An FUE Hair Transplant in London can be life-changing.
At AHI Clinic in London we perform the FUE technique for hair transplantation – which is one of the safest and most effective methods. We recognise the decision to undergo such a procedure is not taken lightly, and we ensure that you are fully informed about the entire process. FUE is an intricate procedure that can take several hours. It’s carried out in a series of steps, which are outlines as follows:
Step 1 – Consultation and Preparation
The pre-treatment consultation is a one-to-one session between you and our surgeon, Dr Waqas Chaudhary, where a number of issues are discussed.
Firstly, Dr Chaudhary will want to hear your concerns and understand your reasons for wanting the surgery. Next, he will examine the affected area and identify why you may be experiencing thinning hair / hair loss. This is an important factor that helps to determine your suitability for the fue hair transplant procedure in london.
Dr Chaudhary will assess both the area of hair loss as well as areas that are not affected – which is where we intend to extract donor grafts. He’ll need to establish the quality and condition of existing hair growth (which can be anywhere on the head, body or face), and the maximum number of grafts that will be required.
Following the examination, Dr Chaudhary will then outline the FUE procedure in full, including details about the potential risks and side effects, aftercare, pre-op advice and your expected results. As well as discussing your full medical history, we may also arrange to do a pre-op blood test.
We always allow you some time to think about the procedure before arranging an appointment. This will ensure you have considered your options in full, and are 100% sure you’d like to go ahead.
Step 2 – Donor Graft Extraction
Before Dr Chaudhary begins extracting donor grafts the entire treatment area will be trimmed and anaesthetised (numbed). At AHI Clinic we use Lidocaine (a local anaesthetic) mixed with a neutralising solution.
The grafts themselves are manually extracted, one-by-one, using a motorised punch. The device is very small in size (only 1 mm in diameter) so the procedure is carried out under 2.5-5 times magnification. The punch machine works by spinning with a low-angular motion which rapidly penetrates the piece of skin, twists the follicle to make it loose and releases it gently from the scalp. This process can take 3-4 hours depending on the number of grafts planned to be extracted.
Step 3 – Graft Preservation
As extracting donor grafts can take some time, they’ll need to be stored and preserved effectively. Storing the donor grafts is crucial to the FUE procedure as we need to ensure the living tissue survives. At AHI Clinic we use a modern method to preserve your donor grafts, storing them in a petri-dish with Hypothermosol solution. This substance has been used for many years and is specially formulated to address the biological-molecular response of cells, which is very successful for their survival when detached from the circulatory system’s blood flow and oxygen supply. Storing the donor grafts in Hypothermosol solution requires a controlled temperature of 2-8 degrees celsius, which helps the grafts to retain their levels of moisture.
Step 4 – Implantation
Once all grafts have been extracted and stored, the recipient sites need to be prepared. This is done using custom-made blades which range from 0.6 mm – 0.9 mm in diameter, and the most appropriate sized blade will be selected for you. The blades will be used to create hundreds / thousands of tiny incisions in the skin, to the required depth, which will remain small enough for the follicle to fit into tightly. The size of the incision is important for oxygenation and the survival of the graft.
Before implanting the donor grafts the scalp is numbed by anaesthetic. The grafts are then placed very carefully in the ready-made incisions. This process can take 3-4 hours, depending on the number of grafts used.
Step 5 – Post-Op Care
The skill and expertise of Dr Waqas Chaudhary goes a long way to ensuring a successful fue hair transplant result in london. But, you will also need to play your part by ensuring you follow all post-operative advice.
We will dress the treated area after the procedure, and ask that you avoid touching it for around 3 days. You will be given a spray to apply every 3 hours in order to keep the follicles hydrated, and for the treated area to be kept clean. Dr Chaudhary will also prescribe some medication to help minimise swelling after a hair transplant, which will also ease any associated discomfort.
After 5-7 days you should be feeling much more comfortable as redness and swelling should have significantly subsided. AHI Clinic will continue to monitor your progress through a series of follow-up appointments over the next 12- 18 months – when you can also expect the final result.
