the person still has own hair, the canals must be opened at an angle and direction parallel to the growth direction of the existing hair.
• Additionally, the depth of the opened canals must be compatible with the length of the grafts.

Graft Placement

Now we have reached the final stage of the FUE hair transplant. The grafts are placed one by one into the opened microchannels with the help of hair transplant forceps. This stage is generally carried out by technicians. Two technicians can work from the right and left sides of the patient. If the technician is inexperienced, the grafts may be damaged during placement.

Advantages of the Fue technique

• Hair transplantation with the FUE method is minimally invasive. Unlike the FUT method, there is no linear scar. Only very small pinpoint scars form during graft collecting. These scars heal quickly because they are very small.
• Hair transplantation using the FUE method can be performed on both men and women. However, for women, the unshaven DHI method is more advantageous in every aspect.
• • In procedures such as beard, mustache, and eyebrow transplantation, grafts are also harvested from the donor area using the FUE technique.
• In hair transplants performed with the FUT method, it is not advisable to keep the hair at the nape short because the linear scar would inevitably be visible. However, with the FUE method, there is no such scar. Therefore, the FUE technique is much more ideal for those who want to keep their hair short.
• Since grafts can be harvested from a wider area compared to the FUT method, a higher number of grafts can be obtained
• Because there are no incisions or stitches, less pain is felt after FUE hair transplantation.

What Are the Risks and Side Effects of the FUE Method?

All possible side effects in the FUE method are related to the inadequacy of the doctor and technicians performing the operation. The most important risks are as follows: here

• Areas appearing bald and poor in the donor area due to excessive graft collecting
• An unnatural appearance caused by an incorrect hairline design and improper opening of canals
• Root loss caused by mistakes made during graft placement and the resulting sparse appearance.

As can be seen, if you proceed with a hair surgeon who has proven themselves in the field of hair transplantation, the likelihood of encountering undesirable complications will also decrease.

Post-FUE Hair Transplant Process

The healing process begins rapidly immediately after the hair transplantation is completed. During the healing period, simple complications that can be considered normal may occur. These are simple complications such as redness, crusting at the hair roots, and swelling. These may occur during the 10-day healing period and then disappear.

The transplanted hair can start being washed from the very first days. It is expected that the crusts will fall off with washing between the 8th and 10th days. If possible, it is advisable to have the first wash performed at the clinic where the operation was carried out.

Two weeks later, the transplanted hair begins to fall out. This condition, known as shock loss, is also temporary. Shock loss in FUE hair transplantation can last for about 2 months.

When does the hair transplanted with the FUE technique start to grow?

From the 3rd month onwards, the transplanted hairs start to grow again. By the end of the 4th month, the expected result is 30%. In other words, the appearance is still quite sparse. On average, hair grows about 1 cm per month. In fact, the first hairs that grow are as thin as baby hair. By the end of the 6th month, about 60% of the hairs are expected to have grown.

In the 7th–8th months, the hair becomes much denser in volume. It is expected that about 70–80% of the transplanted hairs will have grown. The full result is achieved in 12 months.

We recommend you to follow the supportive treatments suggested by your doctor after the FUE hair transplant. Good post-operative care will positively affect the outcome.

Fue hair transplant prices in Turkey

Prices may vary depending on the Norwood hair loss degree, the number of grafts to be transplanted, and the doctor’s experience and reputation.

The FUE method is more expensive compared to FUT hair transplantation. Some doctors charge per graft, while others offer a single fixed price.

For the year 2025, average fue hair transplant prices in Turkey vary between 2.000 – 7.000 USD. Average prices in the United States are between 5,000-15,000 USD.