Surgical Hair Restoration

Surgical Hair Restoration Program

Orange County Hair Restoration and Dr. Williams are considered one of the most experienced hair restoration surgical physicians and facilities performing FUE. Our office uses the most advance and most recognized FUE devices- Cole, WAW, Mamba, and ARTAS. These incredible FUE devices are the product of extensive of research and development providing a minimally invasive procedure, and natural aesthetically appealing hairline.

FUE is considered the Cadillac of hair restoration surgery and 80 % of our patients request this donor harvesting technique. In 2009, Dr. Williams was the first and most recognized dedicated FUE hair restoration facility in the western United States. Dr. Williams is a world wide teacher and instructor of hair surgery and speaks all around the world on hair restoration at international workshops and post graduate programs.

Two Methods Of Harvesting Hair Follicles – FUT vs. FUE

Currently there are two primary surgical techniques or methods used in performing hair transplantation- FUT (STRIP) and FUE. With the FUT technique, a section of scalp is excised with a scalpel. The scalp is brought together with either sutures or staples leaving the possibility of a donor linear scar in the back of the scalp. Next, the hair follicles or hair grafts are inserted into tiny slits placed by the surgeon in the balding recipient area. The follicles with a single hair are placed in the front rows to define and create a natural hairline. The more dense natural occurring folllicular units are placed by hand in areas where hair density is needed the most.

With automated FUE a minimal depth scoring punch device is used to loosen the follicle from the surrounding tissues. The small naturally occurring hair follicle units are then removed directly from the donor area. With the FUE procedure, a 0.8 or 1.0 mm punch minimal depth scoring excision is used in the skin around the upper part of the follicular unit (hair follicles). The hair follicle is then extracted directly from the scalp and manually placed into tiny slits in the balding area similar to the FUT method.

Traditional FUT (STRIP) Method Before & After

Intra operative FUT Incision

Intra operative FUT Incision

FUE Before & After Photos


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Quicker Recovery, More Grafts, and No linear Scars with Automated FUE

Compared to manual FUE, motorized FUE devices allows more follicles to be harvested in a single surgical session. With the 21st technology devices such as the WAW, Mamba, Cole,   ARTAS, and Safe systems.  Currently, the FUE harvesting portion of the surgical procedure allows patients to have a greater number of hair follicles transplanted into their scalp in a single surgical session. Dr. Williams routinely harvest 2500-3000 grafts in a single day session. Compared to the linear STRIP harvesting excision technique, FUE does not leave a linear donor scar when the hair is worn short. Disclaimer: With FUE harvesting, if the hair is worn short, there is a possibility of small multiple areas of the donor site with areas hypopigmentation seen in certain skin and ethnic skin types.

Magnification view of hypopigmentation from FUE technique

Magnification view of hypopigmentation from FUE technique

Small round areas of hypopigmentation from FUE observed when hair is cut short

Small round areas of hypopigmentation from FUE observed when hair is cut short

No Surgical Cutting Of Scalp

Automated FUE with the Cole, NeoGraft, or Safe System are the most recently developed FUE hair transplant devices that does not involve excising a large portion of the scalp or linear incision in the scalp. Thus no sutures, staples, or scalpel are required. Postoperative bleeding is not present and almost immediate surgical recovery is realized. Patients are able to resume light physical activity the next day with minimal restrictions. Athletes or physically active patients may resume their normal strenuous workouts in about one week after the procedure.

Up To 3000 Grafts Per Day

Hair restoration surgery with automated FUE removes individual hair follicles from the scalp in their naturally occurring groupings of 1-4 hairs. At OC Hair Restoration we are able to typically harvest or surgically remove and implant 2000 hair follicles in one surgical setting using 0.8 mm or 1.0 mm punches. The typical length of the surgical session varies from patient-to-patient. In some cases because of various patient factors, cases will end as quickly as nine (9) hours, but in some patients a twelve(12) hour session is required.

Quality of grafts at Irvine Institute of Medicine and Cosmetic Surgery-OC Hair Restoration

Quality of FUE grafts harvested by Dr. Williams at OC Hair Restoration

FUE verses FUT (Strip) Technique

FUE Technique FUT STRIP Technique
Use of Scalpel, Sutures, or Staples No Yes
Surgical Operating Time-2000 Grafts 10-12 Hours 5-8 hours
Invasiveness of Procedure + +++
Typical Hair Length Preference Short Medium
Short Hair Required Prior to Procedure Yes No
Donor Site Linear Scar No Yes
Maximum Follicles Harvested Per Session 2000 2000-2500
Typical Healing Time of Donor Site 3-4 days 10-14 days
Local Tumescent Anesthesia / Oral Sedation Yes Yes
Postoperative Tight Scalp Sensation No Yes
Risk of Bleeding & Nerve Damage No Low
Donor Hypopigmentation Yes No
Risk of Donor Site infection Very Low Low