FUE Extracted per square Centimetre

[Mop]

I was wondering what the possible rate of extraction is per square Centimetre - theoretically if you had a 1mm punch , you could extract 100 grafts per Centimetre square ?

 

I know Surgeons take grafts from a wide area. Just wondering whats possible without shaving your entire hair off and you wanted to keep extraction zones on edge of your hairline, eg around the ears for example, and keep it discreet.

[Sparky]

Well 100 hairs pr sq cm is above average, but no surgeon would extract all the hairs in a sq cm, because all the holes would be joined together and make a 1sqcm scar.

[Mop]

So any idea on how many grafts per centre square is the norm surgeons will extract ?

[TC17]

I've heard that most doctors feel do not feel comfortable in going past 35% MAX of the available FU's per cm2. I want to say that the average is about 25%, but I'm no 100% sure on that.

[the B spot]

We try not to go past 20%---generally if we do more than 500 grafts, we buzz the entire donor and spread the extractions out.

 

Average donor density 80-90 FU'scm/2

 

So, at 20% 16-18 grafts.

25% 20-22.5 grafts

30% 24-27 grafts.

 

This is kind of a good tool to use because you can measure your available donor and see what a decent estimate of available grafts via FUE you might have.

 

While I am no way saying this is "THE" approach, because other doctors have made claims of up to 50% extraction, but I have found most conscientious clinics are 20-30%.

 

Obviously, if a guy has insane donor density, taking 35% would be 100% fine in his case.

Conversely, there are those that taking 20% of the donor is the maximum.

 

Another point I like to make is the 2 session approach. Taking say, 15-20% of a persons donor the 1st time may not impact them at all...no scarring, no noticeable thinning in the donor.

Then you go back in and take that additional 5-10% and there is now some gaps, thinning, etc...just less coverage, so it is certainly NOT an exact science.

 

However, taking 4-5K from the donor at one time does not give the patient or the clinic to assess the impact of removing a % of grafts, determining a safe approach or at least properly advising the patient that X may occur as a result of taking additional donor via FUE,and let them make this decision beforehand.

 

Take Care,

Jason

[TC17]

Jason,

 

What is the total area of the safe zone?

[flyby]

Hi B Spot,

 

Thanks for the info. If possible I'd like to hear a little more about this aspect of Mops question.

 

"I know Surgeons take grafts from a wide area. Just wondering whats possible without shaving your entire hair off and you wanted to keep extraction zones on edge of your hairline, eg around the ears for example, and keep it discreet."

 

This interests me as well because for someone who has previous donor scars from an old Bosley session I definitely couldn't live with shaving the whole back of my head down for FUE. Would it be possible or feasable to extract donor grafts from a linear strip shaved down across the back. Similar to how the donar is shaved down for a strip just not as wide?

_______________________________________________

Shaved down donor area about this wide

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Length of the strip would depend on how many grafts are needed. Obviously you couldn't obtain nearly as many grafts as if someone shaves the whole back of their head, but for someone intersted in FUE into an existing scar (like Spex had) or for someone looking for hairline refinement this would allow them cover the area with exisisting hair and go relatively unoticed.

 

Thanks

[the B spot]

Originally posted by TC17:

Jason,

 

What is the total area of the safe zone?

 

TC, it varies from patient to patient for FUE---I'd say 260-320cm of possible donor via FUE for most patients. I'm on the lower end, I think I am around 270cm.

 

Flyby, yes, if your hair is longer, we can buzz small strips around your head and take grafts from there and your existing longer hair will fall over the buzzed strips disguising the FUE extraction zones...this is not perfect, but we can do this. It severely limits the size of session you can have, and that can only be determined with an in-person visit to measure your donor density and plan things out accordingly. Unless your just doing some scar repair and we are only doing 2-400 grafts.

 

Cheers,

Jason

[TC17]

Thanks Jason. So, conceivably, if I have a density of 80 follicular units per cm2 and 290cm of donor, shouldn't I be able to get over 7,000 grafts if I only take 30 FU's per cm2 from the donor?

[the B spot]

Theoretically, yes. In actuality, probably not.

 

At some point, you will notice gaps or experience white dots. This may occur at 3500 grafts or it may occur at 7000 grafts. No one really knows for sure....which is why we feel 3-4K might be about the average amount of FUE grafts you can take from the donor before bringing dealing with the factors I listed above.

 

Most of us have different density throughout our donor as well. Say 85 in back and 60 on the sides. So while you might get 30 in back, you might only take 12-14 per cm on the sides.

 

So, for most average guys, we can get 3-4K safely, no noticeable gaps or scarring. After that is is purely individual.

 

Again, this is what we at SMG believe, so we are not stating it is THE way... others have said you can take 6-7-8K of FUE from the donor as the norm.

 

Cheers,

Jason

[Bill - Seemiller]

Guys,

 

I think Jason is being very realistic as to what can be accomplished with FUE which honestly, brings me to one of the key points I've been trying to make with FUE all along.

 

And here it is...

 

On average, there is more available donor hair supply via strip than FUE. Thus, in order to get the most coverage and density, patients typically have to go for strip.

 

Now let me explain why...

 

I happen to agree with Jason that taking 20 to 25% of the FU/cm2 is optimal to minimize scarring. I also happen to agree that extracting more than 4000-5000 follicular units from the safe zone on the average patient will increase the risks of visible scarring. This falls in line with what I've heard from many reputable physicians that I've talked to regarding their approach to FUE, including all FUE clinics.

 

This is precisely why I still believe FUE should only be considered for patients in the lower Norwood levels and at little risk of progressing to advanced stages of hair loss.

 

Remember that the only real advantages to FUE is the elimination of a linear scar and faster healing time. So in order to keep scarring at a minimum (assuming the patient has healed well), it's important not to extract too hairs per square cm from the donor.

 

Some have argued that patients can go for strip after they've maxed out their grafts via FUE. But I say...what's the point? You've now most likely spent a lot more money only to end up with the strip scar you tried to avoid in the first place.

 

Some have argued that patients who have FUE have more flexibility to shave their head and forget about their hair if they choose. Again I say...what's the point? Why not save yourself the tens of thousands of dollars and just shave your head if you're going to forget about your hair.

 

I think recommended physician makes a great point in the article I published "Is FUE the Solution for Young Hair Loss Sufferers" that no matter which procedure patients choose, they need to consider it a permanent solution and plan long term. Anything else is a waste of time, money, and precious donor hair.

 

I want to add that I'm not anti-FUE. However, I feel that lately, there's been a great deal of misunderstandings about what FUE can realistically accomplish and I think we ought to keep any false expectations in check.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

[TC17]

For me Bill, I would rather have 4,000 grafts from FUE over the frontal 2/3rds and a bald crown, than 6,000 grafts from strip and with a thin crown.